Stating that India has always given full support to the development priorities of Mauritius, she said that both sides were finalising a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which the Metro Express project and other projects announced by Jugnauth in his budget could begin to be implemented. “The long-standing request from Mauritius for restarting negotiations of CECPA (Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement) and PTA (Preferential Trade Agreement) had also been met, with discussions yesterday (Monday) in Port Louis,” the source said. 

Mrs Swaraj thanked Mr Jugnauth for the “forward looking decision” which had allowed the protocol on the amendment of the Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC) and said this has added to Mauritius’s financial credentials. On his part, Mr Jugnauth reiterated Mauritius’s consistent support for India’s candidature as a member in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council (UNSC).  

“In terms of people-to-people contacts, the two leaders discussed the construction of the World Hindi Secretariat in Mauritius,” a source said. “The External Affairs Minister invited significant participation from Mauritius in the forthcoming Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2017 to be held in Bengaluru.” Mrs Swaraj said that India would be sending a delegation to Mauritius this month to examine the Girmitya records for giving them Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards. Girmityas are descendants of indentured Indian labourers who were taken to Mauritius during the British rule.