Deepening bilateral ties, Prez Kovind to visit Mauritius and Madagascar

New Delhi, March 10: Tuning in to increase India’s focus on Indian Ocean Regions and rooting the relationship, President Ram Nath Kovind will embark on a five day visit to Mauritius and Madagascar from tomorrow. In this series of visit the country is expected to sign four MoU with the island regions.

 

Briefing the media about the same, Joint Secretary of External Affairs Sanjay Panda informed that the diaspora linkage is very important part of bilateral ties with Mauritius which is a home to large number of ethnic Indians. There has been qualitative improvement between India and Mauritius after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit in the year 2015.

Sighting the relationship,in the last two years, India and Mauritius ahs signed a double taxation avoidance agreement and a million economic package. The President will inaugurate the World Hindi Secretarait that has built with India’s assistance.

On the second leg of his visit from Wednesday, the President will reach Madagascar, which has close naval trade links with India since the 18th century. Joint Secretary, MEA, Neena Malhotra said, India has a very warm and cordial relation with Madagascar and it is ready to further deepen its relations in several areas with that country. The President will hold talks with the top leadership there. She further said Mr Kovind’s visit to the nation is expected to bridge the gap in high level visits between the two countries.

However, the choice of Presidential visit also reflects the historical ties with the two countries with a good-sized Indian-origin population.