India, Mauritius Ink 8 Pacts; Raise Ties To Better Strategic Tieup

Port Louis: India and Mauritius on Wednesday elevated their ties to an 'enhanced strategic partnership' and inked eight pacts to boost cooperation in several sectors including trade and maritime security even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled an ambitious vision for the development of the Global South.

The agreements inked will provide for promoting the use of national currencies for cross-border transactions, sharing of maritime data, joint work in combating money laundering and enhancing cooperation in the MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) sector.

On the second and final day of his two-day trip to Port Louis, Modi attended the national day celebrations of Mauritius as the chief guest. A contingent of Indian armed forces also participated in the celebrations along with a warship of the Indian Navy and the Akash Ganga skydiving team of the Indian Air Force.

Following talks with his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Modi announced India's new vision for Global South and named it "Mahasagar" or "Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions", a policy approach that came against the backdrop of China's relentless attempts to expand its influence in the Indian Ocean.

Modi said a free, open, secure, and safe Indian Ocean is the common priority of India and Mauritius and that he and Ramgoolam agreed that defence cooperation and maritime security are an important part of the strategic partnership between the two countries. "We are committed to extend full cooperation in the security of Mauritius' Exclusive Economic Zone," the prime minister said in his media statement. The unveiling of the new vision came 10 years after the prime minister announced during his visit to Mauritius in 2015 New Delhi's Sagar or Security and Growth for All in the Region policy that formed the bedrock for India's engagement with the Indian Ocean Region. "We have taken the Sagar vision forward for the stability and prosperity of this entire region. Today, taking it forward, I would like to say that our vision for the Global South will be, beyond Sagar -- (it will be) Mahasagar that is "Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions"," he said in a media statement.

Modi said the new approach will focus on the spirit of trade for development, capacity building for sustainable growth, and mutual security for a shared future.

"Under this, cooperation will be ensured through technology sharing, concessional loans and grants."

The Indian prime minister also said New Delhi will cooperate in building the new Parliament building in Mauritius and it will be a gift to the island nation from the 'Mother of Democracy'.