India to work with Mauritius to avoid abuse of double taxation avoidance convention : Modi

"Yesterday, I told Prime Minister (Anerood) Jugnauth that we understand the importance of the offshore banking sector for your economy. We are conscious of its dependence on India," he said while addressing the National Assemblyof Mauritius on the second day of his visit to the Indian Ocean nation.

Mauritus Prime Minister Aneerood Jugnauth, Assembly Speaker  Santi Bai Hanoomanjee and Leader of the Opposition Paul Berenger were present during Modi's speech.

Modi assured them that India will always be by the side of Mauritus and will do nothing to harm its interests.

"I thank you for your support. But, I also assure you that we will do nothing to harm this vibrant sector of one of our closest strategic partners," he said.

The Prime Minister said India would like to be a development partner for Mauritius and it would always be ready to do more, in accordance with the wishes of the Mauritian government.

He mentioned  the new line of credit of $ 500 milion that he had announced on Wednesday for the  development of civilian projects in Mauritius and India's support for a second cyber city in the country.

"While we are on the subject of information technology, the e-health project in Mauritius is a laudable initiative. And, we would be happy to support its development."

"We are honoured to be Mauritius`s partner for meeting its petroleum requirements. We are embarking on a new project to build the petroleum storage facility here. This will further strengthen the position of Mauritius as a regional economic hub," he said.

"Mauritius has shown great vision in the development of its ocean economy – from fishing to tourism. India is also highly dependent on the seas. We are seeking to develop our marine economy and discover new possibilities. We are doing this in a sustainable manner that preserves the delicate ecosystem of our oceans. Indeed, the oceans hold vast potential to advance our prosperity and meet the challenges of the world," Modi said.

Mentioning  the cultural affinity between the people of Mauritus and India, the Prime Minister said it was truly special for him to address the Assembly of a people with which India shared the deepest bonds of history and culture and of a nation that India was proud to call a friend and partner.


"I stand here today not just in celebration of our relationship, but also in admiration of your achievements. There are many countries that have seen the joys of freedom fade into the gloom of lost direction," he said.

"In Mauritius, though, the hopes and promises of independence have become brighter by the passing day. Mauritius has stood as a bright beacon of democracy. This is a nation of a little over a million people of huge diversity living in great harmony. It is a nation that has lived up to the words of its national anthem – one nation, one people, in peace, justice and liberty. It is a nation moving firmly on the path of prosperity," he said.


"Generations ago, people from India charted an unknown course to an uncertain new life in an unfamiliar world. As they built their lives, they lived on the memories of Himalaya and Ganga; through the rituals of Shivratri and Kavedee; the colours of Holi and the joy of Eid; through songs that welcomed the rains and dances that celebrated the harvest," Modi said.

"Today, they are proud citizens of Mauritius; thriving in the dynamism of their country; contributing to its success. The island pulsates with the beauty of their preserved beliefs and culture. Yet, they blend easily into a way of life that has been formed by the winds and waves from different parts of the world."

"This morning I went to Ganga Talao. I felt a personal connection that comes from the banks of Ganga in my parliamentary constituency - Benaras. And, I understood the powerful links of heart that have endured time and distance in this magnificent land."

"Today, these links form the firmest foundation of our relationship. They have created goodwill and warmth rarely seen in international relations. They have built an unbreakable chain of trust between us.

"Today we are equally proud to have a relationship that speaks to the needs of our times. We relate to each other from the comfort of our shared democratic values. We are partners in our economic progress. We shoulder our shared responsibility to advance security in the Indian Ocean. We speak in one voice in the cause of the developing world and the future of our planet," Modi said.

The Prime Minister said Mauritius is a leader in the Indian Ocean community and  a bridge to Africa.

"Mauritius assumes greater responsibility for securing this part of the Indian Ocean, we know that our region will be a safer place."

"Your leadership is helping promote Hindi in the world. India thanks you for hosting the World Hindi Secretariat," he said.

"This is the wealth of our inheritance. This is the richness of our partnership. Last year, we had democratic transition in both countries. There are two things that are similar to both. After a long time a single party won absolute majority in both countries," Modi said.

"We know that democratic changes make no difference to the strength of our relationship. What we now have, though, in both nations is a stable platform to speed up economic development," he said.

"I am confident that under Prime Minister Jugnauth, development in Mauritius will become more impressive. And, I can assure you that as always we will be with you – in support of your efforts and in joy for your success."

"Our partnership must also cover the challenge of climate change. For India, it is a mission that we are pursuing on an entirely new scale and with a new sense of urgency. We have set an ambitious target of 100 gigawatts of solar energy and 60 gigawatts of wind energy by 2022. We will seek to dramatically increase our energy efficiency, which is the cleanest form of energy," Modi said.

"We can pursue our dreams of a sustainable and prosperous future if we are confident about peace, security and stability in our world. For India and Mauritius, our destinies are linked by the currents of the Indian Ocean," he said.

Modi said the security partnership between the two countries stood the test of time.

"As Mauritius seeks to make islands and waters safer; as you seek to secure your vast Exclusive Economic Zone, we will always be there for you. We will deepen our cooperation. And, we will also do everything we can to strengthen your own capabilities," he said.

"We share a broader vision for lasting stability and prosperity in the region. We believe that all nations in our region should come together to shoulder our shared responsibility. We seek a comprehensive partnership of closer security, economic, cultural, scientific and people-to-people ties in our region."

"That is why we are grateful that Mauritius hosts the Indian Ocean Rim Association. Your leadership will remain important to realize our vision. Your steadfast support in global institutions gives us more strength to speak on our common interests. Now, as the United Nations reaches its 70th year at a time of great turmoil, we seek your support to reform this institution to make it more relevant to the needs of our age," Modi said.