In a significant step towards deepening India-Mauritius development cooperation, Indian High Commissioner to Mauritius, Anurag Srivastava, formally handed over the first batch of 10 electric buses to Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam. The symbolic event reinforces the growing partnership between New Delhi and Port Louis, particularly in sustainable development.
The handover ceremony took place on Wednesday at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation in Réduit—a flagship project that exemplifies the enduring friendship between the two countries.
The event was attended by several Mauritian ministers, junior ministers, and senior dignitaries. It marked a key milestone in the green partnership between India and Mauritius and reaffirmed the Enhanced Strategic Partnership agreed upon during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Mauritius in March 2025.
Sharing highlights of the ceremony on X (formerly Twitter), the Indian High Commission in Port Louis quoted PM Ramgoolam as saying the e-bus initiative represents a “paradigm shift in public transport and a symbol of the special relationship that has stood the test of time.”
The Mauritian Prime Minister emphasized the broader benefits of the e-bus project, including reducing carbon emissions, decreasing dependency on fuel imports, and fostering employment in the e-mobility sector. He also acknowledged India’s continued support in key infrastructure and emerging sectors such as the Blue Economy, artificial intelligence, food and maritime security, and technology.
High Commissioner Srivastava, addressing the gathering, reiterated India’s dedication to a “people-centric and sustainable development partnership with Mauritius.” He described the electric buses as “moving symbols of our friendship and our shared commitment to a greener planet.”
He also highlighted India’s wider support for Mauritius’s green transition, which includes projects such as an 8 MW solar PV farm in Henrietta, the installation of 100 solar street lights, and a community solar farm in Rodrigues.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit in March 2025 was a defining moment in bilateral relations. Alongside PM Ramgoolam, he inaugurated the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation, a landmark project developed under the India-Mauritius development partnership. The institute symbolizes India’s commitment to capacity-building in the island nation.
During the visit, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Enhanced Strategic Partnership and underscored India’s status as Mauritius’s leading development partner since independence. They acknowledged India’s contribution to numerous high-impact infrastructure projects, including the Mauritius Metro Express, New Supreme Court Building, ENT Hospital, 956 Social Housing Units, and the distribution of educational tablets.
Expressing gratitude, PM Ramgoolam noted that these India-assisted projects have made a lasting impact across various sectors of Mauritian society and continue to benefit all segments of the population.