{"id":39045,"date":"2025-03-12T19:30:19","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T14:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=39045"},"modified":"2025-03-12T19:30:21","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T14:00:21","slug":"pm-mauritius-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/12-03-2025\/pm-mauritius-visit","title":{"rendered":"PM\u2019s Visit to Mauritius"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/IR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Prime Minister paid a state visit to Mauritius, his second since 2015.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He was the <strong>Chief Guest <\/strong>at <strong>Mauritius\u2019 National Day Celebrations on March 12.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Highlights of the Visit<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>MOUs Signed:<\/strong> Includes training civil servants, small and medium enterprises, blue economy development, combating financial crimes, and local currency settlement for trade.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indian Rupee Credit Line: <\/strong>A 487.6 crore INR line of credit for replacing water pipelines in Mauritius, a first-ever INR-based credit line.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>White-Shipping Agreement:<\/strong> Technical agreement for maritime security and information exchange.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Award Conferred: <\/strong>PM Modi received the <strong>Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean,<\/strong> marking him as the<strong> first Indian recipient<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Vision for the Global South:<\/strong> PM introduced <strong>Vision MAHASAGAR<\/strong> (Mutual And Holistic Advancement for Security And Growth Across Regions), building on the previous Vision SAGAR.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Mauritius<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Location:<\/strong> Mauritius is a strategically located island nation in the western Indian Ocean, close to India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"c0c8cb\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"802\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/About-Mauritius.webp\" alt=\"About Mauritius\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-39046\" style=\"--dominant-color: #c0c8cb; width:404px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/About-Mauritius.webp 802w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/About-Mauritius-300x168.webp 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/03\/About-Mauritius-768x431.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 802px) 100vw, 802px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Population: <\/strong>Nearly 70% of the population (1.2 million) is of Indian origin, strengthening ties with India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Colonial History: <\/strong>Mauritius was initially a French colony before becoming a British possession.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Day:<\/strong> Mauritius celebrates National Day on March 12, in honor of the date of Mahatma Gandhi&#8217;s Dandi March.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India- Mauritius Bilateral Relations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Diplomatic Relations:<\/strong> India and Mauritius established diplomatic relations in <strong>1948 <\/strong>and have become key trading partners in the Asian continent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Commercial Relations:<\/strong> For the FY 2022-2023, Indian exports to Mauritius was USD 462.69 mn, Mauritian exports to India was USD 91.50 mn and Total trade was USD 554.19 mn.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement: <\/strong>Signed in 1982 to help non-resident investors avoid double taxes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CECPA Agreement:<\/strong> India and Mauritius signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) in 2021, India\u2019s first trade agreement with an African country.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>FDI Source: <\/strong>Mauritius is the second-largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India for FY 2023-24, after Singapore.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Defence Relations: <\/strong>India is Mauritius&#8217; preferred defence partner for acquiring platforms, capacity building, joint patrolling, hydrological services, etc.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>First Agreement: <\/strong>Transfer of a Dornier aircraft and an Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv) to Mauritius on lease.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Second Agreement: <\/strong>A $100 million Line of Credit (LoC) for Mauritius to procure defence equipment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Space Cooperation:<\/strong> India and Mauritius are exploring space research opportunities and signed an MoU in November 2023 for developing a joint satellite.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indian Migration: French Rule (1700s):<\/strong> Indians from Puducherry were brought to Mauritius as artisans and masons.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>British Rule (1834 &#8211; early 1900s):<\/strong> About half a million Indian indentured workers arrived in Mauritius.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The majority of these workers settled in Mauritius, influencing its culture and demographics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Development Partnership: <\/strong>India has been contributing to projects like the Metro Express, new hospitals, and infrastructure in Agal\u00e9ga Island.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Humanitarian Assistance:<\/strong> India assisted Mauritius during Cyclone Chido in 2023, showcasing India\u2019s role as a \u201cFirst Responder.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SAGAR:<\/strong> The term SAGAR &#8211; \u2013 \u2018Security and Growth for All in the Region\u2019\u00a0 was coined by the PM in <strong>2015 <\/strong>during his visit with a focus on the blue economy.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance of Mauritius for India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Strategic Location:<\/strong> Mauritius is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, crucial for India\u2019s maritime security and trade routes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Agal\u00e9ga island<\/strong>: It is located 1,100 km north of Mauritius, has strategic importance due to its <strong>proximity to the Indian southern coast.\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In 2024, India and Mauritius jointly inaugurated the air strip and jetty projects on the island, strengthening their bilateral cooperation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Countering China\u2019s Influence: <\/strong>Strengthening ties with Mauritius is crucial for India to counter China&#8217;s growing presence in the Indian Ocean region.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Geopolitical Competition:<\/strong> The Indian Ocean region is a hotspot for geopolitical rivalry, with countries like Europe, the Gulf, Russia, Iran, and Turkey expanding their influence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cultural and Historical Ties:<\/strong> With nearly 70% of its population of Indian origin, Mauritius shares deep cultural, historical, and familial ties with India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Blue Economy: <\/strong>Mauritius is key to India\u2019s interests in the Indian Ocean\u2019s blue economy, especially for maritime resources, fisheries, and offshore energy exploration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indian Ocean Cooperation:<\/strong> Mauritius plays a key role in regional organizations like the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), contributing to regional stability and economic cooperation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Areas of Concern<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tax Treaty Misuse: <\/strong>The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Mauritius had been a point of concern due to its potential misuse for<strong> illicit activities<\/strong> like money laundering and round-tripping of funds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Security Concerns: <\/strong>Mauritius is a key maritime entity in the Indo-Pacific, making security issues critical.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India and Mauritius have a strong defence partnership, but evolving regional dynamics pose challenges to maintaining and enhancing this relationship.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economic Challenges:<\/strong> Despite being major economic partners, there are concerns regarding trade imbalances and the need to diversify the trade basket.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Both countries may need to explore new avenues for trade cooperation and address any barriers that hinder the flow of goods and services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Presence of China:<\/strong> In recent years, several external powers, including China, have made increasing inroads in Africa and through the Indian Ocean.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In 2021, China\u2019s Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Mauritius came into effect.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This agreement will help China expand the Belt and Road strategy in Africa.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>China\u2019s increasing presence in the region will pose concerns for India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The relationship between India and Mauritius is multifaceted and has grown stronger over the years.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Both nations can work towards expanding defense and security collaboration, including joint training, counterterrorism efforts, and maritime security.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This multi-faceted approach can further solidify the longstanding relationship between India and Mauritius, contributing to mutual growth and regional stability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/as-prime-minister-modi-lands-in-mauritius-why-the-island-country-matters-to-india-9879814\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Prime Minister paid a state visit to Mauritius, his second since 2015.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39045","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39045"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39045\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39047,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39045\/revisions\/39047"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39045"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39045"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}