Mauritius is a prime example of India’s approach to partnership with countries based on their needs and priorities

The Mauritius government has decided to name one of the country's major metro stations as Mahatma Gandhi station to pay gratitude for India's support to the metro express project, said the country's Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth.

“I have the privilege to inform you that to pay gratitude for India's support to the metro express project, my government has decided to name one of the major metro stations as Mahatma Gandhi station,” said Jugnauth

The Mauritius Prime Minister also emphasised that like metro express, the implementation of these projects would not have been possible without the lines of credit and grants generously provided by the government of India.

“I am proud to say that this event demonstrates once again, the very special and privileged relations between Mauritius and India, and illustrates the profound and continued commitments to the progress of the country and wellbeing of its people by India,” he added.

After the housing project, inaugurated jointly by PM Modi and the Mauritius PM on Thursday, Jugnauth said adequate housing for families across different income groups is at the top of his government’s agenda.

“We have resolved to ease housing programs without the need to build more houses and provide other facilities. This is thanks to a generous grant of US$ 20 million by the Government of India and some US$ 25 million under the Indian Line of Credit,” he added.

Both the heads of the country also virtually laid the foundation stone for the Civil Service College and 8 MW Solar PV Farm Project in Mauritius that are being undertaken under India's development support.

Prime Minister Modi said that the India-Mauritius partnership has emerged as a key pillar of close ties.

He also said that Mauritius is a prime example of India’s approach to partnership with countries based on the needs and priorities of our partners while respecting their sovereignty.

It is to be noted that the Government of India in May 2016 had extended a grant of US$ 353 million to the Government of Mauritius as Special Economic Package (SEP) to execute five priority projects identified by the Government of Mauritius, among others.

These were: Metro Express Project, Supreme Court Building, New ENT Hospital, Supply of Digital Tablets to Primary School Children, and the Social Housing Project. With the inauguration of the Social Housing Project, all the high profile projects under the SEP have been now implemented.

Mauritius is a key partner in India’s maritime cooperation vision of SAGAR -Security and Growth for All in the Region.