Pranab for Mauritius, to sign many pacts

President Pranab Mukherjee’s three-day visit to Mauritius will pave  theway for the signing of bilateral pacts with the island nation in several key sectors, including health, medicine, tourism, cooperation and others.

Mukherjee will be the chief guest at the Indian Ocean island’s 45th Independence Day celebrations.

During his visit beginning on Monday, the President will meet Mauritius President Rajkeswur Purryag, Prime Minister Navin C Ramgoolam, Speaker of the National Assembly Abdool Razack Peeroo, Chief Justice Y K J Yeung Sik Yuen and Leader of the Opposition Paul Berenger.

Mukherjee will be conferred a degree of Doctor of Civil Law honoris causa by the University of Mauritius.

 He will also be accorded a civic reception on March 13.

President’s Press Secretary Venu Rajamony said Mukherjee is looking forward to the visit and is greatly honoured to be the chief guest at Mauritius’ national day celebration. 

This will be the President’s second visit abroad after assuming the office. Recently, he went to Bangladesh.

Besides its geo-strategic position, Mauritius is accorded highest importance by New Delhi as 70 per cent of its people are of Indian origin and 38 per cent of India’s foreign investment comes from the island nation, Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sudhir Vyas said.

He said the contentious Avoidance of Double Taxation Treaty is currently under examination by the India-Mauritius Joint Working Group, which met in December 2011 and then again in August 2012.

 “Both sides have committed themselves to consider adopting amendments or provisions that would prevent any misuse of this treaty. Negotiations are in progress. The next meeting is likely to be held this year and dates are yet to be decided,” Vyas added.

During this visit, the President will be accompanied by Minister of State for Home Affairs R P N Singh and three Members of Parliament: Kusum Rai from the BJP, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh from the RJD and Satyavrata Chaturvedi from the Indian National Congress.