PM lands in Port Louis ahead of Mauritius national day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Port Louis on Tuesday, 11 March, to attend Mauritius’s 57th National Day celebrations on 12 March as chief guest.

Upon arrival on Tuesday morning, Modi expressed gratitude to Mauritian PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“This visit is a wonderful opportunity to engage with a valued friend (Mauritus) and explore new avenues for collaboration in various sectors,” Modi posted.

During the visit, Modi will meet President Dharam Gokhool, and address a community program.

“I am confident that this visit will build on the foundations of the past and open a new and bright chapter in the India and Mauritius relationship,” Modi had said in a statement ahead of his visit.

Modi’s visit to the archipelago comes barely a month after Ramgoolam expressed displeasure about the terms of a deal that his predecessor, Pravind Jugnauth, negotiated with the United Kingdom over the Chagos Islands.

The UK recently returned sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia, to Mauritius, but retained the right to use Diego Garcia as a US-UK military base under a 99-year lease.

Ramgoolam said in February that the lease payments the UK agreed to pay Mauritius were not inflation-proof and should have included a larger upfront sum. This concern has led to ongoing discussions between Mauritius and the UK regarding Diego Garcia’s lease terms. Experts suggest these terms will likely be raised during Modi and Ramgoolam’s talks.

During his two-day visit, Modi will inaugurate projects including the Civil Service College and Area Health Centre, both built with Indian grants, and engage with Indian Navy and Air Force contingents in defense activities.

In his statement Modi had stressed on mutual prosperity and progress for both nations and highlighted regional security and development aligned with India’s Vision SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).

Reflecting India’s strategic aims in the Indian Ocean, Modi first introduced Vision SAGAR in Mauritius on 12 March 2015 during his previous visit a decade ago.

SAGAR represents India’s maritime initiative focused on promoting cooperation, security, and sustainable development amid increasing geopolitical competition.

Modi described Mauritius as India’s close maritime neighbor, a vital partner in the Indian Ocean, and a gateway to Africa.

He emphasized that India and Mauritius share deep historical, geographical, and cultural ties, noting, “Deep mutual trust, a shared belief in democratic values, and celebration of our diversity are our strengths.”

He further highlighted their strong historical people-to-people connections as a source of pride, adding, “We have made significant strides in the past ten years through people-centric initiatives.”