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India-Mauritius : Bilateral Relations

T he visit of Indian President Pranab Mukherjee as Chief Guest at our of f icial celebrations marking the 45th Independence Anniversary of Mauritius and the 21st Anniversary of the Republic, on 12 March 2013, is yet another huge milestone in f urther cementing the special bond between Mauritius and India. News on Sunday highlights the main events and f eatures of the long-established Bilateral relations between the two countries that started even bef ore independence with the visit of eminent Indian personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi himself and Manilal Doctor, among others. One of the hallmarks of bilateral relations between India and Mauritius has been the regular exchange of visits at the highest level. Presidential visits f rom India have taken place in 1985, 2001, 2006 and 2011 and f rom Mauritius in 1992, 1993, 1997, 2002 and 2013. Vice-Presidential visits f rom India have taken place in 1991, 1994 and 1998. Vice-Presidents of Mauritius have visited India in 1995, 2005, 2006 and 2009. From the Indian side Prime Ministerial visits have taken place in 1970, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1992, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2005. Prime Ministerial visits f rom Mauritius have taken place in 1969, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1985, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2012. T he Mauritius Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam was on a f our-day State Visit to India f rom February 6-10, 2012. He presided over two business f orum meets in New Delhi (Feb 8) and Mumbai (Feb 9) and was made Doctor Honoris Causa at the University of Kurukshetra. Five Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed in the areas of Science and Technology, education, sports and youth, textiles and in the setting up of a hybrid planetarium at RGSC. A new economic package comprising an LOC of US$ 250 million and a grant of US$ 20 million was announced during the visit. President Rajkeswur Purryag paid a State Visit to India f rom January 3 to 10, 2013. He visited Bihar (where he visited his ancestral village of Wajitpur and was given a civic reception by the Government of Bihar) and Tirupati. T hereaf ter, he travelled to Kochi where he was the Chief Guest at the 11th PBD Convention on January 7-9, 2013. He was also awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.

Projects undertaken by Indian companies in Mauritius Some of the high-visibility Indian-assisted projects in Mauritius include the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, the Upadhyay Training Centre, the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, the Subramania Bharati Eye Centre, Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre and the Rabindranath Tagore Institute. T he most prestigious symbols of recent Indian assistance are the Cyber Tower at Ebene and the Swami Vivekananda International Conf erence Centre (SVICC). Fortis Group has partners in local Clinique Darn. Apollo Hospitals in collaboration with the local British American Investment (BAI) Group started its operations in August 2009. Agarwals Eye Hospital started its Mauritius operations on March 17, 2010. Ajanta Pharma and Parenteral Drugs India Ltd (which has taken over the local f acility, Mascareignes Co Ltd, Mauritius) both Indian companies- are engaged in the manuf acturing of pharmaceutical products and cater to the needs of the local Mauritian market. Prime Minister Ramgoolam launched the Global Board of Trade (GBOT ) Commodities Exchange on October 15, 2010. M/s Suzlon is in the process of setting up a 29.4 MW wind energy project in Mauritius in partnership with M/s Padgreen. Credit Lines Extended to Mauritius Transport vehicle manuf acturers such as Tata and Ashok Leyland have established their presence in Mauritius through openings provided by credit lines. Till 1997, the total credit extended by GOI to Mauritius amounted to INR. 65 crores. In 2001, India extended a credit line of US$ 100 million f or the development and promotion of IT in Mauritius, part of which was used f or the construction of the cyber-tower at Ebne. An amount of US$ 7.5 million was extended to the Mauritius side f or completion of the Swami Vivekananda International Conf erence Centre (another US$ 7.5 million was provided by Government of India as an outright grant f or this project). T he Of f shore Patrol Vessel (OPV) which will cost US$ 58.5 million is being partially f unded out of the EXIM Bank LOC (US$ 48.5 million) and the remaining US$ 10 million f rom the grant portion. T he other def ence procurements out of the grant were supply of ALH Dhruv on November 3, 2009 (US$10.424054 million) by HAL and Coastal Surveillance Radar System ( 2.46 million) in March 2011. During the State Visit of the Prime Minister to India in February 2012, a new economic package comprising an LOC of US$ 250 million and a grant of US$ 20 million was announced. Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre (RGSC) T he Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre was set up with the Indian assistance in 2004 af ter a MoU was signed in 1998 between the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) and the Ministry of Education of Mauritius. T he Government of India through the NCSM provided exhibits f or f ive galleries, an outdoor science park, a Mobile Science Exhibition and an inf latable planetarium. At the 10th Session of the Indo-Mauritian Joint Commission held in December 2007 in Mauritius, the proposal to set up a Hybrid Planetarium in the RGSC premises and the extension of the existing building was made. T he Mauritian side has earmarked land in the present premises of RGSC f or the construction of the planetarium and technical drawings have already been sent to the Indian side. A MOU between RGSC and the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) was signed in February 2012 f or setting up a hybrid planetarium, renewal of exhibits, new exhibits, training of staf f ; f inancing arrangements at the RGSC. Under the MOU, an estimated 104.6 million Indian Rupees will be made available to the NCSM by the MEA f or the above purposes.

Cooperation in the field of Education Nearly100 scholarships are extended annually to Mauritian students f or higher education in India. Another 200 Mauritian students enroll themselves in Indian Universities every year on a self -f inancing basis. T he Open University of Mauritius has institutional linkages with the IGNOU in terms of curriculum development and advocacy programmes. JSS Academy, BIT S, Kurukshetra University and Amity University already have a presence in Mauritius. T he D.Y. Patil University is of f ering Post-Graduate Medical courses at the University Technology of Mauritius and the Amity University is of f ering distance education courses. An Indian promoter is managing the SSR Medical College f or M.B.B.S. students. C-SAC [an institution set up as a joint initiative of the University of Mauritius and the Centre f or Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), an autonomous scientif ic society under the Department of Inf ormation Technology, Government of India] is also of f ering IT-related courses in Mauritius in conjunction with the University of Mauritius. IGNOU has helped the University of Mauritius f or setting the Open University of Mauritius. Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI) T he Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI) was established in 1970 as a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Mauritius f or the promotion of Indian culture and education. Government of India extended a one-time grant of INR 50 lakhs and a recurring annual grant of INR 5 lakhs to the Institute f or modernisation of the MGIs Indian Studies programme. T he MGI has an MOU with the Central Institute f or Indian Languages, Mysore. A Visiting Chair of Sanskrit and Indian Philosophy between ICCR and MGI has been set up since January 2011 under an MOU signed during the visit of EAM in July, 2010. An MOU is under consideration f or the setting up the Annadurai Chair of Tamil Studies at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute. Rabindranath Tagore Institute (RT I) T he Rabindranath Tagore Institute was established with the assistance of the Government of India in 2000 as a Centre of Studies of Indian Culture and Traditions and to promote education and culture generally. T he RT I has Departments of Drama, Indian Music and Dance, and Arts and Craf ts. It has a Permanent Gallery on the lif e and works of Tagore (with the assistance of Rabindra Bhavan, Kolkata) and a Central Library (with contribution of Government of India and Rabindra Bhavan). T he Institute has established an annual Tagore Memorial Lecture. RT I maintains close links with Shantiniketan. T here is a move to upgrade the RT I to the Rabindranath Tagore University. Hydrography A Memorandum of Understanding in the f ield of Hydrography between India and Mauritius was signed during the visit of the Prime Minister of Mauritius to India in October 2005. T he MOU provides f or the promotion of development and cooperation in the f ield of hydrography between the two countries. T he two sides also concluded the Protocol on the Sale of Nautical Charts in 2009 which allows f or the sale of nautical charts produced and handed over by India, to mariners in Mauritius. In January-February 2006, the Indian Navy Survey Ship INS Sarvekshak undertook extensive hydrographic work around the main as well as the outlying islands of Mauritius. In March-April 2007, INS Sarvekshak carried out the second phase of the survey work around the Main Island and Port Mathurin in Rodrigues. In March-April 2008, the Indian Naval Survey Ship INS Investigator was deployed in Mauritian waters to undertake survey work in the Saint Brandon island area. In March-April 2009, Indian Naval Ship INS Nirdeshak undertook the survey of St Brandon, Black River Bay, Tamarin Bay, Grand Bay and Rivire des Galets. INS Nirdeshak visited Mauritius f rom March 26-April 26, 2010 and conducted surveys of the Saya de Malha transect, remaining 30% of St. Brandon, Grand Port and Flic en Flac. With the help of Indian Naval Hydrographic surveys, nearly 75% of Mauritian waters of f its coasts have been surveyed, the only country in Af rica to have done so.

T he data pertaining to Saya de Malha and other regions were used to substantiate joint claim of Mauritius and Seychelles f or an additional EEZ of 396,000 sq km of Exclusive Economic Z one. Following the Seventh Joint Hydrography Meeting held in Port Louis in February 2012, INS Darshak visited Mauritius f rom April 22May 17, 2012 to carry out survey tasks agreed upon during the Meeting. T he Chief of the Naval Staf f Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi visited Mauritius f rom February 2-7, 2013. An Inshore Survey Vessel Pathf inder costing US$ 1 million was gif ted to the Mauritian side during his visit. Cooperation in Cultural Matters Active cultural exchanges with Mauritius take place both under of f icially sponsored programmes and through a wide non-of f icial network of Indo-Mauritian socio-cultural organisations engaged in the task of keeping Indian culture and languages alive. Regular exchange of artists and cultural troupes are undertaken both within and outside the Cultural Exchange Programme. Promotion of Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Urdu is actively f ollowed up. Dr. Karan Singh, President, Indian Council f or Cultural relations (ICCR) visited Mauritius and Reunion Island f rom September 30-October 3, 2012. He delivered the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Lecture at MGI, was conf erred a Honoris Causa degree by the University of Mauritius and unveiled a bust of mathematician S. Ramanujan. T he Indira Gandhi Centre f or Indian Culture (IGCIC) was inaugurated in March 2000. T he Centre has emerged as an important primary venue f or cultural events in Mauritius. T he IGCIC holds classes in the disciplines of Carnatic Music, Kathak, Tabla and Yoga f or Mauritian students. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Mauritius T he 6th Overseas Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention or PBD Mauritius was held f rom October 26-28, 2012. T he Prime Minister, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam inaugurated the Convention on October 27 while President Rajkeswur Purryag was the Chief Guest at the Closing ceremony. T he Indian Minister f or Overseas Indian Af f airs, Shri Vayalar Ravi, visited Mauritius on October 26-27, 2012 in connection with the event. Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Kerala were partner states. Bihar Tourism Minister Shri Sunil Kumar Pintu, Rajasthan State NRI Department Head and OIFC delegation comprising FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM took part in the event. Several concurrent events leading up to the main Convention were held including the India-Mauritius Business Round-Table, an Academic Conclave on the Indian Diaspora, an Art Exhibition, a Stamp Exhibition, and a week-long Indian Film Festival. Trade and Commerce India is Mauritius largest trading partner and has been the largest exporter of goods and services to Mauritius since 2007. As f ar as Financial Year 2011-2012 is concerned, Department of Commerce, Government of India f igures indicates that India exported goods worth US$ 1.4 billion to Mauritius and imported goods worth US$ 39.13 million f rom Mauritius. Indias exports to Mauritius comprise largely petroleum products. A three-year Agreement was renewed between the Mangalore Ref inery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) and the State Trading Corporation of Mauritius f or supply of all petroleum requirements of Mauritius in July 2010. T his agreement expires in July 2013. Indian public enterprises Several Indian Public Enterprises have branches in Mauritius. T he Bank of Baroda (BoB), Lif e Insurance Corporation (LIC), and New India Assurance Corporation (NIAC) were the f irst to establish operations f ollowed by other PSUs including India Handloom House, Telecommunications Consultant India Ltd (T CIL), Indian Oil (Mauritius) Limited (IOML), Mahanagar Telephone (Mauritius) Ltd. and State Bank of India (Mauritius) Limited. T he PSUs have contributed to various activities in Mauritius under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) schemes. Bilateral Agreements with Mauritius India and Mauritius have signed a large number of bilateral agreements. Some of the important agreements are: Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (1982) Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (1998)

Agreement f or Cooperation in Inf ormation Technology (2000) MoU on Cooperation in Biotechnology (2002) MoU Concerning Cooperation in the Exchange of Finance Intelligence (2008) MoU on Cooperation against Terrorism (2005) MoU on Cooperation in the f ield of Environment (2005) MoU f or Cooperation in the f ield of Hydrography (2005) MoU f or setting up a Pref erential Trade Agreement (2005) MoU on the setting up of Public Key Inf rastructure (PKI) in Mauritius based on Indian PKI model (2009) Protocol on the Sale of Navigational Charts (2009) MoU between the Government of India and the Government of Mauritius f or supply of the Coastal Surveillance Radar System (2009) MoU on Cooperation f or Early Warning Arrangement f or Coastal Hazards between T he Meteorological Services, GOM and the Indian National Centre f or Ocean inf ormation Services (INCOIS), GOI (2010)

IT EC and Technical Cooperation Under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (IT EC) programme, 170 civilian and 100 def ence slots are being of f ered to Mauritius in the Financial Year (FY) 2012-13. In addition, slots are allocated f or various def ence-related training programmes in institutions in India. Approximately 20 Mauritian of f icials f rom various Ministries/Departments including the Mauritius Police Force, Road Development Authority, Central Electricity Board, Central Water Authority, and others availed of the IAFS -1 Special Training Courses in FY 2012-13. Cooperation in Information Technology Inf ormation Technology has emerged as the one of the most prominent areas of technical cooperation between India and Mauritius. An Agreement f or cooperation between the two countries in the IT sector was signed in 2000. Some prominent Indian IT companies, such as INFOSYS, have established operations in Mauritius. IT has also emerged as an important area in the training slots provided to Mauritius under the IT EC scheme. Inf osys has sponsored specialised training courses f or Mauritian graduates at its campus in Mysore, who were then employed at Inf osys, Mauritius. An Indian call centre 24 X 7 catering to the Francophonie market has recruited Mauritian IT prof essionals f or its call centre in India. Cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy India and Mauritius signed an MOU on Cooperation in the f ield of Renewable Energy in 2005 which set up a JWG to discuss germane issues. Within the ambit of this MOU, delegations f rom the Solar Energy Centre and Centre f or Wind Energy Technology have visited Mauritius to conduct training courses f or Mauritian technicians and experts. T he Indian Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah visited Mauritius in January 2012. Textiles A MOU on cooperation in the f ield of Textiles was signed between India and Mauritius in February 2012. T he f irst Joint Committee Meeting under the MOU was held in New Delhi on July 23-24. T he 2nd Joint Committee Meeting was held in Port Louis on January 28, 2013. Five institutional-level MoUs were signed along with a Letter of Intent outlining an implementation Plan f or the measures announced by the Indian Minister of Commerce, Industry and Textiles during his visit to Mauritius on January 8-10, 2013 training f or 1000 workers, 35 scholarships and development of a compliance code f or 10 f actories. CLIQUEZ ICI POUR COMMENT ER