Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam met Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Varanasi on Thursday and discussed ways to deepen the multifaceted bilateral partnership between New Delhi and Port Louis.
“Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri called on PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam of Mauritius today in Varanasi. Discussed multifaceted partnership and reaffirmed commitment in strengthening the India-Mauritius Enhanced Strategic Partnership anchored in shared history, culture & people-to-people ties,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a post on X.
The Mauritian Prime Minister is on an eight-day state visit to India. The bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ramgoolam in the historic city of Varanasi underscores the enduring civilizational connection, spiritual bonds, and deep-rooted people-to-people ties between India and Mauritius.
Earlier in the day, as the Prime Minister reached his parliamentary constituency, BJP workers lined the streets and showered flowers on his convoy. The city has been decked up for the high-level meeting.
The Varanasi summit is expected to showcase the civilisational connect, spiritual linkages, and people-to-people bonds that underpin the India-Mauritius relationship.
Mauritius, a close maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region, is seen as pivotal to New Delhi’s MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Region) vision and its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. The partnership is also positioned as contributing to the aspirations of the Global South.
On Wednesday, addressing a business conclave in Maharashtra, Ramgoolam described Mauritius as India’s most reliable partner and said there are “huge business opportunities” between the two nations.
Ramgoolam last visited India in 2014, when he was the only non-SAARC leader invited to Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.
India and Mauritius share a longstanding relationship — New Delhi established diplomatic ties with the island nation in 1948, even before Mauritius gained independence. The MEA describes the bond as one built on trust, shared history, and sustained high-level engagement.