New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu boarded her first official trip to Mauritius on Monday.

A significant highlight of her visit is President Murmu's role as the Chief Guest at Mauritius' National Day celebrations, signaling a new chapter in the enduring friendship between the two nations.

"President Droupadi Murmu begins her maiden State visit to Mauritius. She is honored to be the Chief Guest at Mauritius' National Day celebrations," announced Rashtrapati Bhavan in a statement.

President Murmu becomes the sixth Indian President to attend Mauritius' National Day as Chief Guest since 2000, reinforcing the strong bond between India and Mauritius. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized the visit's significance in bolstering bilateral relations and fostering closer people-to-people ties.

MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, described the visit as a "new milestone" in India-Mauritius relations. "A new milestone in India-Mauritius ties! President Droupadi Murmu embarks on a State Visit to Mauritius. She will grace the Mauritius National Day celebrations as Chief Guest tomorrow," Jaiswal mentioned in a social media post.

President Murmu's State visit to Mauritius, scheduled from March 11 to 13, includes the joint inauguration of 14 India-assisted projects with Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. Additionally, she will attend Mauritius' National Day celebrations on March 12 at the government's invitation.

The Indian Navy will be represented at the celebrations by a contingent and two ships, INS Tir and CGS Sarathi, from the First Training Squadron, according to the MEA.

During her stay, President Murmu will hold bilateral meetings with Mauritian President Prithvirajsing Roopun, Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, the Speaker of the Mauritius National Assembly, the Chief Justice of the Mauritian Supreme Court, and other key Mauritian leaders.

The joint inauguration of 14 India-assisted projects by President Murmu and Prime Minister Jugnauth will underscore the diverse and expanding nature of India's development partnership with Mauritius, a vital aspect of bilateral relations.

The visit will witness the exchange of significant bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration and capacity-building between the two countries, the MEA noted.

President Murmu's itinerary includes paying respects to Mauritian leaders at the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, visits to historical and cultural sites such as Aapravasi Ghat, the Intercontinental Slavery Museum, and Ganga Talao. She will also engage with Mauritian youth at the University of Mauritius, as well as members of the Indian diaspora and community at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute.

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