Prez Mukherjee to leave New Delhi for his three-day state visit to Mauritius

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to fly for Mauritius on Monday as part of his three days official visit to Mauritius where he is invited as the chief guest for Indian Ocean island's country's National Day celebrations to be held March 12.

Mauritius will celebrate its 45^th Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday.

Mukherjee is visiting Mauritius on the invitation of its Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam. The visit follows come close on the heels of his March 3-5 trip to Bangladesh.

The President's visit is intended to further the vast framework of bilateral relations between the two nations. India and Mauritius will sign several bilateral pacts in social sectors, including health and tourism, during his visit.

During his visit, President Mukherjee will have meetings with Mauritius President Rajkeswur Purryag, Prime Minister Navin C. Ramgoolam, Speaker of the National Assembly Abdool Razack Peeroo, Chief Justice Y K J Yeung Sik Yuen and Leader of the Opposition Paul Berenger.

While the President of Mauritius would be hosting a lunch in honour of Indian counterparts. The Prime Minister would host a banquet.

The visit would also include ceremonial aspects, wreath-laying at the Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Samadhi and at the Apravasi Ghat, and garlanding of Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute.

President Mukherjee will be conferred a degree of Doctor of Civil Law honoris causa by the University of Mauritius. He will be accorded a civic reception on March 13 in Mauritius.

This is President Mukherjee's second visit abroad and his first to Africa during his Presidency. He visited Bangladesh last week.

India and Mauritius have a wide-ranging architecture of bilateral agreements covering the entire gamut of our bilateral relationships. India and Mauritius are important trade and investment partners with India being the largest source of imports to Mauritius.

India is Mauritius's largest trading partner and has been the largest exporter of goods and services to Mauritius in recent years.

Mauritius is also the route for about 38 percent of foreign direct investment equity flows into India. Several Indian public enterprises have their offices in Mauritius.

Mauritius has consistently supported India on various issues of strategic importance be it on the issues of CTBT, counter terrorism, permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, support for membership in the various international organizations, etc..

--With ANI Inputs--