Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, witnessed the signing of eight Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on Wednesday, covering key sectors like crime investigation, maritime traffic monitoring, infrastructure, commerce, capacity building, finance, and the ocean economy.

During a joint press meet, PM Modi extended greetings to the people of Mauritius on their National Day, highlighting the deep-rooted cultural and strategic ties between the two nations.

“The relationship between India and Mauritius is not only linked to the Indian Ocean but also to our shared cultural traditions and values. We are partners on the path of economic and social progress. Whether in defence, education, health, or space, we have always supported each other,” PM Modi said.

He emphasized the significant progress made over the past decade, noting key projects such as the Metro Express, the Supreme Court building, social housing initiatives, the ENT hospital, and the adoption of UPI and RuPay cards in Mauritius — all of which have strengthened trade and tourism ties. Additionally, PM Modi highlighted the establishment of Jan Aushadhi Kendras to provide affordable medicines to the people of Mauritius.

Key announcements and agreements:

• New Parliament Building: India will support the construction of a new parliament building in Mauritius as a “gift from the Mother of Democracy.”
• Water Pipeline Modernization: A 100-kilometer-long water pipeline in Mauritius will be modernized with Indian assistance.
• Community Projects: India will fund new community development projects worth 500 million Mauritian rupees in the next phase of collaboration.
• Civil Servant Training: Over the next five years, 500 Mauritian civil servants will receive training in India.
• Local Currency Trade: An agreement was reached to settle mutual trade in local currencies.
• Defence and Maritime Security: India will assist Mauritius in setting up a police academy and a national maritime information-sharing centre to enhance maritime security.

PM Modi also underscored the growing importance of defence cooperation, white shipping, the blue economy, and hydrography, stating that a secure and open Indian Ocean remains a shared priority.

Highlighting people-to-people ties, PM Modi announced that India would offer facilities for the Char Dham Yatra and the Ramayana trail to Mauritian citizens. He also emphasized protecting and promoting shared cultural heritage.

Prime Minister Ramgoolam welcomed PM Modi’s visit, calling it a testament to the “unique and special relationship” between India and Mauritius.

“The success of the community event held last evening at the Triano Convention Centre was a clear illustration of the vibrancy of our shared cultural heritage. Mauritius continues to benefit from Indian assistance for its socio-economic development,” he said.

Key MoUs signed:

1. Local Currency Settlement System: Agreement between the Central Bank of Mauritius and the Reserve Bank of India to facilitate smoother financial transactions.
2. Credit Facility Agreement: Between the Government of Mauritius and the State Bank of India to fund the Pipe Replacement Programme.
3. Diplomatic Training: MoU between the Institute of Foreign Service of India and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mauritius to train Mauritian diplomats.
4. Maritime Security: MoU on Sharing of White Shipping Information between the Indian Navy and the Mauritius Police Force.
5. Financial Crimes: Agreement between the Financial Crimes Commission of Mauritius and India’s Enforcement Directorate to combat financial crimes.
6. MSME Development: MoU between Mauritius’ Ministry of Industry and India’s Ministry of MSMEs to support small businesses.
7. Public Sector Training: Agreement between the Ministry of Public Service of Mauritius and India’s National Centre for Good Governance to train public officers.
8. Ocean Research: MoU between India’s National Centre for Ocean Information Services and the Mauritius Department for Continental Shelf Administration for joint ocean research and exploration.

The agreements reflect the growing strength of India-Mauritius relations and lay the foundation for deeper collaboration across governance, infrastructure, trade, security, and cultural sectors.