Pranab to be chief guest at Mauritius' national day

President Pranab Mukherjee will be the chief guest at Mauritius' National Day celebrations on Tuesday.
India and Mauritius will also sign several bilateral pacts in social sectors, including health and tourism, during Mukherjee's three-day visit to the Indian Ocean island nation. He will leave for Mauritius tomorrow.
Both the countries enjoy close historical and ancestral relations and India has termed the ties as "unique, special and extraordinary".
India gives highest importance to its relations with Mauritius as 70 per cent of its people are of Indian origin and 38 per cent its Foreign Direct Investment comes from that country, in addition to its geo-strategic location, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Sudhir Vyas has said.

During his visit, Mukherjee will have meetings with Mauritius President Rajkeswur Purryag, Prime Minister Navin C Ramgoolam, Speaker of the National Assembly Abdool Razack Peeroo, Chief Justice Y K J Yeung Sik Yuen and Leader of the Opposition Paul Berenger.
President's Press Secretary Venu Rajamony has said Mukherjee is looking forward for the visit and is greatly honoured to be chief guest at Mauritius' national day celebration.
This would be Mukherjee's second visit abroad after assuming the office of President. Last week, he went to Bangladesh.