2. India has unique and brotherly ties with Mauritius where people of Indian origin constitute 68% of the population. Nevertheless, our relations with Mauritius have been extremely close irrespective of the party or the leader in power in Mauritius. Both the countries believe in the concept of 'Unity in Diversity'.

3. Both India and Mauritius have forged strategic relationship in the IT sector. India has extended US$ 100 million credit line for the construction of the Ebene Cyber City Project in Mauritius. The first phase of this project is likely to be completed in March 2004. Cooperation between the two countries continues to be intensive in the traditional areas such as human resources development (Mauritius is a major beneficiary of the Indian technical and economic cooperation programme), investments (Indian companies have invested more than US$ 100 million in various sectors in Mauritius) and in culture. India has assisted Mauritius in the setting up of Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Upadhyaya Training Centre, Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, etc. Projects under implementation which would enjoy high visibility are the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre and the Rabindranath Tagore Institute. Both the countries are collaborating in the setting up of the World Hindi Secretariat. They have close cooperation in the defence sector.

4. Mauritius has traditionally supported India's candidature for the permanent membership of the UN Security Council, fight against cross-border terrorism and Indian position on the issue of Jammu & Kashmir. Bilateral trade between the two countries stands at nearly US$180 million.

5. Prime Minister of Mauritius will hold delegation level talks with the PM on November 21, 2003. He will call on President and Vice-President of India. The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Defence and Minister for Human Resource Development will call on the Mauritian Prime Minister for discussions. EAM will host a private dinner for the visiting dignitary on November 20, 2003.

6. During the visit, agreements for cooperation in the field of non-conventional energy sources, setting up of the World Hindi Secretariat and Extradition Treaty are likely to be signed. An agreement for the purchase of a Dornier aircraft by Mauritius from HAL will also be signed.

7. The visit of the Mauritian Prime Minister will provide yet another opportunity for both the countries to underscore the special brotherly ties between the two countries and consolidate these relations at a time when both are entering new phase of cooperation in high technology areas.

Gaborone
November 18, 2003