India–Mauritius relations

Indo-Mauritian relations

India
Mauritius
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritius Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth during the former's state visit, March 2015.
Mauritius naval officers welcome Indian Navy personnel at Port Louis, Mauritius on 31 October 2014.
Adm. Robin K. Dhowan inspecting a guard of honour in Mauritius, January 2015.

India–Mauritius (or Indo-Mauritian relations) refers to the historical, political, economic, military, social and cultural connections between the Republic of India and the Republic of Mauritius. Connexions between India and Mauritius date back to 1730, diplomatic relations were established in 1948, before Mauritius became independent state.[1] The cultural affinities and long historical ties between the two nations have contributed to strong and cordial relations between the two nations. More than 68% of the Mauritian population are of Indian origin, most commonly known as Indo-Mauritians. India and Mauritius co-operate in combating piracy, which has emerged as a major threat in the Indian Ocean region and Mauritius supports India’s stance against terrorism.[2]

History

The relationship between Mauritius and India date back to the early 1730s, when artisans were brought from Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu.[1] Diplomatic relations between India and Mauritius were established in 1948. Mauritius maintained contacts with India through successive Dutch, French and British occupation. From the 1820s, Indian workers started coming into Mauritius to work on sugar plantations. From 1834 when slavery was abolished by the British Parliament, large numbers of Indian workers began to be brought into Mauritius as indentured labourers. On 2 November 1834 the ship named 'Atlas' docked in Mauritius carrying the first batch of Indian indentured labourers. This day is now observed in Mauritius as 'Aapravasi Day'. In all, about half a million Indian indentured labourers are estimated to have been brought into Mauritius between 1834 and the early decades of the 20th century, out of whom about two-thirds settled permanently in Mauritius.[3] In Mauritius they were embarked at the Aapravasi Ghat in Port Louis, the site effectively acted as Mauritius’ security guarantor, and occupies a role in Mauritian security which a US report has assessed as Mauritius’ “willing subordination to India.”[4][5] A key turning point in the relationship came in 1983, when India came to the point of military intervention in Mauritius in Operation Lal Dora to ensure that it stayed in India’s strategic orbit.[6] In 2015, Indian Prime Minister signed an agreement to set up eight Indian-controlled coastal surveillance radar stations.[7]

Trade

Economic and commercial corporation has been increasing over the years. India has become Mauritius’ largest source of imports since 2007 and Mauritius imported US$816 million worth of goods in the April 2010-March 2011 financial year. Mauritius has remained the largest source of FDI for India for more than a decade with FDI equity inflows totalling US$55.2 billion in the period April 2000 to April 2011.[2]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Relations of India and Mauritius.

References

  1. 1 2 Mookhesswur Choonee. "A Perspective for Future". http://issuu.com. p. 4. Retrieved 22 September 2012. External link in |publisher= (help)
  2. 1 2 "India Special Report – T.P. Seetharam : Mauritius has remained the largest source of FDI for India for more than a decade". Le Defimedia. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  3. ↑ "India-Mauritius relations". Ministry of External Affairs. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  4. ↑ Report from US Embassy Port Louis to US Secretary of State, “Mauritius Denies Plan To Cede Agalega Islands To India, But Issue Shows Mauritian Subordination”, 15 December 2006, published in The Hindu, 2 April 2011.
  5. ↑ David Brewster. "India's Ocean: the Story of India's Bid for Regional Leadership. Retrieved 13 August 2014".
  6. ↑ David Brewster. "India's Ocean: the Story of India's Bid for Regional Leadership. Retrieved 13 August 2014".
  7. ↑ Oscar Nkala. "India Developing Network of Coastal Radars".
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