The country was eagerly waiting for his visit and it has surely not been disappointed. But what is the most gratifying about the Indian President is that he looks as happy as us, Mauritians, to have taken part in he celebrations for the 38th anniversary of the country?s independence and the 14th of the Republic. ?Thank you for your beautiful country,? he said warmly at the banquet offered in his honour by the prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, on Saturday.

The incarnation of simplicity, Abdul Kalam appeals to all Mauritians thanks to his relaxed manner. His exchange with students yesterday showed how willing he is to share his knowledge and experience with others.

<B>A support for a softer transition</B>

But his visit also had a more ?down-to-earth? aim. Following the celebrations, the Indian president had a private meeting with the PM. After the discussions, the secretary for Internal affairs in India, Shyam Saran, revealed that his president had committed to help Mauritius which is ?facing difficulties in two of its main economic pillars ? sugar and textile ? because of changes in international trade conditions.? President Kalam made it clear that ?India will do everything possible to make the transition softer for Mauritius?.

Yesterday, two bilateral cooperation agreements were signed; one on the exploration of possible sources of hydrocarbon in the exclusive economic zone of Mauritius. The second is the Panafrican project of connectivity. Through the latter, India has committed to connect African countries with India through satellite and fibre optic cables. Mauritius should have an important role to play in this agreement.

A new agreement should allow even closer collaboration between India and Mauritius. The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA), including trade in goods and services, investment and economic cooperation, which has been under discussion for a few months now, should be in force by the middle of the year.

However, a first aspect of this agreement will be implemented as from next month. The preferential trade zone will allow Mauritius greater access to the Indian market. For instance, India has given one million textile pieces preferential access and the number could be doubled soon.

Technical support is also an important aspect of the cooperation India is ready to provide to Mauritius. They could for instance help the textile factories to manufacture products of «higher standard».</I>

Technical support is also an important aspect of the cooperation India is ready to provide to Mauritius. In the textile industry, the Indian president believes Mauritius could benefit from the importance the sector has recently acquired in India. Thanks to their technologies, they could help Mauritius to produce products of a?higher standard?. Likewise, President Kalam has committed to support the country in its endeavour to diversify the sugar sector through research and development.

The visit of the Indian President has definitely been up to expectations. Not only has it opened the way for even more collaboration between the two countries but it has also allowed Mauritius to be introduced to a great but humble public man ? who heads what is expected to become in the future one of the most powerful states in the world. The PM, Navin Ramgoolam, could only wish that Mauritians be ?humble enough to be influenced by (his) wisdom?.

Time for positive reflections</B>

At a time when the economy is at the crossroads, the celebrations had a special resonance on Sunday. The international context is changing and Mauritius will have to adapt or perish. It was the occasion for leaders of the country to give back hope to the population and remind them that the country has always dealt successfully with difficulties. ?We have already had to face harder situations and every time we have succeeded in overcoming the obstacles and moving forward,? said President Anerood Jugnauth. The prime minister chose not to insist on the difficulties in the traditional sectors; he explained what his government intends to do to boost the economy with new areas of development ? especially universal ICT education and the creation of a pharmaceutical free zone. Within the next four years, the government will take steps to allow all students and employees to have access to new technologies. The aim of this project is to make it possible for everyone to become computer literate and get a certificate. The PM insists that Mauritius has a lot of advantages ? bilingualism and geographical position ? that must be exploited?

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