External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday said that cooperation and partnership with Africa is an integral component of India's foreign policy, adding that Mauritius is a vital platform for this agenda.
"We view our relationship with Mauritius not just through the prism of bilateral engagement but also as our gateway to the Indian Ocean region and Africa. Cooperation and partnership with Africa is an integral component of India's foreign policy and remains a priority of the Government of India. India has embarked on a broad-based and vibrant policy of economic interaction with the African continent," Swaraj said, while addressing a business meet with various industry and commerce groups of Mauritius.
"Naturally, this makes Mauritius, with its advantageous membership of regional arrangements such as Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), a vital platform in India's business agenda with Africa. This is especially true in the case of sectors like infrastructure development, ICT, capacity building, agriculture and other related activities," she added.
Swaraj further stressed upon the need for India and Mauritius to increase their economic relationship.
"India and Mauritius need to actively pursue greater economic and commercial depth in our partnership to elevate our bilateral economic and commercial engagement to a level commensurate with the special and enduring status of our bilateral relationship. And we are committed to fully facilitate this joint endeavour of our businesspeople and entrepreneurs," she said.
Swaraj, who is in Mauritius for a three-day visit to that country, had earlier paid tribute to the friendship between India and Mauritius on Sunday, adding that the bond shared by the two countries was due to a shared historical and cultural heritage.
India is Mauritius' largest trading partner and has been the largest exporter of goods to Mauritius since 2007. In the financial year 2012-2013, India exported goods worth USD 1.31 billion and imported goods worth USD 28.49 million. There are over 10,000 Indian nationals living in Mauritius, including 6865 work permit holders and 696 professional occupation permit holders.