Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh today emphasized the shared commitment of India and Mauritius to advancing the Blue Economy, calling for enhanced cooperation in emerging sectors such as ocean technologies, fisheries, and desalination. He was addressing a delegation of senior Mauritian bureaucrats attending a capacity-building programme at the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) in New Delhi.
Highlighting the new frontiers of sustainable growth, Dr. Singh described these sectors as vital for the mutual prosperity of both maritime nations. He noted that India’s experience in marine resource management and ocean-based technologies could play a critical role in supporting Mauritius’s developmental aspirations.
India’s Ocean Expertise and Desalination Success
Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored India’s achievements under initiatives such as the Deep Ocean Mission, which have expanded the nation’s ability to harness marine resources responsibly. He said India’s progress in desalination technology—converting seawater into drinking water—had transformed the lives of island populations such as those in Lakshadweep, offering valuable lessons for Mauritius.
“Water, water everywhere, not enough to drink—this contradiction can be addressed through technology,” the Minister said. “Our desalination plants have successfully converted saline water into potable water while also producing green energy through the same process.”
Capacity Building and Long-Term Collaboration
The ongoing Capacity Building Programme for Senior Civil Servants, being held from November 10 to 15, 2025 at NCGG, is part of a five-year cooperation agreement between India and Mauritius signed in March 2025. Under this partnership, India will train 500 Mauritian civil servants to strengthen governance and administrative capabilities.
The current delegation comprises 17 senior officials from 14 Mauritian ministries, led by Dr. Dhanandjay Kawol, Senior Chief Executive, Ministry of Public Service and Administrative Reforms, Government of Mauritius. The group represents one of the most senior batches to participate in this bilateral training initiative.
Focus Areas of Discussion
Dr. Singh proposed that Indian and Mauritian institutions jointly develop a ten-year blueprint for ocean economy development, covering marine research, renewable energy, and digital governance. He said that such collaborations would not only promote economic resilience but also enhance climate adaptation capacities for island nations.
Mauritian participants expressed appreciation for India’s ongoing support in areas including infrastructure, governance reform, and digital transformation. They cited successful cooperation in establishing the Forensic Science Laboratory, renewable energy projects such as floating solar panels, and digitalisation efforts across education and social security systems.
Technology as a Driver of Governance Reform
Dr. Jitendra Singh noted that technology remains a powerful enabler of transparency, efficiency, and citizen trust. “Technology contributes to transparency, and transparency leads to transformation,” he said, reflecting on India’s progress in digital governance over the past decade.
He added that the partnership in civil service training represents a “fruitful investment in future governance,” fostering administrative systems that are transparent, efficient, and citizen-centric.
Historic Ties and Future Prospects
India and Mauritius share deep-rooted historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties, with nearly 70 percent of Mauritians tracing their ancestry to India. The bilateral relationship spans cooperation in infrastructure, education, maritime security, and skill development.
As the week-long programme continues, both sides are expected to identify new areas of collaboration in the blue economy, renewable energy, and desalination technology—sectors that, according to Dr. Jitendra Singh, will define “the next decade of the India–Mauritius partnership.”