27 May, 2017
Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth today said a comprehensive economic cooperation pact with India is being negotiated that will boost bilateral trade and cross-border investments.
He was received at the airport by Minister of State for Human Resource Development Upendra Kushwaha. "Later in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold delegation level talks with his Mauritian counterpart".
This would be Jugnauth's first overseas visit after taking over as the Prime Minister from his father, Anerood Jugnauth in January.
The visiting Mauritius prime minister is also scheduled to call on Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice president Hamid Ansari, besides holding meetings with different Indian ministers.
"Investments in Mauritius will give Indian companies preferential market access to the U.S. and to Africa through the COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa)", he said, adding that Indian businesses could also profit from Mauritius' bilateral arrangements with many African countries.
Shortly after landing, the Mauritius Prime Minister would visit Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
The Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) leader is accompanied by his deputy Ivan Collendavelloo, and senior officials including the cabinet secretary and finance secretary of Mauritius.
Modi had visited the island nation in March, 2015, as Chief Guest at the Mauritian National Day celebrations.
Mauritius is home to a large number of people of Indian origin who are descendants of indentured Indian workers brought in the 19th century to work in sugarcane plantations.
