INS Surveyor reaches Mauritius, joint hydrographic survey will boost maritime cooperation

Port Louis: Indian Naval ship INS Sarvekshan arrived at Port Louis, Mauritius for joint hydrographic survey. The ship was welcomed by High Commissioner of India Anurag Srivastava, Commandant of Mauritius National Coast Guard Captain CG Binop and other senior officials.

The Defense Ministry said in a release on Friday that a preliminary survey coordination meeting was held with the Hydrographic Survey Unit of Mauritius.

According to the ministry release, INS Survekshan will engage with Mauritian officials through exchange of technical knowledge, professional interactions and training sessions on hydrography. This important survey will enable Mauritius to develop marine infrastructure, resource management and coastal development planning.

Grand welcome on arrival in Port Louis

“INS Sarveksha was accorded a grand welcome upon arrival at Port Louis,” the Indian High Commission in Mauritius said in a post on Twitter. Shri MS Ayub Saab, Senior Chief Executive, Ministry of Housing and Lands and Shri Vimarsh Aryan, Acting High Commissioner of India welcomed the ship and crew. The ship will conduct joint hydrographic surveys and will also conduct professional interactions with the Mauritius MPF/NCG towards enhancing interoperability and mutual cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Mauritius NCG.”

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This call by INS Sarveksha comes a few days after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's visit to Mauritius in December. This was the first high-level bilateral talks between India and Mauritius after the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister Naveen Ramgoolam.

About 70 percent of the island's population is of Indian origin.

India has long had close ties with Mauritius, a country of 1.2 million people in the western Indian Ocean. The relationship is based on shared history and culture, with approximately 70 percent of the island's population being of Indian origin. Bilateral relations have been further strengthened through initiatives such as the introduction of a visa-free regime for Indian tourists in 2004 and special provisions for OCI cards for Mauritians of Indian origin.

Cultural and educational exchanges also play an important role in this partnership. About 80,000 Indian tourists visit Mauritius annually, of which about 2,316 Indian students are currently pursuing higher education in fields such as medicine and business.

(with agency input)