Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Mauritius on Tuesday for a two-day visit, where he was warmly welcomed by his Mauritian counterpart, Navin Ramgoolam, at Port Louis airport. The two leaders shared a friendly embrace upon his arrival.
PM Modi’s visit, scheduled for March 11-12, coincides with Mauritius’s 57th National Day celebrations, where he has been invited as the Chief Guest. An Indian Defence Forces contingent and an Indian Navy warship will also take part in the event. Additionally, the Prime Minister is set to inaugurate over 20 projects funded by India.
Ahead of his departure, PM Modi expressed his enthusiasm about the visit, stating, “I look forward to meeting my friend, Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, and engaging with the Indian community in Mauritius.” He highlighted the strong cultural and historical ties between the two nations, calling Mauritius a "key Indian Ocean partner."
Emphasizing the deep-rooted connection between the countries, PM Modi noted that India and Mauritius have strengthened their partnership over the last decade through several people-centric initiatives.
Apart from attending the National Day festivities, PM Modi, alongside PM Ramgoolam, will inaugurate the newly constructed Civil Services building, developed under a 2017 agreement between the two nations. The project, completed at a cost of approximately USD 4.75 million (over Rs 40 crore), is aimed at enhancing governance infrastructure in Mauritius.
Additionally, the two leaders are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a new line of credit from India, which will support the replacement of water pipelines in Mauritius, as confirmed by Mauritian Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful.