India, Mauritius sign deals to implement $680-million aid package

India, Mauritius sign deals to implement $680 million aid package; oil and gas pact under discussion to boost energy security

Updated on: Apr 9, 2026, 23:45:23 IST

By Rezaul H Laskar, New Delhi

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India and Mauritius concluded agreements on Thursday to implement projects under a $680 million economic assistance package provided by New Delhi, as external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam discussed ways to bolster cooperation across a range of areas.

External affairs minister S. Jaishankar and Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam discussed ways to bolster cooperation across a range of areas. (@DrSJaishankar)

The two leaders told a media interaction in Port Louis that both countries are finalising a government-to-government agreement on the supply of oil and gas by India to strengthen the energy security of Mauritius, especially against the backdrop of disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict.

The two leaders witnessed the finalisation of agreements for projects under the special economic package, which was announced during Ramgoolam’s visit to India last September. The package includes budgetary support of $25 million and several projects to be undertaken with a mix of grants and loans.

Jaishankar said the package reaffirms India’s commitment to the development of infrastructure, health and security in Mauritius. He also announced that India will post a defence attaché in Mauritius.

The two leaders inaugurated 11 India-backed community development projects in sectors such as sustainable development, energy, sports and infrastructure, and launched a “Karmayogi portal” for training Mauritian civil servants. This is the first such project implemented by India in a partner country to strengthen governance and administration.

A memorandum of understanding was also finalised for cooperation between India’s University Grants Commission and the Higher Education Commission of Mauritius. Mauritius handed over a royalty cheque for $45,000 for the sale of nautical charts prepared through bilateral cooperation in hydrography.

Jaishankar and Ramgoolam also discussed cooperation in maritime security, development assistance, health, education, mobility and technology, as well as developments in West Asia and their impact.

Ramgoolam thanked India for its assistance to Mauritius in diverse sectors. “India has always stood by us, especially in trying moments of our history,” he said, adding that this aid is a “glimmer of hope in such a difficult moment”, when all countries are reeling under the impact of the war in West Asia.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rezaul H Laskar
Rezaul Hasan Laskar is Foreign Editor with the Hindustan Times, which he joined in 2015. He began as a journalist in his hometown of Shillong in northeast India and has worked in newspapers and wire services over the years. He moved to New Delhi in 1997 and initially focused on defence, national security, Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, while also working of foreign policy and international relations. He has been part of the media delegation accompanying PMs on foreign visits and has reported from destinations ranging from Tibet to Ukraine. Between 2007 and 2013, he was the Press Trust of India correspondent in Pakistan, one of only two Indian journalists allowed to report from the country. He extensively covered Pakistan’s domestic politics and the life of the common people, as well as the fallout of the 2008 Mumbai attacks on India-Pakistan relations and the subsequent trial in Pakistan of the suspects involved in the attack. As part of his reportage in Pakistan, he travelled the breadth of the country, from the Swat Valley to Balochistan. Reza’s first gig in journalism was writing a weekly music column, and music – especially classic rock – remains a keen interest. He is also a movie buff and a keen photographer.Read More

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