Remarks of Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs of India, Shri V. Muraleedharan

Inauguration of ‘Utsav-India Mauritius Shopping Carnival’ 01 November 2023, Mauritius

Hon. Mrs. Leela Devi-Dookun Luchoomun, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science & Technology, Government of Mauritius,

Hon. Maneesh Gobin, Attorney General and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Government of Mauritius,

Honorable Ministers of the Government of Mauritius,

H.E. Mr. Raouf Bundhun, Former Vice President of the Republic of Mauritius,

Representatives of the Government of Mauritius,

High Commissioner of India to Mauritius Mrs. K. Nandini Singla 

Mr. Narendra Kumar Jain, Director, Rajasthan Works Ltd. and Coordinator of this event,

Esteemed Exhibitors and Buyers from Mauritius & India,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and gentlemen.

With All protocols observed, I wish you all a very Good Morning, Bon jour, Namaste!

  I am delighted to be here today to jointly inaugurate the UTSAV: INDIA-MAURITIUS SHOPPING CARNIVAL, held as part of the celebrations of the 75th Anniversary of India-Mauritius Diplomatic Relations. This is my first visit to Mauritius and I hope that it will be the first of many! I am really touched by the warm welcome I have received in your beautiful country.

2.  I am glad to see wonderful arrangements here. Such Trade Fairs provide a common platform for traders, exporters, importers and business fraternities of both countries to connect and showcase a wide range of products. They provide a unique networking opportunity to both Indian and Mauritian businesses which could lead to joint ventures, tie-ups and also help bring in investments.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

3.  India and Mauritius share a special relationship that is built on the foundation of strong people-to-people ties. This foundation was forged by the Indian indentured labourers who arrived in Mauritius in 1834 to work in the sugarcane fields. It is a matter of immense pride that this ‘Girmitiya’ Indian community has helped transform Mauritius and they are today at the helm of leadership in every spheres in Mauritius. Indian culture and traditions continue to flourish in their most vibrant form in Mauritius and have become an integral part of this multi-cultural society.

4.  After Mauritius and India became independent, economic linkages formed an important pillar of our privileged partnership. India is one of Mauritius’s top trading partners; Mauritius is one of India’s top sources of FDI. India’s first Preferential Trade Agreement CECPA with any African country is with Mauritius. The idea of CECPA is to make Mauritius a springboard for Indian businesses and investments into Africa, tapping into the network of Free Trade Agreements Mauritius has with the African continent. 

5.  We will also be launching the Indian Rupay Card and UPI system shortly in Mauritius to enable Mauritian and Indian tourists and visitors to make debit card/credit card payments using their local Mauritian and Indian cards, without having to exchange currency. 

6.  Our bilateral trade is expanding with the setting up of the Special Rupee Vostro Account Facility last December, enabling for the first time, Mauritian and Indian traders to settle their cross-border financial transactions in Indian Rupees. 

7.  Recent signing of an MoU on Employment of Workers from India will help address labour and skill shortages in Mauritius. Looking ahead, I would urge Indian investors to also explore potential areas like education, ICT and healthcare in Mauritius. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

8.  The 75th year of our diplomatic relationship saw several new milestones, making it a truly historic year for both our countries. For the first time, India took over the Presidency of the G20. We showed how special Mauritius is to India, by inviting Mauritius as a Guest to the G20. The African Union's recent inclusion as a permanent member of the G20 is a concrete example of India’s commitment to championing the cause of developing countries at the global stage. The Global Biofuels Alliance towards a greener future was also launched at the G20 Summit in India, with Mauritius as one of its proud initiators. 

9.  I would like to congratulate and thank the Government of Mauritius and Rajasthan Works Limited once again for organising this important event as part of the celebration commemorating the 75th anniversary of establishment of Diplomatic Relations between our two countries. 

10.  I wish the Trade Fair all success.

Namaskar! Thank You! 

***