Mauritius emerging as a hub: Ravi

New Delhi, Nov 24 (UNI) Mauritius was emerging as a hub between India and Africa and also provided ample opportunities for investment from India particularly in the IT sector, according to visiting Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi.

The minister who called on Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam during his two-day visit to Mauritius recently, noted the close relations between India and Mauritius which had been nurtured over several years.

During the meeting the two leaders discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues.

Mr Ravi invited the Prime Minister to visit India to explore the possibility of cooperation particularly in the area of backwaters tourism as houseboats were a big draw with tourists.

Dr Ramgoolam lauded India's contribution to the development of Mauritius and the umbilical ties which bind a large majority of the Mauritian population with their mother country.

He also called on the President and Foreign Minister of Mauritius.

The Minister inaugurated the international conference on "Nurturing PIO Languages" organised by Global Organisation of Persons of Indian Origin (GOPIO) International at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute.

Addressing the conference, he highlighted the role of language in nurturing culture and as a means to bring about unity in the society.

Drawing a parallel with the multi-cultural and multi-linguistic nature of Indian society and the formation of states on linguistic basis, he remarked that Mauritius presented a similar situation and called upon the younger generation of the diaspora to adhere to their language and culture, which are the biggest strengths of expressing identity and bonding with the roots.

GOPIO delegates from Mauritius, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and France attended the meet, used as a pre-PBD platform and a promotional film on PBD-2007 was also shown on the occasion.

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