India Unveils $680 mn Package to Support Mauritius Security

India on Thursday unveiled an economic assistance package of $680 million for Mauritius, including budgetary support of $25 million, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam pledged to work together for maritime security and a free, open and stable Indian Ocean region.

- Rezaul H. Laskar

Modi hosted Ramgoolam in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi to emphasize the age-old links between Mauritius and India; "girmitiyas" or indentured labourers were sent to the East African country from impoverished rural areas of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in the 19th century. Ramgoolam is on an eight-day return visit to India following Modi's trip to Mauritius in March.