India and Mauritius inaugurate new airstrip and jetty at Agalega Island
India and Mauritius have jointly inaugurated a new airstrip and a jetty at Agalega Island, a remote territory of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, as part of their development partnership and maritime security cooperation.
The inauguration ceremony was held via video conferencing on Monday, and was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius.
The new facilities, which were entirely financed by India, will improve the connectivity and accessibility of Agalega Island, which is located about 1,100 km north of Mauritius. They will also enhance the medical evacuation and transportation of school children, as well as the administrative and economic integration of the island with the mainland.
The project is also seen as a strategic move to boost the maritime security and surveillance of both countries in the Indian Ocean Region, where they face common challenges such as piracy, terrorism, and illegal fishing.
Prime Minister Modi said that India and Mauritius are natural partners in maritime security, and are cooperating in various areas such as monitoring of Exclusive Economic Zone, joint patrolling, hydrography, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
He also said that the inauguration of the airstrip and jetty at Agalega will further advance the cooperation between the two countries, while also strengthening the blue economy of Mauritius.
Prime Minister Jugnauth thanked Prime Minister Modi for giving a new dimension to the Mauritius-India relationship, and for helping Mauritius realize such major transformational projects. He also expressed gratitude for India’s assistance in the Covid pandemic and the oil spill that affected Mauritius last year.
He also announced that Mauritius has become the first country to join India’s Jan Aushadhi initiative, which will provide better quality Made-in-India generic medicines to the people of Mauritius.
The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to the historical, cultural, and linguistic ties that bind the two countries, and to the shared vision of peace, prosperity, and stability in the Indian Ocean Region.
Reference/ Photo source: Prime Minister of India