During a recent meeting in New Delhi, President Droupadi Murmu welcomed Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, emphasizing the burgeoning bilateral cooperation between India and Mauritius. The President noted that this partnership is now reaching into exciting new frontiers, including the space sector and advanced digital technologies.
President Murmu warmly received Mr. Ramgoolam at Rashtrapati Bhavan, reiterating that Mauritius holds a truly special place within India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, its ‘MAHASAGAR’ vision, and the nation’s broader commitment to the Global South.
A statement from the President’s office highlighted her satisfaction with the consistent growth in partnership and cooperation across all fields between India and Mauritius. This strong trajectory, she noted, is clearly reflected in the recent upgrade of their relationship to an ‘Enhanced Strategic Partnership’.
India is actively supporting Mauritius’s developmental goals, and President Murmu expressed confidence that a newly announced special economic package would effectively address the needs of the Mauritian government and its citizens.
She detailed how various ongoing and upcoming projects, encompassing hospitals, road networks, port development, defence procurement, and joint surveillance, are set to significantly enhance infrastructure and deliver positive, lasting impacts on the lives of Mauritian people for years to come.
Crucially, President Murmu also pointed out the expansion of bilateral cooperation into cutting-edge domains such as digital technologies and the space sector, indicating a forward-looking dimension to their partnership.
Both leaders concurred that the bond between their two nations is exceptional, deeply rooted in their shared history, language, cultural heritage, and common values.
Expressing her firm belief in Prime Minister Ramgoolam’s extensive leadership experience, the President voiced confidence that the long-standing bilateral ties between India and Mauritius are poised for further strengthening in the years ahead.
This productive meeting marked the conclusion of Prime Minister Ramgoolam’s comprehensive state visit to India, which spanned from September 9 to 16 and included significant stops in Mumbai, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Tirupati.
Prior to his New Delhi engagements, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally hosted his Mauritian counterpart in Varanasi, his own parliamentary constituency, a gesture that beautifully underscored the rich cultural connections shared by India and Mauritius.
Mauritius PM Meets Vice-President Radhakrishnan
On the same Tuesday, Prime Minister Ramgoolam also held a meeting with Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan at the Vice-President’s Enclave. This was a notable occasion, as Mr. Ramgoolam became the first foreign dignitary to call upon Mr. Radhakrishnan since his election to the Vice-Presidency earlier that month.
The Vice-President’s office later conveyed via a post on ‘X’ that their discussions primarily focused on reinforcing trade, economic, and people-to-people connections between India and Mauritius. Mr. Radhakrishnan had assumed office as Vice-President on September 12, following his election on September 9.
Sonia and Rahul Gandhi Hold Talks with PM Ramgoolam
Adding to his engagements, Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam was also met by Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday. Their discussions revolved around the profound and enduring friendship that unites India and Mauritius.
Sources indicated that the leaders reviewed the current trajectory of bilateral relations and explored avenues for deepening the partnership between the two friendly nations.
Sharing images from the significant meeting on his WhatsApp channel, Mr. Rahul Gandhi reiterated, “We spoke about the deep and enduring friendship that binds our two nations and peoples.”