Indian PM Narendra Modi reached Mauritius on Tuesday for a two-day official visit to the country, where his Mauritian counterpart Navin Ramgoolam welcomed him at the airport.

After arriving at the airport, Modi wrote on X: "Landed in Mauritius. I am grateful to my friend, PM Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, for the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport. This visit is a wonderful opportunity to engage with a valued friend and explore new avenues for collaboration in various sectors. "

On the first day of his visit to the East Africa country, Modi is scheduled to meet President Dharam Gokhool, PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam and address a community programme.

National Day celebrations 

Modi is visiting Mauritius at the invitation of PM Navin Ramgoolam.

He will be the chief guest at the National Day celebrations of the country on March 12.

A contingent of Indian Defence Forces will participate in the celebrations, along with a ship from the Indian Navy.

Modi calls Mauritius a  close maritime neighbour

In his speech ahead of departing for Mauritius, Modi described as a key partner in the Indian Ocean.

He said: "Mauritius is a close maritime neighbour, a key partner in the Indian Ocean, and a gateway to the African Continent."

He said: "We are connected by history, geography and culture. Deep mutual trust, a shared belief in the values of democracy, and celebration of our diversity are our strengths."

The PM  said: "The close and historical people-to-people connect is a source of shared pride. We have made significant strides in the past ten years with people centric initiatives."

He said :"I look forward to the opportunity to engage with the Mauritius leadership to elevate our partnership in all its facets and strengthen our enduring friendship for the progress and prosperity of our peoples, as well as for security and development in the Indian Ocean Region, as part of our Vision SAGAR."

Modi said he is hopeful that his visit will build on the foundations of the past and open a new and bright chapter in the India and Mauritius relationship.

The Prime Minister last visited Mauritius in 2015.

India-Mauritius bilateral ties

India has close and longstanding relations with Mauritius, an island nation in the Western Indian Ocean, anchored in shared history, demography and culture. A key reason for the special ties is the fact that Indian-origin people comprise nearly 70% of the island’s population of 1.2 million (28% Creole, 3% Sino-Mauritian, 1% Franco-Mauritian), read the Indian Embassy in Mauritius website.

Mauritius is a former British and French colony that gained independence from British rule in 1968. Under the nearly century-long French rule (in the year 1729), the first Indians were brought to Mauritius from the Puducherry region, to work as artisans and masons.

Under British rule, about half a million Indian indentured workers were brought to Mauritius between 1834 and the early 1900’s.

About two-thirds of these workers permanently settled down in Mauritius. The first batch of these workers, comprising 36 persons, arrived in Mauritius on November 2, 1834 onboard the ship ‘Atlas’. This day is now observed in Mauritius as ‘Aapravasi Diwas’.

Mauritius was one of the handful of important countries with which independent India established diplomatic relations in 1948, even before the independence of Mauritius. India was represented by an Indian Commissioner in British-ruled Mauritius between 1948 and 1968 and thereafter, by a High Commissioner after Mauritius became independent in 1968.

The relationship has been characterized by a high level of trust and mutual understanding at the leadership level and continued high-level political engagement.

These special ties have resulted in uniquely close cooperation in maritime security, development partnership, capacity-building, cooperation in international fora, technical assistance through deputation of Indian experts to GOM, vibrant cultural exchanges and close people-to-people ties.