India has supported Mauritius with supplies of medicines and by sending medical professionals to help deal with the pandemic

India has assured Mauritius that it will be a ready partner in the country's efforts for economic recovery and the revival of livelihoods after the COVID19 pandemic.

Describing Mauritius as one of the few "COVID safe" countries in the world, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday congratulated Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and his team for the commendable management of the pandemic through timely and decisive measures.

"Your Government is now focused on economic recovery and revival of livelihoods, an effort in which India, I assure you, will be a ready partner," he said while addressing the media.

Jaishankar, who began a two-day visit to Mauritius today, also symbolically handed over a second consignment of 100,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Prime Minister Jugnauth. "We were truly glad to facilitate this commercial procurement of which further consignments would be arriving in the coming weeks," Jaishankar said.

Immediately after India rolled out its countrywide vaccination programme on January 16, it had sent 100,000 doses of Made in India CPVID-19 vaccines as a gift to Mauritius.

"This was a clear and telling demonstration of the extraordinary relationship between our countries and the place that Mauritius holds in our hearts," Jaishankar pointed out.

The External Affairs Minister recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the National Assembly of Mauritius in 2015, when he had given an assurance India would always be with Mauritius in support of its efforts.

"I am glad that during the course of the past one year through trying times brought about by the Covid pandemic, India stood together with the people of Mauritius," Jaishankar said at the briefing in the presence of Prime Minister Jugnauth.

India provided 23 tonnes of essential medicines, half-a-million tablets of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a special consignment of Ayurvedic medicines and a 14-member Medical Assistance Team under ‘Mission SAGAR’ to help Mauritius in its fight against the pandemic.

"India’s helping hand was always over the horizon - responsive, resolute and reliable," Jaishankar remarked.