India extended a $500 million Line of Credit (LoC) to Mauritius as the two countries signed an accord on maritime security to effectively manage conventional and non-conventional threats in the Indian Ocean.
‘’The agreement on LoC was a good example of India’s strong and continuing commitment towards the development of Mauritius. It will also help in the implementation of priority projects,’’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a joint media interaction with his visiting Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth during which the two leaders discussed a range of issues, particularly cooperation in ensuring maritime security around the coasts and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). Jugnauth is currently on a three-day State Visit to India, his first overseas trip after becoming the PM in January.
two sides also exchanged documents on setting up a civil services college in Mauritius and for cooperation between CSIR and Mauritius Oceanography Institute.
Effective management of threats in the Indian Ocean was essential to pursue economic opportunities, protect the livelihood of the people and provide them security, the Indian leader said, adding that India-Mauritius cooperation was very important to achieve these objectives.
He said both countries must be vigilant against piracy that impacted trade and tourism, drugs and human trafficking, illegal fishing and other forms of illegal exploitation of marine resources.
"The conclusion of the bilateral Maritime Security Agreement today will strengthen our mutual cooperation and capacities," he said.
Modi said the two countries had also agreed to further strengthen their wide-ranging cooperation in hydrography for a secure and peaceful maritime domain. India would support the National Coast Guard (NCG) of Mauritius in augmenting its capacity through Project Trident, an integrated development project of the NCG.
"We have also taken a decision to renew the life of the Coast Guard Ship Guardian, that was provided to Mauritius, under a grant assistance programme," he stated.
Mauritius submitted its instrument of ratification of the India-initiated International Solar Alliance, conceived as a coalition of solar resource-rich countries to address their special energy needs and provide a platform to collaborate on dealing with the identified gaps through a common, agreed approach. "The signing and ratification of the framework agreement on International Solar Alliance by Mauritius has opened up new vistas of regional partnership for both countries in this field," Modi said.
On his part, Jugnauth said that both Mauritius and India agreed that there could be no compromise when it came to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"We have developed a strong bilateral cooperation between Mauritius and India in the field of defence and security," he said. Jugnauth also expressed Mauritius's "unwavering support" to India's bid for permanent membership in the UN Security Council.
He said he had also discussed with Modi the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) between the two countries.