By Nityanjali Bulsu
On Thursday, India unveiled a special economic package worth over USD 655 million for Mauritius and signed seven agreements to further strengthen bilateral ties across several key areas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the relationship between the two nations not just a partnership, but a family bond.
During his meeting with Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Modi stressed that both countries share the goal of a free, open, secure and prosperous Indian Ocean, adding that India is committed to helping safeguard Mauritius’s exclusive economic zone.
He also said that both sides are working towards making bilateral trade possible in local currencies, following the successful rollout of UPI and RuPay services in Mauritius earlier this year.
The seven agreements covered cooperation in a number of sectors including education, energy, space research and hydrography. Among them, the hydrography pact stood out as the most significant, under which both nations will collaborate on joint marine surveys, navigation maps, and data collection of Mauritius’s exclusive economic zone.
In his address, Modi congratulated Prime Minister Ramgoolam and the people of Mauritius for the successful completion of the Chagos agreement, describing it as a major step forward for the island nation’s sovereignty. He underlined that India has always supported the cause of decolonization and the rightful recognition of Mauritius’s territorial claims, standing firmly alongside the nation in this struggle.
The hydrography agreement, he added, will see the two countries working together over the next five years on detailed marine surveys, navigation charts, and management of hydrographic data of Mauritius’s waters.
As part of new initiatives, Modi also announced that a Directorate of Science and Technology will soon be set up in Mauritius. Alongside this, India will introduce Mission Karmayogi’s training programmes in the island nation. In addition, IIT Madras and the Indian Institute of Plantation Management have signed agreements with the University of Mauritius, which Modi said will take collaboration in research, education, and innovation to the next level.