Mauritian Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam and French President Emmanuel Macron held a press conference at the Sir Harilal Vaghjee Memorial Hall in Port Louis, marking Macron’s two-day official visit to Mauritius en route to the G20 Summit in South Africa. This visit, the first by a French president in 32 years, underscores the strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between Mauritius and France, particularly significant amid global instability affecting Small Island Developing States.
Prime Minister Ramgoolam emphasized the importance of France’s ongoing support for Mauritius since its independence in 1968, highlighting the influential role of the French language in Mauritian society, including its presence in the local press. He expressed gratitude for France’s assistance concerning the Chagos issue and addressed key topics discussed during their bilateral sessions, such as geopolitics, anti-corruption, drug trafficking, maritime security, and partnerships with Réunion Island.
During their discussions, Ramgoolam highlighted newly forged agreements in areas such as the blue economy, renewable energy, and sustainable water management. Recognizing the essential contributions from the private sector, he mentioned partnerships involving organizations like the Mauritius Sugar Syndicate and Moulin de la Concorde for flour supply and commended the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) for supporting various projects related to coastal resilience, biodiversity, and the creative industries.
President Macron, in turn, discussed the mutual respect inherent in Mauritius-France relations, stressing shared historical and geographical ties and their joint efforts in addressing global challenges, including climate change and geopolitical tensions. He announced that several bilateral agreements would be finalized during the visit, specifically concerning maritime security and ocean protection. Macron praised Mauritius for signing the Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty, a significant step in ocean conservation efforts.
Education was a focal point in their discussions, with plans to enhance bilingual francophone education and support for Mauritius’ language policy. Additional agreements covering energy and water sectors will facilitate technical assistance from AFD and Électricité de France (EDF) to both Mauritius and Rodrigues.
Highlighting the economic ties, Ramgoolam mentioned that Mauritius welcomed 340,000 French tourists last year, indicating France’s vital role as an external market and the strong presence of French companies in various sectors, including financial services, tourism, and energy. He reaffirmed Mauritius’ commitment to regional peace through its involvement with the Indian Ocean Commission and expressed hope for a prompt return to democracy in Madagascar.
Concluding the conference, both leaders celebrated the enduring solidarity and shared aspirations binding Mauritius and France, reinforcing the longstanding partnership that continues to evolve in response to contemporary challenges.
Source link
