India, Mauritius Sign 7 MoUs on Education, Energy, Health

• India, Mauritius ink 7 MoUs across key sectors
• New projects include solar plant, e-buses, health centres
• Boost to security, UPI, RuPay, local currency trade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam engaged in in-depth dialogue in Varanasi recently to enhance cooperation in the fields of education, health, energy, maritime security and infrastructure.

The two heads of government concluded their meeting by signing seven Memorandam of Understandings (MoUs) in various important sectors, and announced a new special economic package for Mauritius in order to strengthen infrastructure, jobs and health care.

In the area of science & technology, the Department of Science & Technology in India will cooperate with the conduct of Mauritius’ Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, while the CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography will cooperate in scientific research with the Mauritius Oceanography Institute.

A MoU is being entered into between Karmayogi Bharat and the Ministry of Public Service of Mauritius in respect of the model of cooperative public service training.

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There was significant development in the energy sector, with an MoU supporting power developments in Mauritius as well as plans for a 17.5 MW floating solar PV project at Tamarind Falls, a project of NTPC Ltd and Mauritius’ Central Electricity Board, which is to be finalized soon. India also committed to help Mauritius transition to clean energy, including supplying 100 electric buses (10 of which have already been supplied) .

Moving on to space cooperation, it was agreed to expand cooperation and a new agreement establishing a Telemetry, Tracking & Telecommunications Station with additional joint research in space was signed. As for hydrography collaboration renewal, India will undertake the hydrographic survey of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Mauritius. India will also assist in the refitting of a ship of the Mauritius Coast Guard and will continue training.

In terms of health, there was the announcement of the first Jan Aushadhi Kendra outside India in Mauritius, an AYUSH Centre of Excellence, development of a veterinary school and hospital, and MoUs were signed for partnerships in academic linkages between IIT Madras, the Indian Institute of Plantation Management, and the University of Mauritius.

They decided to further advance digital and financial linkages, including trade in local currencies, and build upon the launch of UPI and RuPay last year.