India-Mauritius Relations

Table of Contents

India-Mauritius Relations- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2: International Relations- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Prime Minister of India and Prime Minister of Mauritius will jointly inaugurate the India-assisted Social Housing Units project in Mauritius virtually.

India and Mauritius will launch the Civil Service College and 8MW Solar PV Farm projects in Mauritius that are being undertaken under India’s development support.
An Agreement on extending a US$ 190 million Line of Credit (LoC) from India to Mauritius for the Metro Express Project and other infrastructure projects will be signed.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the implementation of Small Development Projects will also be exchanged between India and Mauritius.

Diplomatic relations between India and Mauritius were established in 1948. Mauritius maintained contacts with India through successive Dutch, French and British occupation.
Following Mauritius’ independence on March 12, 1968, the first Prime Minister of Mauritius Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam accorded centrality to India in Mauritius’ foreign policy.
Subsequently, successive Mauritian leaders ensured that India occupies a position of significance and importance in the foreign policy orientation and activities of Mauritius.

Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture (IGCIC): from March 2000, it has emerged as an important venue for the promotion of Indian cultural activities in Mauritius.
- The IGCIC holds classes in disciplines of Hindustani music, Kathak, Tabla and Yoga for Mauritian students.
Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI): It was established in 1970 as a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Mauritius for the promotion of Indian culture and education.
The Rabindranath Tagore Institute: It was established with the assistance of the Government of India in 2000 as a Centre of Studies on Indian culture and traditions.
Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC): It has been India’s flagship capacity building programme since its inception in 1964.
- Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) has acquired a strong brand name in India’s development partnership with Mauritius.
- Mauritius is one of the largest beneficiary countries of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme.
India Council for Cultural Relations: Over 100 ICCR scholarships are extended annually to Mauritian students for higher education in India.

About: Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement’ (CECPA) is a trade pact between India and Mauritius that was signed in February 2021.
- This is the first of its kind agreement that India has signed with any country in Africa.
- CECPA was under negotiation since 2005.
Significance:
- CECPA is expected to cut or eliminate duties on the majority of goods as well as liberalize norms to promote services trade.
- The CECPA also marks a new step in the partnership between India and the African continent.
- The joint economic initiative will enable India Inc. to use Mauritius as a springboard for the expansion of their businesses into continental Africa.
- It will help Mauritius emerge, in Jaishankar’s words, as a “hub of Africa”.

Covid-19 Vaccines: India gifted over a consignment of 200,000 doses of Made-in-India COVID-19 vaccines to Mauritius.
Medicine Supply: India supplied 23 tonnes of essential medicines, half a million tablets of hydroxychloroquine, as well as a consignment of Ayurvedic medicines.
Mission SAGAR’ initiative: A 14-member Medical Assistance Team, under the Indian Navy’s ‘Mission SAGAR’ initiative, also visited Mauritius for providing medical help.
India-Mauritius health cooperation: India has assisted in the development of the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital and the Subramania Bharati Eye Centre in the country.
- In 2019, India virtually inaugurated a state of the art ENT hospital, built with the assistance of $14 million.

Transfer of Defence Arsenal: India transferred a Dornier aircraft and an Advanced Light Helicopter, Dhruv, on lease to Mauritius.
- These platforms will go a long way in helping the country monitor its extensive maritime zone.
Extension of Line of Credit (LoC): India agreed to extend a $100 million Line of Credit (LoC) to Mauritius.
- This LoC was given to enable the procurement of defence equipment by Mauritius.
Skill Development: with India’s continuous support, Mauritius has been able to augment the skills of its security forces, and restructure and enhance the capacity of its National Coast Guard.
- Indian Naval and Coast Guard officers are seconded to the Mauritian National Coast Guard as per a 1974 agreement.
Coastal Surveillance: India has extended support to Mauritius in enhancing its coastal surveillance capabilities by setting up the Coastal Surveillance Radar System (CSRS), in 2011.
- The CSRS network enhances the country’s Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) in the Indian Ocean region.
Cooperation on various Multilateral Forums: Various mechanisms play a significant role in India- Mauritius cooperation. India has launched several initiatives, including-
- Third India- Africa Forum Summit in 2015,
- The first India-Africa Defence Ministers Conclave in 2020 and
- India-IOR Defence Ministers Conclave in February 2021.
- Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and
- Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

Mauritius is strategically important with reference to India’s policy towards the Indian Ocean/Indo-Pacific region.
Two-thirds of the world’s oil shipments, one-third of its bulk cargo, and half of its container traffic”, transit through the Indian Ocean.
Mauritius-India cooperation will also make the Indian Ocean safe, secure and free from any challenge.
SAGAR (Security and Growth for All) was launched by India Prime Minister in Mauritius which called for deepening economic and security cooperation with India’s maritime neighbours.

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