Now Revealing Why India And The Famous Mauritius Are Connected

Known by its official name, the Republic of Mauritius, Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean located east of Madagascar and roughly 2,000 kilometres (1,100 nautical miles) off the southeast coast of Africa.

It consists of the main island, popularly known as Mauritius, and the Cargados Carajos Shoals of Rodrigues, Agaléga, and St. Brandon. The Mascarene Islands comprise Agalega, St. Brandon, Rodrigues, and other nearby French overseas departments in Réunion, as well as the island of Mauritius. Port Louis, the capital and largest city, is located on the main island of Mauritius, where the majority of the population resides. With an exclusive economic zone encompassing 2,300,000 square kilometres (670,000 square nautical miles), the nation is 2,040 square kilometres (790 sq mi) in size.

Due to its stunning beaches, lagoons, and reefs, Mauritius is a well-liked tourist destination located in the Indian Ocean. National Mauritius Day is observed annually on March 12 in remembrance of the day the island nation became a constitutional monarchy in 1968.

In Mauritius, the day is observed with considerable fanfare and extravagance each year.
Over the years, the country and India have had excellent relations; in fact, the current prime minister, Pravind Jugnauth, is descended from Indians. President Droupadi Murmu is travelling to Mauritius for the first time as head of state, and she will be the primary guest during the nation’s National Day festivities.

Notably, since 2000, this is the sixth time an Indian president has travelled to Mauritius for the country’s National Day. This post will teach us about the relationship that exists between India and Mauritius.

Mauritian bilateral relations with India
The Indian population of Mauritius makes up over 70% of the total population. Numerous Indians were brought to Mauritius in search of employment during the British colonial era. November 2, 1834, was the day that the first group of those Indian labourers landed there; nowadays, the nation celebrates this day as “Aapravasi Diwas.” Even before it attained constitutional monarchy, India had diplomatic ties with the island nation in 1948. The World Hindi Secretariat and the largest Indian Cultural Centre in the world are located in Mauritius, where there are strong cultural relations between the two countries.

The partnership during the COVID-19 outbreak

India dispatched a medical team, along with 13 tonnes of pharmaceuticals and 10 tonnes of Ayurvedic treatments, to Mauritius amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, India was the first nation to give Mauritius COVID vaccinations. In exchange, India received 200 oxygen concentrators from Mauritius during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Relations between the economy and defence
One of Mauritius’s largest commercial partners, India, received $161 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) from the island nation between 2000 and 2022. However, over the past five years, Indian corporations have spent over $200 million in Mauritius, and at present, 11 public sector undertakings (PSUs) are functioning in the island nation. Moreover, India imports medical equipment, aluminium alloys, and other items and exports cotton, cereals, and pharmaceuticals. India and Mauritius have a long history of cooperation in the defence sector. In 2021, the former will give Mauritius a $100 million Line of Credit to purchase defence goods. Additionally, India is giving money to Mauritius to support the construction of a number of projects, such as hospitals and schools.