Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been awarded Mauritius’ most prestigious civilian honor, The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean. The recognition was conferred by Mauritius’ President Dharam Gokhool during a special ceremony on Wednesday.
While receiving the award, Modi expressed gratitude, emphasizing that the honor extended beyond himself to the entire nation of India. He stated, “I express my heartfelt gratitude for being conferred the highest national award of Mauritius. This is not just my honour, it is the honour of 1.4 billion Indians. It is a tribute to the centuries old cultural and historical bonds of kinship between India and Mauritius. It is an acknowledgement of our said commitment to regional peace, progress, security and sustainable development. And it is a symbol of the shared hopes and aspirations of the global south.”
#WATCH | Port Louis: Prime Minister Narendra Modi conferred with Mauritius's highest civilian award, by President of Mauritius Dharam Gokhool.
— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2025
(Video – DD News) pic.twitter.com/bYo4hKenZg
Modi is the first Indian to receive this distinction. His two-day visit to Mauritius comes at the invitation of the country’s Prime Minister, Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted the deepening ties between the two nations, announcing that their relationship had been officially elevated to a strategic partnership. “This elevates our partnership to a level of strategic partnership. It is the first such partnership India has concluded with any nation in its neighbourhood,” he said.
During high-level discussions, both countries reviewed their collaboration across multiple sectors, leading to the signing of eight Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). Modi also confirmed India’s support for the construction of a new Parliament building in Mauritius.
Before departing for the island nation, Modi described Mauritius as a crucial maritime partner and a key link to Africa. He remarked, “Mauritius is a close maritime neighbour, a key partner in the Indian Ocean, and a gateway to the African Continent. We are connected by history, geography and culture. Deep mutual trust, a shared belief in the values of democracy, and a celebration of our diversity are our strengths. The close and historical people-to-people connect is a source of shared pride.”
