State Visit: Prime Minister Modi conferred Mauritius’s highest distinction

The Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Shri Narendra Modi will be bestowed with Mauritius’s highest honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean, making him the first Indian to receive this prestigious award. This was announced by the Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, during a Community event held in presence of his Indian counterpart, this evening at the Trianon Convention Centre.

The event, organised by the High Commission of India, was also graced by the Minister of the External Affairs of the Republic of India, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Paul Berenger, Ministers, Members of the National Assembly and other dignitaries were among the attendees.

As a special gesture, PM Modi presented the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards to the Mauritian Prime Minister Ramgoolam and his spouse, Mrs Veena Ramgoolam, announcing an extension of OCI eligibility to the seventh generation of the Indian diaspora in Mauritius.

Highlighting the enduring partnership between Mauritius and India, Dr Navin Ramgoolam reaffirmed Government’s commitment to further cement the affectionate bonds between the two nations and build a stronger foundation for a prosperous future, aligned with the aspirations of the people. He acknowledged India’s profound contribution in various sectors namely science, IT, high technology medicine and arts and culture and expressed gratitude to the Indian diaspora for their key role in supporting wealth creation to the Mauritian economy.

Prime Minister Ramgoolam spoke of India’s remarkable expertise and success in various sectors such as health, tourism, medical and hospitality services. Taking into account India’s stride in emerging fields such as financial services and artificial intelligence, he looks forward to further strengthening cooperation between the two nations by opening new avenues for capacity building.

Given the deep rooted cultural and historical ties binding the two countries, stated Mr Ramgoolam, India has offered unparalleled accessibility to countless Mauritians thus leading to greater demands for OCI cards. The extension of the OCI to the seventh generation, he rejoiced, will enable more Mauritians to visit India, explore investment and financial opportunities, and maintain a lifelong connection with the nation. Likewise, he invited more foreign investors to come to Mauritius while indicating that Government will create an attractive investment climate with the setting up of a commercial court, enabling clarity, predictability and the rule of law.

Shri Narendra Modi expressed his deepest appreciation to the Mauritian Government for awarding him with the highest award of the country, an initiative which he welcomed with great humility. “It is a historic milestone marking the friendly ties of Mauritius and India and a moment of great pride for ancestors of the Indian origin who worked relentlessly in shaping the social, economic and cultural landscape of the country”, he stated.

Retracing the history of the Girmityas which has evolved into an inextricable link between Mauritius and India, PM Modi emphasised that both countries will work together in preserving its legacy which is deeply rooted in history, heritage and spirit. “Mauritius is not just a partner country. For us, Mauritius is family,” stated the Indian Prime Minister. He referred to Mauritius as a “Mini India”, a melting pot of cultures and habits which are evident in the language, arts, music, dance and culinary styles.

He further dwelt on the potential of Mauritius as bridging the gap and connecting India to the wider Global South while emphasising that the country is at the heart of the SAGAR vision in terms of investment, infrastructure, commerce or crisis response. “India has always stood with Mauritius in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic”, he added. With regard to the vulnerabilities of Mauritius, he underscored India’s engagement to protecting Mauritius’s national interest and securing the Indian Ocean region, which is threatened by illegal fishing, piracy, and crimes.

Outlining the benefits of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement signed in 2021, he underlined that it has opened new opportunities, giving Mauritius preferential access to the Indian markets. “It is boosting growth, creating jobs, and transforming industries”, he said, while reiterating India’s vision to become the world’s third-largest economy.