Shri Abhay Thakur Indian High Commissioner : ‘Our focus is welfare, social harmony and good governance to improve the life of the common man’

India is celebrating its 71st Independence Day on Tuesday 15th of August 2017. Independence Day celebrations are held to pay tribute and remember all the freedom fighters who had contributed a lot and fought for the Independence of India. The first Independence Day was celebrated in India on 15th of August 1947. Mauritius has blood relations with the subcontinent. In this context, News on Sunday has called upon the Indian High Commissioner posted in Port Louis, Sri Abhay Thakur, to review relations between our two countries.

What is the main focus on India's Independence Day this year?
In the words of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi “India wants to move from ‘swaraj’ (freedom and self-governance) to ‘suraj’ (good governance), where every citizen, official, and politician follow their responsibilities.” Our focus is welfare, social harmony and good governance to improve the life of the common man across the length and breadth of the nation.

How India took the nomination of Shri Ram Nath Kovind as the new President of the Republic?
The smooth election of Honourable Shri Ram Nath Kovind as the 14th President of India in July 2017 is another testimony to the flourishing democratic traditions of India. President Shri Ram Nath Kovind is an eminent lawyer, a veteran political representative and long-time advocate of egalitarianism and integrity in Indian public life and society.

The path-breaking visit by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Mauritius in March 2015 led to a significant consolidation of our age old, time-tested ties with Mauritius. Much of what is happening today is a result of that visit."

What is the progress made in India-Mauritius bilateral relations since the last visit of Prime Minister Modi here?
The path-breaking visit by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Mauritius in March 2015 led to a significant consolidation of our age old, time-tested ties with Mauritius. Much of what is happening today is a result of that visit. Under the Special Economic Package (SEP) of USD 353 million, five major projects namely the Metro Express, the new Supreme Court Building, a new ENT Hospital, Social Housing and Supply of digital tablets to primary school children have already moved into the implementation phase. The new building of the World Hindi Secretariat is under construction. We have agreed to provide grant assistance for the construction of a new Civil Services College in Mauritius. The DPR for the new POL bunkering hub will be awarded shortly.

A new USD 500 million line of credit was extended to Mauritius in May 2017, during the visit of Hon. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius to India. It will be used for a range of projects in areas like water, energy, health, housing and a new administrative building, in addition to any financing gap for the above SEP projects.

The Protocol for amendment of the Convention for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital gains between India and Mauritius was signed on 10 May 2016. Subsequently talks on a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECPA) commenced in September 2016 and are on track for the conclusion of CECPA by the end of 2017.
A special carve-out in our Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card scheme, only for Mauritius, whereby all Mauritians of Indian origin are eligible for OCI, regardless of the number of generations, was announced during 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in January 2017. The scheme also covers all those who are married to OCI card holders. The OCI card holder enjoys a range of benefits such as a lifelong residency, work permit, running a business and owning residential or commercial property in India.

Keeping in mind our mutual security interests, our defence and security cooperation continues to strengthen, in the area of training and capacity building, as well as supply and maintenance of defence equipment, in priority areas identified by the Government of Mauritius.

What is new in population movement between Mauritius and India - visa, travel documents and new air links?
The liberalized OCI card regime for Mauritians of Indian origin and their spouses has been in effect since January 2017. Our E-Visa scheme has been in effect since November 2014. We are also seeing a significant increase in the number of Indian tourists in Mauritius. In addition to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, four new Indian cities of Kolkata, Goa, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad are being covered and expanded with domestic code-share arrangements.

Is there anything new in DTA and FDI from Indian businessmen?
India-Mauritius DTAC was revised in May 2016, and CECPA talks resumed thereafter. Under CECPA, India and Mauritius look forward to comprehensive, multi-sectoral economic cooperation, in a constructive and transparent manner, without apprehensions of treaty abuse.

What can be done to promote tourism between the two countries?
Mauritius is an established global luxury tourism destination and is popular among Indian tourists. Mauritians are attracted to India for many reasons, for business, family, cultural, spiritual, historical, adventure and educational reasons. Not to forget weddings in Mauritius or shopping in India! Daily connectivity from Mauritius to one or two major Indian cities, such as Delhi and Mumbai, could surely boost tourism in both directions significantly.

What is the progress made in Agalega about Indian projects on the islet?
At the request of Mauritius, Government of India has agreed to undertake certain infrastructural development of the Agalega Island that includes an airstrip and a jetty. In accordance with existing bilateral arrangements, construction is expected to begin shortly, with M/s RITES as the project consultant.

What is the role of India in developing the Mauritian Ocean Economy?
As regards ocean economy, India’s assistance to Mauritius has mainly been in capacity building in the areas of marine resources, resource mapping and exploration. Our cooperation in the area of hydrography has been extensive. We can certainly do more together in fields like fisheries and aquaculture, port development, shipping and green tourism.