(3 Minutes Read)
Mauritian Prime Minister Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam and French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the press this evening at the Sir Harilal Vaghjee Memorial Hall in Port Louis, marking the start of the French President’s two-day official visit to Mauritius, ahead of his departure for the G20 Summit in South Africa.
Prime Minister Ramgoolam described the visit as a strong reaffirmation of the longstanding historical, cultural, and linguistic ties binding the two nations. Noting that this is the first visit by a French President in 32 years, he said the timing is significant amid global instability that disproportionately affects Small Island Developing States. He thanked France for its leadership—alongside Costa Rica—at the 2025 Ocean Conference in Nice, a vital event for countries facing mounting ocean-related challenges.
The Prime Minister recalled Mauritius’ close relationship with successive French leaders, praising France’s steady support for the country’s economic and social progress since independence in 1968. He underscored the central role of the French language in Mauritian society, including within the 252-year-old, predominantly francophone local press.
Dr Ramgoolam expressed deep appreciation for France’s continued support on the Chagos issue. He outlined key topics discussed during the bilateral working session, including geopolitics, anti-corruption efforts, drug trafficking, maritime security, cooperation with Réunion Island, cross-border crime, and the status of Tromelin. He highlighted newly signed agreements in the blue economy, energy transition, renewable energy, and sustainable water management.
He also acknowledged the contribution of the private sector, citing new partnerships involving the Mauritius Sugar Syndicate, Moulin de la Concorde, and InVivo for flour supply. He commended the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) for its role in projects on coastal resilience, biodiversity, creative industries, and peace and stability, while also recognising the European Union’s ongoing regional development support.
President Macron, in his remarks, highlighted the mutual respect at the heart of Mauritius–France relations. He pointed to linguistic, historical, and geographical bonds and stressed the countries’ shared approach to global issues such as climate change, geopolitical tensions, and disruptions to global trade, reaffirming France’s belief in multilateralism.
He announced that several bilateral agreements will be signed during the visit, particularly in maritime security and ocean protection. He praised Mauritius for being among the first nations to sign the Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty, calling it a landmark for ocean conservation. Education featured prominently, with the signing of a joint declaration on strengthening bilingual francophone education and backing Mauritius’ language policy. Agreements in the energy and water sectors will also enable technical support from AFD and Électricité de France (EDF) for both Mauritius and Rodrigues.
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Mauritius hosted 340,000 French tourists last year, the Prime Minister emphasised France’s status as a key external market and noted the strong presence of French companies across financial services, tourism, industry, and energy. He reaffirmed Mauritius’ commitment to regional peace through the Indian Ocean Commission and expressed hope for a rapid return to democracy in Madagascar. He closed by celebrating the enduring solidarity and shared aspirations uniting the two countries.
