Thaindian News

New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) India Tuesday agreed to provide a new package comprising a $250 million line of credit and a $20 million grant to Mauritius during bilateral talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam here.

During their talks focusing on furthering their already robust bilateral relations, India and Mauritius also signed five agreements in the fields of eduction, textiles, sports and youth affairs, science and technology and culture, according to tweets posted by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The two sides also reviewed their double taxation avoidance convention, insisting that both nations have an interest in ensuring it is not misused.

The twitter handle PMOIndia quoted Manmohan Singh as saying: “Government of India will provide a new package to Mauritius consisting of Line of Credit of US$250m and a grant of US$20m.”

“We reviewed the status of implementation of the India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Convention. Both India and Mauritius have an interest in ensuring that there is no misuse of the Convention,” he added.

Manmohan Singh said the two nations had also agreed to strengthen the cooperation “to address the growing menace of piracy which has emerged as a major security…challenge”.

He noted that he had completed a “very fruitful and wide-ranging discussions aimed at further expanding the India-Mauritius partnership” with Ramgoolam.

A tweet also quoted Ramgoolam as having said: “Our relationship is going to deepen with these steps. I thank India for this generosity.”

The Mauritian prime minister is in India on a six-day official visit that began Monday.