Image Source: India Today
India has announced a comprehensive economic assistance package worth $680 million for Mauritius, announced on September 11, 2025, during a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritian Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam in Varanasi. This initiative seeks to deepen the historic bonds between the two nations, enhance infrastructure, bolster maritime security, and promote economic collaboration aimed at mutual growth.
Key Developments from the Modi-Ramgoolam Meeting
-
Economic Package Overview: The $680 million package includes a mix of direct grants, loans, and budgetary support. It is aimed at strengthening Mauritius’ infrastructure, healthcare, maritime surveillance, and connectivity.
-
Budgetary Assistance: India will provide $25 million as budgetary support in the current financial year, signifying immediate assistance to the Mauritian government.
-
Infrastructure Projects: Significant investments totaling approximately $440 million under grant-cum-line-of-credit arrangements will enable:
-
Construction of a new air traffic control tower at SSR International Airport
-
Expansion of Motorway M4 and development of Ring Road Phase II
-
Procurement of modern equipment for Port Louis for enhanced cargo handling
-
Grant-Funded Initiatives (~$215 million):
-
Establishment of a 500-bed Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital
-
Construction of a Veterinary School and Animal Hospital
-
Development of an AYUSH Centre of Excellence
-
Provision of helicopters to support operational capabilities
Maritime Security and Strategic Cooperation
-
Both leaders underscored the critical importance of maritime security in the Indian Ocean region. India committed to supporting Mauritius in:
-
Enhancing surveillance and security of its expanded Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), following Mauritius’ territorial gains through the recent Chagos Islands sovereignty agreement with the UK.
-
Joint efforts for redevelopment and restructuring of Mauritius’ port facilities, signifying strategic infrastructural development.
-
Collaborating on hydrography, including joint surveys, navigation charts, and data management of Mauritius’ maritime zones, with India offering advanced maritime capacity-building assistance.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties Beyond Economics
Prime Minister Modi emphasized that this economic package is not mere assistance but an investment in a shared future, highlighting the countries’ deep historical and cultural connections rooted in the legacy of indentured laborers, mainly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, who shaped Mauritius’ demographic fabric centuries ago.
The talks also covered:
-
Facilitating bilateral trade in local currencies, enhancing ease of transactions and financial integration, building on the successful launch of UPI and RuPay payment services in Mauritius.
-
Collaborations in education, research, and innovation through institutional partnerships between Indian Institutes like IIT Madras and Mauritius University.
-
Human resource development programs, including civil servant training and technology transfer initiatives.
-
Renewable energy projects such as establishment of a 17.5 MW floating solar power plant, emphasizing sustainable growth.
Historic and Geopolitical Significance
This meeting comes at a pivotal moment, with India reaffirming its role as a net security provider and first responder in the Indian Ocean region. By supporting Mauritius’ sovereignty and maritime domain, India strengthens its strategic presence amid intensifying global competition in the Indian Ocean, notably countering influence from other regional powers.
Mauritian Prime Minister Ramgoolam hailed the partnership’s dynamic evolution, acknowledging India’s vital assistance in medicine, maritime security, and infrastructure. The preference expressed by Mauritius for Indian support over other countries symbolically reinforces the close familial bond shared by the two countries.
Summary of Strategic and Development Projects
-
Economic package of $680 million comprising grants, loans, and budgetary aid
-
$25 million budgetary support in the current fiscal year
-
Infrastructure upgrades: airport air traffic control, highways, ring roads, port equipment
-
Healthcare: new national hospital, veterinary school, AYUSH center
-
Maritime domain surveillance including Chagos Marine Protected Area cooperation
-
Bilateral trade facilitation in local currencies
-
Renewable energy and electric vehicle support
-
Education, science, and technology collaboration via institutional tie-ups
This comprehensive package and strategic dialogue between India and Mauritius mark a renewed chapter of cooperation, promising sustainable development and fortified security in the Indian Ocean region that benefits both nations and their shared neighborhoods.
Source: Hindustan Times, PIB India, Reuters, The Tribune, Business Standard
Advertisement
Advertisement
