India to explore for oil, gas off Mauritius

Thursday, 03 July 2003, 19:30 IST
Printer Print Email Email
NEW DELHI: India and Mauritius have agreed to cooperate in exploration of oil and gas in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Indian Ocean nation and for the Indian Navy to assist in the surveillance of the EEZ. During the ongoing visit of External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, the two countries agreed to soon conclude a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in oil and gas exploration off the Mauritius coast. The July 1-3 visit is the first by an Indian foreign minister to Mauritius since 1997, though there have been presidential and prime ministerial visits from both sides. The two countries consider their relations special because of their common civilizational heritage. Nearly 70 percent of Mauritius' population of just over a million is of Indian origin. Sinha held talks with his Mauritian counterpart Anil Kumarsingh Gayan and called on President Karl Offman, Vice President Abdool Raouf Bundhun, Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth and Deputy Prime Minister Paul Raymond Berenger. "The talks were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere and covered a wide range of issues pertaining to bilateral regional and global matters of mutual interest," said a joint statement issued Wednesday in Port Louis and New Delhi. The two countries decided to expand their areas of cooperation, which already covers diverse fields ranging from economy and trade to defence and political cooperation. They signed MoUs on foreign office consultations, cooperation in social defence, including welfare of the elderly and welfare of street children, and on training of personnel in small and medium industrial units run by women in Mauritius. They also agreed to conclude MoUs "at the earliest possible" on cooperation in the field of non-conventional energy sources, exchange of airport personnel, information on emergency search and rescue, consultancy management in air traffic management and civil aviation regulations and environment matters. It was also agreed to conclude a concept paper for the setting up of a World Hindi Secretariat, the joint statements said. Sinha leaves for South Africa on Thursday on an official visit.
Source: IANS