Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on Thursday virtually inaugurated a new airstrip and a jetty funded by New Delhi on the Agalega Island in the Indian Ocean.
Besides the two projects, the two leaders also inaugurated six community development projects in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
Addressing the inauguration event through video conferencing, Jugnauth remarked that a "new chapter" was being written in the history of India-Mauritius relations.
He expressed confidence that the new concrete airstrip and the St James jetty would help Mauritius in ensuring maritime security in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which spans 2.3 million square kilometres.
“Setting up of the new airstrip and jetty facility in Agalega is the fulfillment of yet another Mauritian dream," Jugnauth remarked, lauding New Delhi for financing the project.
Jugnauth condemned the "India-bashing" campaign in Mauritius, amid unfounded fears that the new projects would transform the Agalega Island into a "military base".
"The airstrip will be controlled by us," he stated.
"We will, henceforth, be in a better position to initiate counter-piracy, counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics operations, combat human trafficking and illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing," Jugnauth said.
The Mauritian Prime Minister also disclosed during his remarks that his nation had become the first in the world to join India's Jan Aushadhi scheme, which allows availability of life-saving generic drugs at affordable prices.
India, Mauritius Jointly Working to Bolster Maritime Security, Modi Says
Delivering his address, Prime Minister Modi said that New Delhi and Port Louis have been jointly working to bolster maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
“We are actively working to ensure security, prosperity and stability in the Indian Ocean Region. We are cooperating in all areas like monitoring of the exclusive economic zone, joint patrolling, hydrography, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR)," remarked Modi.
The Indian leader stated that the new jetty and airstrip would also help to strengthen Mauritius' blue economy.
Modi highlighted that New Delhi's policy towards Mauritius was guided by the country's developmental priorities and security.
“India has always respected Mauritius’s needs and acted as the first responder," Modi said.
He added that New Delhi has extended Mauritius a credit line of $1 billion and assistance worth $400 million in the last 10 years.
New Delhi has said that it has been carrying out 96 developmental projects in Mauritius across various domains.