Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful on Friday described the India-Mauritius partnership as a potential blueprint for the collective future of the Global South, highlighting India's deepening role in financing infrastructure, expanding trade, and securing the Indian Ocean region. Speaking from Port Louis, Ramful — who also holds the portfolio of Regional Integration and International Trade — underscored the breadth of bilateral engagement spanning health, education, technology, and maritime security.

A Multifaceted Partnership

Ramful described the India-Mauritius relationship as 'multifaceted', noting that numerous projects across the island nation carry the direct imprint of Indian government support. 'Many projects in Mauritius bear the footprint of the Indian government. Many of these projects have been financed by the Indian government, either through grants or concessional lines of credit,' he said.

On the trade front, both countries have operationalised the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Partnership Agreement (CECPA), which Ramful credited with strengthening investment and commerce. Bilateral trade has reached approximately USD 887 million in recent years and is on an upward trajectory. Notably, Mauritius has emerged as the second-largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India, reflecting the depth of capital linkages between the two economies.

The USD 680 Million Special Economic Package

In September 2024, India announced a Special Economic Package (SEP) of USD 680 million during Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam's State Visit to New Delhi, which included budgetary assistance of USD 25 million. Key projects under this package include the New Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital, an AYUSH Centre of Excellence, a Veterinary School, an Animal Hospital, provision of helicopters, completion of the new ATC tower at SSR International Airport, development of Motorway M4, and the Ring Road Phase II.

This package represents one of India's most comprehensive bilateral assistance commitments in the Indian Ocean region and signals a strategic deepening of ties beyond traditional diplomacy.

Blueprint for the Global South

Ramful argued that the India-Mauritius model carries lessons for the broader Global South — a grouping of nations that, in his framing, share histories of colonialism, economic dependency, and systemic inequalities in the global political order. 'The partnership between India and Mauritius is not merely a bilateral success, but it can also be considered as a blueprint for the collective future of the Global South,' he stated. He cited successful cooperation in maritime security, healthcare, technology, land and transport, and port infrastructure as areas replicable by other developing nations.

Indian Ocean Security and the MAHASAGAR Initiative

On maritime security, Ramful confirmed that both countries share a common strategic interest in keeping the Indian Ocean safe and ensuring adherence to international maritime law. He referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's MAHASAGAR Initiative as a key framework guiding this cooperation. Mauritius is also engaged with India through the Information Fusion Centre for real-time sharing of shipping data across the Indian Ocean, and the two navies have conducted joint maritime exercises. 'In many ways, we have already developed a strategy with the Indian government in order to make the Indian Ocean a safe place,' Ramful said.

As India's strategic footprint in the Indian Ocean expands, the Mauritius model — combining concessional financing, trade agreements, and security cooperation — is increasingly being watched as a template for South-South engagement.