New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth jointly inaugurated the new Airstrip and St. James Jetty along with six community development projects at the Agalega Island in Mauritius via video conferencing. This was the 5th meeting between PM Modi and Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth in the last 6 months.
The inauguration of these projects is a testimony to the robust and decades-old development partnership between India and Mauritius and will fulfil the demand for better connectivity between mainland Mauritius and Agalega, strengthen maritime security and foster socio-economic development. The inauguration of these projects is significant as it follows the recent launch of UPI and RuPay Card services in Mauritius by the two leaders on 12 February 2024.
It was a joint inauguration of the new Airstrip and St. James Jetty along with six community development projects at the Agalega Island in Mauritius entirely financed by India.
Thanking Prime Minister Modi, Prime Minister Jugnauth said, 'Setting up of the new airstrip and jetty facility in Agalega is the fulfillment of yet another Mauritian dream'. He lauded India’s contribution to entirely finance the project and underlined that the Indian diaspora has established itself as a global powerhouse of values, knowledge and success. He said such major transformational projects will significantly enhance the capabilities and capacities in marine surveillance and security while also meeting our development objectives.
He informed that Mauritius has become the first nation to adopt the ‘Jan Aushadhi Scheme’ which allows the sourcing of about 250 high-quality medicines from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India.
Mauritius is a key partner of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ and a special partner under Vision SAGAR. In his address Prime Minister Modi said, 'As members of Global South, we have common priorities.' Touching upon the old language and cultural ties, the Prime Minister recalled the UPI and Rupay Card that have provided modern digital connectivity to the relationship.
Development partnerships have been the foundation pillars of the political partnerships between the two nations and the developmental contributions made by India are based on Mauritius’s priorities, be it security to the EEZ or health security.
'India has always respected Mauritius’s needs and acted as the first responder', the Prime Minister said, 'be it the Covid pandemic or oil spill'.
In the last 10 years, India has extended a credit line of 1,000 million US dollars along with 400 million US dollars worth of assistance to the people of Mauritius. India has contributed to the development of metro rail lines, community development projects, social housing, ENT Hospital, Civil Service College and sports complexes infrastructures in Mauritius.
The Agelega project will enhance ease of living across the island, improve connectivity between the North and Southern parts of Mauritius and will improve administrative connection with the mainland. Medical evacuation and transportation of school kids will also improve.
India and Mauritius are natural partners in maritime security in the Indian Ocean. India is actively working to ensure security and stability in the Indian Ocean Region including in areas like monitoring of Exclusive Economic Zone, joint patrolling, hydrography, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. The inauguration of the airstrip and jetty at Agalega will further advance cooperation between the two countries while also strengthening the blue economy of Mauritius.
