Prime Minister of Mauritius Dr. Ravindra Chnadran Ram Goolam and his spouse Veena Ramgoolam are on an eight-day visit to India. This will be the first overseas bilateral visit of Prime Minister Ramgoolam to India in his present tenure.
The Prime Minister had earlier visited India in May 2014 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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India and Mauritius have shared a close partnership since 1948, even before Mauritius gained independence. Over the years, the ties have developed into a profound synergy that spans across trade, investment, education, and culture.
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India has emerged as one of Mauritius's leading trading partners in recent times.
Upon the visit of Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misiri spoke to the tune of the "Neighbourhood First" policy. He further added that Mauritius is an important part of the commitment to the Global South.
One of the major outcomes of the visit is our decision to offer a special economic package to Mauritius. This covers multiple elements, including the development of the Port of Port Louis, development and assistance for the surveillance of the Chagos Marine Protected Area, blended financial assistance in the form of grants, and a line of credit for major projects.
According to him, both nations have a common understanding of the new changes, and to further reinforce the synergy between them, both partners are working to reach a higher level. As per Misri, discussions are ongoing between the central banks of the two countries.
He further iterated how PM Modi has always emphasized about the importance of taking the diplomacy out of Delhi, and work towards a more collective outlook, as the foreign policy is not for Delhi and a particular city rather its a foreign policy of the country.
In the last five years, India has been one of Mauritius's leading trading partners. In 2024, India accounted for 11% of Mauritius's total imports, ranking third among its top trading partners.
Indian exports to Mauritius have fluctuated over the years, with USD 776 million in 2019, USD 405 million in 2020, USD 808 million in 2021, USD 632 million in 2022, USD 646 million in 2023, and USD 766 million in 2024. Key exports include pharmaceuticals, cotton, cereals, motor vehicles, and mineral fuels.
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