PM MODI's VISIT TO MAURITIUS WILL GIVE A NEW DIMENSION TO THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on a two-day official visit to Mauritius. He was welcomed by Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam at the airport. On March 12, he attended the 57th National Day celebrations as the chief guest. This is the second visit of the Indian PM to Mauritius after 2015. 

This visit has further strengthened the economic relations between India and Mauritius and the two signed eight agreements to enhance cooperation in many areas including trade and maritime security. This visit is also important in terms of strengthening the strategic relations between the two countries.

These agreements will help promote the use of national currencies for cross-border transactions, sharing of maritime data, joint efforts in combating money laundering and enhancing cooperation in the MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) sector.

Modi announced India's new vision for the Global South and named it 'OCEAN' or 'Mutual and Inclusive Advancement for Security and Development in the Region'.

Modi put forward the SAGAR vision for the stability and prosperity of the entire region and said that our vision for the Global South will go beyond 'Sagar' to 'Ocean'.

GEET GAWAI: A SYMBOL OF RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed with the Bihari traditional song Gawai in Port Louis, Mauritius. Geet Gawai is a traditional Bhojpuri music group, symbolizing the rich cultural heritage brought to Mauritius by women from the Bhojpuri region of India.

Recognizing its cultural significance, Geet Gawai was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2016. According to the singers, Geet Gawai' has a deep significance in life, especially in marriages, where it begins with the invocation of the gods.

OVERSEAS CITIZEN OF INDIA (OCI) CARD

On the first day, Modi handed over OCI cards to Mauritius President Dharambir Gokhool and First Lady Brinda Gokhool. On the second day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demonstrating a special goodwill gesture, presented 'Overseas Citizen of India' (OCI) to his Mauritian counterpart Navin Ramgoolam and his wife Veena Ramgoolam.

Earlier, during President Draupadi Murmu's state visit to Mauritius in March 2024, India granted eligibility for an OCI card to Mauritian citizens of Indian descent up to the seventh generation.

There are 22,188 Indian nationals and 13,198 OCI card holders living in Mauritius, indicating a significant presence of the Indian community in the country. OCI card holders enjoy the right to live, work, and study in India indefinitely, as well as visa-free travel and other privileges.

MAURITIUS IS THE SECOND-LARGEST SOURCE OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN INDIA

India is a major trading partner of Mauritius. In 2023-24, Mauritius is the second largest source of foreign investment in India after Singapore. India and Mauritius have close cooperation in maritime security, development, and capacity building and have very strong people-to-people ties. This closeness is especially visible in the development projects that have been built in Mauritius with the help of India.

The two countries signed a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) in February 2021, following 15 years of negotiations between the two countries. It was the first trade agreement between India and an African country.

The PM inaugurated over 20 projects funded by India. He also announced new major infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening democracy in Mauritius. He inaugurated the Civil Services College building along with his counterpart Navin Ramgoolam. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in 2017 for this project.

MODI EXPRESSES HIS SUPPORT ON CHAGOS

PM Modi supported Mauritius' sovereignty on the issue of the Chagos Islands as it is part of the long tradition of decolonization which is part of India's foreign policy. There was a dispute between Britain and Mauritius over the Chagos Islands for almost 50 years.

India had been trying to reach an agreement between the two for a long time. Five months ago, with India's help, an agreement was reached between the two sides, and in October last year, Britain announced its decision to hand over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after more than half a century under a historic agreement.

According to the agreement, Chagos Island, which is made up of 60 islands, was given to Mauritius. Diego Garcia Island is also on Chagos Island. America and Britain have built a joint military base here. According to the agreement, the US-Britain base will remain here for 99 years.

MAURITIUS CONFERS THE HIGHEST CIVILIAN AWARD

Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam conferred the country's highest civilian honor, The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the first time that an Indian leader is receiving this honor.

This honor has been given to Prime Minister Modi for his contribution to strengthening relations between India and Mauritius. Modi is the first Indian to receive this honor. This is the 21st international award given to Prime Minister Modi by another country.

Prime Minister Modi dedicated this award to the special friendship between India and Mauritius and to the 1.4 billion people of India and their 1.3 million brothers and sisters in Mauritius.

Ramgulam said that Modi is the fifth foreign citizen to be given this prestigious honor. PM Modi addressed the Indian diaspora at this event. He started his speech in Bhojpuri.

WHY IS MAURITIUS SPECIAL FOR INDIA

To encircle India and increase its dominance in the Indian Ocean, China has invested in several port projects in African countries, from Gwadar in Pakistan to Hambantota in Sri Lanka. In response to this, the Indian government launched Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR Project) in 2015 to increase its presence in the Indian Ocean.

Under this, India has built the necessary infrastructure for a military base on the North Agalega Island of Mauritius, 3,729 km from Mumbai, which includes runways, jetties, and hangars for aircraft. From here, India and Mauritius can jointly keep an eye on Chinese military ships and submarines in the Western Indian Ocean.

SOME SPECIAL THINGS ABOUT RELATIONS BETWEEN MAURITIUS AND INDIA

Mauritius has a large population of people of Indian origin. About 52% of the total population of Mauritius are Hindus. Mauritius is also called Mini India and the reason behind this is that a large part of its culture, tradition, and population is of Indian origin.

About 190 years ago, a ship named Atlas reached Mauritius from India on 2 November 1834 carrying Indian laborers. In its memory, 2 November is celebrated as Emigrant Day there. 80 percent of the laborers who reached Mauritius from Atlas were from Bihar.

These were called indentured (giramitiya) laborers, i.e. laborers brought based on agreement. The purpose of bringing them was to develop Mauritius as an agricultural country. The British took many laborers from India to Mauritius between 1834 and 1924.

Those who migrated to Mauritius were not just laborers. Most of the traders who came here were also Gujaratis. After the British occupation, Mauritius also had a small but prosperous community of Indian traders, both Hindu and Muslim. In the 19th century, many developments took place which enabled the descendants of the laborers to buy land. Their economic condition has now improved considerably.

This country has one of the highest per capita incomes in Africa. Mauritius was occupied by France in 1715. Then its economy developed, which was based on the production of sugar.

The British succeeded in capturing the island in the wars fought between 1803 and 1815. Mauritius gained independence in 1968 under the leadership of Sir Shivsagar Ramgoolam of Indian origin. It became a republic in 1992 under the Commonwealth.

MAURITIUS IS A MINI INDIA

Mauritius may have gained independence in 1968, but the way this country progressed by taking everyone along is a great example for the world. It is a beautiful garden of different cultures. If we look at the language, food, and dialect, then Mauritius is a mini India.

Many generations of Indians have seen Mauritius on the silver screen. There is hardly any corner of Mauritius that has not been a part of Indian films. If the tune is Indian and the location is Mauritius, then the guarantee of the film becoming a hit increases.

PM Modi described shared belief in the values ​​of democracy and diversity as our strength. He said that Mauritius is our close neighbor and we share history, geography, and culture. In a true sense, Mauritius is a major partner in the Indian Ocean and the gateway to the African continent.

The PM said that there was a time when sugar used to come from Mauritius for sweets in the western part of India. Perhaps this is also a reason why sugar is called Morris in Gujarati. With time, this sweetness of relations between India and Mauritius is increasing even more.

In a true sense, Mauritius is a bridge that connects India with the Global South. India has always stood with Mauritius. Indian companies have invested millions of dollars in Mauritius. The friendship between India and Mauritius has always been very good and after this visit of PM Modi, this relationship will become stronger and the relations between the two countries will deepen further.