Mauritius for ties with Indian university

Kochi, May 15 (UNI) Mauritius will collaborate with Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) to carry out research in the areas of marine biology and industrial fisheries along with academical tie-ups, visiting Mauritius Vice-President Abdul Rauf Bundhin said today.

After visiting the CUSAT here, the visiting dignitary said steps would be taken at the highest level to materialise this collaboration between the Mauritius University and the Indian varsity as soon as he returned back home.

''Experts from China and Japan are now supporting the island nation in the areas of marine biology, oceanography, industrial fisheries and ocean technology. But that is not enough for us and we are keen on more ties with our Indian ocean neighbour,'' he said.

Mr Bundhin said his country already had close cooperation with India in Information Technology and India helped them to set up their cyber city.

On his two-day visit to Kerala, he said being an educationist he wanted to take a closer look and learn from the highest literate State as, he believed, education was the only way to success.

After interacting with the professors of the university, he appealed to the Indian students to make use of the five per cent quota for foreign nationals in the higher education sector in his country. He also assured to increase the quota if needed.

CUSAT Vice-Chancellor Dr P K Abdul Azis offered the visiting dignitary to extend required services to improve the quality and teaching skills in Mauritius.

Mr Bundhin, accompanied by his wife and a delegation, visited different departments in the University, before proceeding to Alappuzha to visit a coir unit.

While talking to newsmen at the airport yesterday, he said Mauritius was encouraging Indian tourists in a big way by extending free stay upto 15 days without visa, which was earlier enjoyed only by Europeans.

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