India and Mauritius share one of the most comprehensive partnerships in the Indian Ocean region, spanning history, culture, trade, investment, security, and people-to-people relations. This relationship predates Mauritius’ independence in 1968, as India had already set up diplomatic ties in 1948.

For India, Mauritius is both a trusted cultural partner and a critical maritime ally in the Western Indian Ocean, a region increasingly shaped by piracy, illegal fishing, terrorism, and major-power rivalry, particularly China’s expanding presence. For Mauritius, India has consistently played the role of a reliable development partner and first responder in crises—be it the COVID-19 pandemic or the Wakashio oil spill of 2020.

Historical Linkages

• • • Colonial Past: Mauritius was ruled first by the French and later by the British. Under French rule (1729 onwards), the first Indians were brought from Puducherry to work as artisans and masons. Under the British, the island became a hub for indentured labour.

    • Indentured Labour Migration: Between 1834 and the early 1900s, nearly half a million Indian indentured workers were transported to Mauritius to work on sugar plantations. This migration created the strong Indian-origin community that now forms the majority in Mauritius.

    • Aapravasi Ghat and Aapravasi Diwas: The first batch of 36 Indian labourers arrived in Mauritius on November 2, 1834, aboard the ship Atlas. This site is today recognised as the Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site, and the day is celebrated as Aapravasi Diwas.

    • Shared Freedom Icons: Mauritius’ first Prime Minister, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, worked closely with Subhas Chandra Bose in London in the early 1920s. Ramgoolam even proofread Bose’s book The Indian Struggle. These early links reinforced the solidarity between Indian and Mauritian leaders.

    • Symbolic Ties: Mauritius celebrates its National Day on March 12, the date of Gandhi’s Dandi March—another reminder of the intertwined destinies of both nations.

    • Diplomatic Milestone: Independent India formally established diplomatic relations in 1948, two decades before Mauritius became independent in 1968.

Strategic and Geopolitical Importance

Mauritius is described as the “Star and Key of the Indian Ocean,” a title that reflects its critical location in the Western Indian Ocean, astride key maritime routes. Its importance to India can be understood in several dimensions:

1.    Geopolitical Relevance: With China establishing a naval base in Djibouti and expanding influence across East Africa and island nations, Mauritius has become central to India’s Indo-Pacific strategy.

2.    Maritime Security: Mauritius is part of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) with India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bangladesh, which promotes cooperation against non-traditional threats such as piracy, drug trafficking, and terrorism. India has also built coastal radar stations in Mauritius, integrating them into the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) at Gurugram.

3.    Agaléga Island Project: India has developed infrastructure including a new airstrip and jetty on the remote Agaléga island, enabling Mauritius to host larger aircraft and improve surveillance capacity across vast ocean spaces.

4.    Gateway to Africa: As a member of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Mauritius offers India an entry point into African markets. Historically, the India–Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) also made it a preferred hub for routing investments into India.

5.    Cultural Foundations: With nearly 70% of its population tracing origins to India, cultural diplomacy remains one of the strongest pillars of this relationship. Shared festivals like Diwali, common languages, and similar customs sustain a sense of civilizational continuity.

Economic and Investment Relations

Trade Relations

India is one of Mauritius’ top three trading partners. In 2024, India accounted for 11% of Mauritius’ total imports.

• • • India’s Exports to Mauritius: Major items include pharmaceuticals, cereals, cotton yarn, motor vehicles, and mineral fuels. These not only meet domestic needs but also supply Mauritius’ textile and clothing industry, a backbone of its economy.

      • Export trends (USD million): 2019 – 776; 2020 – 405; 2021 – 808; 2022 – 632; 2023 – 646; 2024 – 766.

    • Mauritius’ Exports to India: Although smaller, these exports have steadily grown. They include medical devices, waste and scrap metals, and lead-acid accumulators.

      • Export trends (USD million): 2019 – 24; 2020 – 32; 2021 – 45; 2022 – 57; 2023 – 55; 2024 – 46.

Investment Flows

• • • • Mauritius has historically been India’s largest FDI source due to the DTAA, contributing around USD 177 billion since 2000 (about one-fourth of total inflows).

      • In FY 2023–24, Mauritius was India’s second-largest FDI source after Singapore, with USD 7.97 billion.

      • Indian companies have invested over USD 200 million in Mauritius in the last five years, especially in financial services, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Developmental and Cultural Cooperation

• • • • Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI), established in 1976, is a premier centre for the study of Indian culture, history, and languages.

      • World Hindi Secretariat, supported by India, promotes Hindi globally from its base in Mauritius.

      • Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture (IGCIC), founded in 1987, is India’s largest cultural centre abroad, offering classes in music, dance, yoga, and art to thousands of Mauritian students.

      • ITEC Programme: Mauritius is one of the largest beneficiaries of India’s training and capacity-building programme.

      • Know India Programme (KIP): Since 2004, Mauritian youth have participated in study tours to India.

      • e-Vidya Bharti Arogya Bharti (e-VBAB): Since 2020, Mauritians have been receiving scholarships under India’s online learning and telemedicine initiative.

The Indian Diaspora

The diaspora is the backbone of India–Mauritius relations. Nearly 70% of Mauritius’ 1.3 million population is of Indian origin, descendants of indentured labourers.

• • • • Today, Mauritius hosts 26,357 Indian nationals and 13,198 OCI cardholders.

      • In March 2024, India extended OCI eligibility up to the seventh generation of Mauritians of Indian origin, reinforcing historical bonds and acknowledging the sacrifices of indentured workers.

Tourism and Education

• • • • Visa Cooperation: Since 2004, Indians enjoy visa-free entry into Mauritius, while Mauritian nationals get gratis visas to India.

      • Tourism Flows: Before COVID-19, nearly 80,000 Indians visited Mauritius annually. Around 30,000 Mauritians travelled to India for tourism, medical care, and education. These numbers are now recovering.

      • Education: Over 2,300 Indian students study in Mauritius, while Mauritian students increasingly choose Indian universities due to affordability and cultural familiarity.

Challenges in the Relationship

1.    Taxation Disputes: The 2016 amendment to the DTAA reduced Mauritius’ role as a tax-friendly investment hub, leading to a dip in FDI inflows.

2.    China’s Expanding Role: Beijing has funded major projects in Mauritius, including the new airport terminal, Bagatelle Dam, sports complex, and cruise terminal—directly competing with India’s influence.

3.    Ethnic Balancing: While the majority are of Indian origin, Mauritius also has significant African and European-descended communities. India must ensure balanced outreach to avoid perceptions of bias.

4.    Drug Trafficking: Mauritius has emerged as a transit hub for narcotics in the Indian Ocean, raising security concerns for India.

5.    Climate Change Risks: Rising sea levels, cyclones, and coastal erosion pose existential threats to Mauritius, likely requiring India’s sustained support in disaster management and adaptation.

Conclusion

India–Mauritius relations represent a model of South–South cooperation, combining historical solidarity, cultural affinity, economic partnership, and strategic collaboration. Mauritius’ strategic location makes it central to India’s Indo-Pacific vision, while the deep diaspora bonds make the relationship unique.

At the same time, taxation challenges, China’s growing presence, ethnic sensitivities, and climate vulnerabilities underline the need for nuanced diplomacy. For India, harmonising economic, cultural, and security engagements will ensure that Mauritius remains a trusted partner not only for bilateral gains but also for regional stability in the Indian Ocean.