Leader Modi Departs for Mauritius as Main Guest
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day visit to Mauritius starting Tuesday night, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between the two nations. The visit comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam of Mauritius and is timed to coincide with Mauritius' 57th National Day celebrations, where Prime Minister Modi will serve as the chief guest.
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to interact with the Indian-origin community in Mauritius and participate in the National Day celebrations. The visit also includes a call on the President of Mauritius and meetings with the Prime Minister of Mauritius and senior dignitaries and leaders of political parties in Mauritius.
In addition to the cultural and diplomatic engagements, India and Mauritius are set to sign "significant agreements" to advance economic ties. These agreements are expected to focus on deepening strategic ties, with an emphasis on green partnership to support Mauritius's climate goals and transition towards cleaner transportation. The visit is also expected to reinforce people-centric and sustainable development cooperation, building on prior commitments made during Prime Minister Modi's visit in March 2025.
A contingent of Indian defense forces will participate in the celebrations, and a ship from the Indian Navy will be present. Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate the Civil Service College and the Area Health Centre, both built with India's grant assistance.
The visit is also expected to boost tourist inflows into Mauritius with the launch of the RuPay card and Unified Payment Interface (UPI) in the East African nation.
It is worth noting that Mauritius has a significant number of people of Indian origin, descendants of indentured laborers taken there during the British Raj in the 19th century. The visit is not related to the Supreme Court's recent ruling that electoral rolls cannot be static.
The visit to Mauritius is part of Prime Minister Modi's ongoing efforts to strengthen India's relationships with its neighbours and build a "new and bright" chapter between nations. The visit is expected to reaffirm and potentially expand the collaborations established under the Enhanced Strategic Partnership and environmental cooperation, such as the recent grant of electric buses to Mauritius by India.
The political discussions during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Mauritius may include talks with the leaders of political parties. The visit is expected to deepen strategic ties, focusing on green partnership and advancing economic agreements that could influence general-news and political discourse.
