A solid foundation for the consolidation of Indo-Mauritian mutually beneficial strategic partnership was laid during a meeting held yesterday between the Indian President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, and the Mauritian Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, at Clarisse House, Vacoas.
Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, is currently on a State visit to Mauritius and leading an important Indian delegation comprising a Minister, three Members of Parliament and around 50 members of the business community.
During the meeting, discussions focused on issues covering the vast canvass of Indo-Mauritian relations. Both sides expressed satisfaction over the current state of ties that exist between the two countries and agreed that there are untapped potential which can be exploited particularly in the area of trade and economic cooperation. Moreover, Mauritius and India have agreed to further enhance exchanges in the fields of higher education, information technology, science and technology, tourism, hospitality and culture. People to people contacts reflecting common heritage and traditions will be prominent in these exchanges.
On the adverse impacts of piracy in the Indian Ocean region, the Indian side expressed its determination to work with the Mauritian Government in enhancing the security of its people through concrete measures. The Indian Head of State also thanked the Mauritian Government for its valued support on global issues of crucial importance to India, especially its consistent support of India’s candidature for permanent membership in an expanded United Nations Security Council. The Indian side is also looking forward to explore business opportunities in Mauritius.
In a statement to members of the press after the meeting, the Prime Minister qualified the visit of the Indian President as an important landmark in both countries’ already uniquely strong bilateral relations.
‘We know that there is an important business delegation with Her Excellency. We are looking forward for them to meet their counterparts. We are also looking for joint ventures for regional projects, investments opportunities in Mauritius and we believe that Mauritius could be used as a business platform linking India and Africa. I am confident that we will find even more cooperation between India’s private sector and Mauritius’ private sector’, stated the Prime Minister.
For her part, the Indian Head of State recalled that India and Mauritius are bound by ties of history, cultural affinities and kinship. ‘It is even more satisfying that our friendship today has acquired a contemporaneous and vibrant character to assume the dimension of a strategic partnership. Our bilateral relations today are wide-ranging, multi-dimensional and mutually beneficial. Our shared and abiding commitment to the ideals of democracy and pluralism has only reinforced our close and friendly ties. My visit to Mauritius reaffirms our common commitment to take our relations onward to new heights’, she said.
Prior to the meeting with the Prime Minister, the Indian Head of State paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, at the State House, Le Réduit.
Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, will meet members of the local business community on 28 April at the Grand Bay International Conference Centre. On this occasion, the Indian President will encourage captains of industry from both Mauritius and India to actively engage in bilateral economic exchanges.
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