Indian PM Narendra Modi will visit Mauritius next week as the chief guest for the National Day celebrations of the country on March 12, Ministry of External Affairs said.

He will be visiting the country from March 11-March 12.

"A contingent of Indian Defence Forces will participate in the celebrations along with a ship from the Indian Navy. Prime Minister last visited Mauritius in 2015," read a statement issued by the MEA.

PM Invites Modi

He will be visiting the country at the invitation of his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam.

"During the visit, Prime Minister will call on the President of Mauritius, meet the Prime Minister, and hold meetings with senior dignitaries and leaders of political parties in Mauritius," read the statement.

The Prime Minister will also interact with the members of the Indian-origin community, and inaugurate the Civil Service College and the Area Health Centre, both built with India’s grant assistance.

A number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will be exchanged during the visit.

"India and Mauritius share a close and special relationship rooted in shared historical, cultural and people to people ties. Further, Mauritius forms an important part of India’s Vision SAGAR, i.e., Security and growth for All in the Region," read the statement issued by the MEA.

MEA said the visit will reaffirm the strong and enduring bond between India and Mauritius and reinforce the shared commitment of both countries to enhance the bilateral relationship across all sectors.

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.