India to provide offshore patrol vessel to Mauritius

Sagar Kulkarni
Port Louis (Mauritius), Jul 3 (PTI) Stepping up
defence ties with Mauritius, India on Saturday agreed to
provide an off-shore patrol vessel (OPV) to the island nation
that would help it improve surveillance in surrounding
pirates-infested high-seas.
A Memorandum of Understanding to deliver the OPV was
signed during a meeting Indian External Affairs Minister S M
Krishna, on a two-day visit here, had with Mauritius Prime
Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
Besides the OPV, India is also building a Coastal
Surveillance Radar System for the volcanic island nation,
installation of which is expected to commence in September.
The 58-million-dollar OPV will help Mauritius police
its vast extended economic zone which is spread across an area
of 1.9 million sq km.
India has agreed to extend USD 10 million grant in aid
for the OPV while the balance amount will be met through a
line of credit extended to the nation.
"We have a very special relationship with India and
this will continue. We have signed a Memorandum of
Understanding on this offshore patrol vessel," Ramgoolam told
reporters after a 30-minute meeting with Krishna.
He said this was discussed during his official visit
to India and the MoU was needed to better equip the country
against threats of piracy and terrorism.
"In the light of what is happening in our region, we
should be better equipped and that is why we have signed the
MoU today. In our region, we have new elements like piracy and
also terrorism.
"We expect full cooperation from India and I am glad
we are receiving full cooperation from India," he said.
He also underlined the significance of the string of
eight radars that India is scheduled to install in Mauritius
and its neighbouring island of Agalega.
"We can pick up all the movement that happens in the
region we will be able to patrol the area better.
"We have the national coastguard and India helps us in
this tremendously but it is not good enough to be able to
control such an area," he said indicating that the radar
system would help fill in the gaps in surveillance.
Krishna said India looked forward to further
strengthening the already "good, cordial and friendly"
relations with Mauritius.
"We do realise how crucial and critical it is for
India to have security related relationship with Mauritius.
There is total identity of thinking with the Prime Minister of
Mauritius, he said. (MORE) PTI