Mauritius, March 9 — India and Mauritius are set to strengthen their partnership with several agreements on capacity building, trade, and combating cross-border financial crimes during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the island nation starting Tuesday.
Modi’s visit coincides with Mauritius’ national day celebrations on March 12, where he will attend as the chief guest. A contingent from the Indian armed forces and a naval ship will also participate in the celebrations, reflecting the deep maritime and defense ties between the two nations.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a media briefing on Saturday, said the visit would allow both countries to assess their bilateral relationship and set the course for future engagement. “India has been privileged to be a preferred development partner for Mauritius, and our relationship has deepened significantly over the past decade,” he said.
Mauritius, located in the Western Indian Ocean, has long maintained close ties with India, largely due to its demographic connection—people of Indian origin make up nearly 70% of its 1.2 million population. The two nations have also shared strong economic ties, with India being one of Mauritius’ largest trading partners since 2005.
Trade between the two countries has grown by 132% over the past 17 years, rising from $206 million in 2005-06 to $554 million in 2022-23. During the last financial year, Indian exports to Mauritius stood at $462 million, while Mauritius’ exports to India totaled $91.5 million.
The visit is expected to reinforce India’s commitment to Mauritius’ economic and developmental growth, with discussions likely to focus on small and medium enterprise promotion, trade expansion, and collaborative efforts against financial crimes.
