Africa-Press – Mauritius. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam disclosed in Parliament on Tuesday, October 28, that the State Visit he undertook to India from September 9 to 16, at the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, cost the Mauritian government approximately Rs 3.8 million. The figure includes expenses for air tickets and allowances for members of the official delegation. The Prime Minister emphasized that these costs were strictly limited to government officials and not extended to participants from the private sector.
The high-level delegation comprised five cabinet ministers, one junior minister, a member of Parliament, senior civil servants, heads of key public institutions, and about 50 representatives from the private sector. According to Ramgoolam, this composition reflected the strategic importance of the visit and the need to strengthen existing bilateral partnerships across politics, economics, and cultural ties. Members of the private sector, he clarified, bore their own travel and accommodation costs.
When questioned by MP Adrien Duval about the specifics of his itinerary and travel arrangements, the Prime Minister deemed the inquiry inappropriate. He reminded the House that the trip was an official visit conducted at the invitation of the Indian government, with the agenda and meetings coordinated by New Delhi. Responding sharply, he also noted that during Adrien Duval’s 78 days as Speaker, he reportedly undertook three international trips spanning 13 days at a total cost of Rs 800,000.
Beyond the financial aspect, Ramgoolam underscored the broader value and outcomes of the mission, describing it as a vital step in reinforcing the longstanding strategic relationship between Mauritius and India. He highlighted that Mauritius continues to benefit from several major forms of support from its Indian counterpart, including technical collaboration, cultural exchange, and infrastructure cooperation.
The Prime Minister specifically cited India’s financial assistance of 25 million US dollars provided as budgetary support for the current fiscal year. This, he said, illustrated the depth of trust and cooperation between the two nations and reaffirmed India’s role as a steadfast partner in Mauritius’s socio-economic development. The visit, he concluded, was a success both diplomatically and economically, yielding tangible benefits beyond its expenses.
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