In the fast-shifting geo-politics of the world, India’s engagement with Mauritius serves as a role model for its successful development collaboration abroad
The first half of this year has witnessed a flurry of political and diplomatic activities between India and Mauritius that have strengthened their centuries-long relationship. During this period, high-profile leaders from India and Mauritius visited each other's countries, accentuating their broader relationship and more incredible partnership. Three visits are notable to mention here.

In March 2024, Indian President Droupadi Murmu took part in the National Day (12 March) of this “paradise island”, where she described Mauritius as “a shining beacon of development, democracy, diversity and dynamism.” Similarly, Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, graced the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term in June 2024.

India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, was on a two-day visit to the island nation on July16-17. It is a marked development to cement the partnership between the two countries, which he described as “special and enduring”, “critical”, “robust”, “multi-dimensional and “multifaceted.” Both the countries vowed to take their relationship to a new level where issues like “development partnership, defence and maritime cooperation, economic and trade ties”, and “close and age-old people-to-people contact” will blossom.

Nine years ago, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his first visit to Mauritius, participated in the National Day of Mauritius on March 12, 2015 as the Guest of Honour. He poured effusive praise on the Indian community for being the sole reason behind the growing India-Mauritius economic and cultural relationship.

Historical and cultural relations

 The evolution of such an excellent relationship between the two regions and their people must be mentioned here. India’s historical-cultural linkage with Mauritius dates back to the British era. Indian indentured labourers (girmitiya) arrived in the island nation 300 years ago to work in the sugar-growing colonies administered by the British.

Both India and Mauritius suffered severely under the yoke of alien, arrogant and aggressive British colonialism and finally achieved independence in 1947 and 1968, respectively. In the last five decades, both countries have understood each other's needs and aspirations well, and neither have looked back nor hesitated to strengthen a meaningful bilateral relationship.

The importance of Mauritius for India stems from the fact that both nations are close to each other culturally and historically. The close connection between the people of Mauritius and India lays the main foundation of this age-old relationship between the two countries. It is essential to mention that more than 70 per cent of Mauritius's population today is of Indian origin. They have been the mainstay of the two countries' historical, cultural, and economic linkage.

As a token gesture towards the shared culture between the two countries, India had declared the demise of India’s friend and former Mauritian Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth on June 3, 2021 as a day of national mourning in India and even conferred on him India’s second highest civilian award “Padma Vibhushan.”

Economic partnership

India-Mauritius's age-old relationship is substantiated by a robust economic partnership. On February 22, 2021, India and Mauritius signed the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA). It came into force on April 1, 2021 and is the first trade agreement signed by India with an African country.

In August 2022, both countries added a chapter on General Economic Cooperation (GEC) and provisions related to Auto Trigger Safeguard Mechanism (ATSM) to the CECPA. Under the CECPA, India’s exports to Mauritius amounted to USD 1.1 mn in 2021, USD 1.8 mn in 2022 and USD 1.7 million in 2023 (Jan-Aug) comprising mainly textiles, quartz slabs and spices.

As per the statistics given by the Director General of Foreign Trade under the Indian Commerce Ministry, in 2023-2024, India’s total bilateral trade with Mauritius stood at nearly USD 1 billion.

More than 50 Indian companies are operating in Mauritius in infrastructure, health, information, and technology, maritime, space and tourism, and other sectors critical to nation-building and economic growth in the island nation.

India funded projects

 In May 2016, India provided a grant of USD 353 million to Mauritius as a Special Economic Package for five priority projects: Metro Express Project; Supreme Court Building; New ENT Hospital; Social Housing project; Digital Tablets for school children.

India extended a USD 500 mn Line of Credit (LoC) in 2017 to Mauritius to finance social/infrastructure projects. In October 2021, an LoC of USD 190 mn and USD 10 mn grant was approved by India for Phase III of the Metro Project.

In August 2022, another LoC worth USD 300mn and a grant of USD 25 mn was announced. A MoU on Community Development Projects was signed in January 2022 to undertake around 100 small, people-oriented projects in Mauritius.

Other completed India-assisted projects include Upadhyay Training Centre, Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Subramania Bharati Eye Centre, Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre, Swami Vivekananda International Conference Centre and World Hindi Secretariat. All this apart, India helped in setting up Mahatma Gandhi Institute and World Hindi Secretariat in Mauritius.

Trusted partnership

 During the COVID-19 pandemic, India stood as a pillar of strength and support behind Mauritius by providing medical assistance to Port Louis.

The importance of Mauritius for India in the last decade has increased due to several factors, including non-traditional security challenges in and around the region.

There has been a critical issue in the form of non-traditional security challenges, which have become a matter of grave concern for India and the entire region.

The coast of Africa from east to West has been vulnerable to terrorism, piracy, etc., in recent times. Concerns over Maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region have prompted India to step up its efforts to nourish its national and global interests. 

Mauritius has genuinely been a vital cog in India's ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), and commitment to the Global South envisioned by Prime Minister Modi. The Mauritian leadership was a Special Invitee at the G20 Summit that India hosted in 2023.

In this context, EAM, Dr. Jaishankar’s latest visit to Mauritius assumes great importance. It led to imparting a fresh thrust to a robust relationship between the two countries. As it underscored the importance India attached to Mauritius as an important pillar of India’s SAGAR vision, and ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.

“The visit reaffirmed the continued commitment of both countries to strengthening their multi-dimensional bilateral relationship and deepening their close people-to-people ties,” the MEA said.

***The writer teaches at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; views expressed here are his personal
(Note: This article first appeared in INN)