Navy Chief leaves on 4-day visit to Mauritius

Navy Chief Admiral R K Dhowan today left on a four-day visit to Mauritius to consolidate the ties and to explore new avenues of defence cooperation.
The Admiral, jointly with his counterpart, Commissioner of Police, will inaugurate the data flow of the information exchange on white shipping (merchant marine) for greater maritime domain awareness to the mutual benefit of both the countries.
He will also meet government and defence officials during his stay in Mauritius, an official statement said.
India and Mauritius share centuries-old cultural, ethnic, religious and linguistic bonds. These bonds have strengthened over time through goodwill gestures and bilateral visits.

Incidentally, 68 per cent of the population there is of Indian origin.
This, in addition to the country's strategic location in the Indian Ocean, has resulted in a close relationship between India and Mauritius.
The Indian Navy has been actively supporting and cooperating with Mauritius maritime agencies towards meeting their maritime security needs in terms of hydrography surveys, supplementing exclusive economic zone surveillance efforts, provisioning of naval hardware such as ships and aircraft as well as cooperation in training.
Mauritius Coast Guard ship 'Barracuda' was recently built by GRSE Kolkata while orders have been placed by that country for construction of two fast-attack craft and ten fast- interceptor craft.