by Rajah RAMDAURSING

As Shrimati Kaur, you and your delegation alighted the Maharadjah on Wednesday, Dr Manmohan Singh, your perspicacity would have quickly attuned to the fact that you have probably been one of our most awaited guests for some time now.

You come at a time when the politicians are frantically polishing their spikes for the sprint to the coveted seats in Parliament. Nonetheless, we have no doubt that, your stay will be marked by an Olympian attitude to the local shenanigans and focus on the relationship between our two countries.

I hesitate to use the expression ?special relationship?, as comes to my mind that other allegedly special relationship between the US and the UK ? acclaimed by the weaker party but merely politely acknowledged by the other. In today?s game of nations, interests predominate over historical or emotional ties.

Yet, the bond between our nations goes beyond the usual diplomatic and trading bilateral rapports. Almost two centuries ago, people from your land came to toil in the fields that have been the mainstay of this country for so long. And, just as our cane industry seemed to be dwindling, your country returned our pressing call to embark on the ITC revolution.

There is no better symbol of your country?s contribution to the latter than the Cyber-tower that you will officially inaugurate today. Although it is true that the sector is still in its infancy and that we will never be in the same league, we can draw many lessons from your success and hope to benefit from your support.

We cannot also ignore the international financial services sector, to whose establishment the double taxation treaty between our two countries has immensely contributed. Our jurisdiction now boasts of being among the largest investors in India. Although an irritant to your CBDT, we would like to believe that we have both benefited from this treaty.

I must now make a confession to you. For a long time, many of my fellow countrymen viewed India as a country plagued by ?saddhus? and fakirs; the country that has given the binary system to the world but had not progressed from its first number:- Zero!

It is true that we have all witnessed the distressing scenes of abject poverty, riots, callous rites, and despair. Yet, we tend to forget that yours is a fast evolving secular state approaching the billion mark made up of the major religions where tradition co-habits with modernity. On my way out from the Tidal Park in Chennai four years ago, I could not help taking a picture of two oxes grazing by the side of the huge satellite dish that feeds the park. Old and new India living side by side !

You have, Sir, earned well-deserved plaudits worldwide for your vision and courage in harnessing the appropriate resources to modernise your economy ? reforming a practically closed economy to one which now sits comfortably in the global economy. As someone who gave us your own brand of economics where liberalism tries to sit with equity, you are well-placed to help us chart the road map from an economic model that has served its time to one which will helps us address our new challenges.

We are grateful for your unflinching support in the field of education and training. Our country prides itself of the excellent professionals, amongst them doctors, engineers and ? politicians, who have been trained in some of your excellent universities. Please encourage some of these universities to moor on our shores. It will help you disseminate Indian excellence in the region while at the same time supporting our quest to become a knowledge hub.

As we seek to widen our economic base, we could welcome the setting up of ventures in say the pharmaceuticals industry to create viable regional businesses. We also often come across the prejudice that children of slaves and coolies do not have the entrepreneurial spirit to succeed. You will agree that budding entrepreneurs need support, markets and network to make it. They can learn from your experience and benefit from your mentoring in establishing small and medium size enterprises.

Like you, we claim to have an accountable government, as well as respect for institutions, the rule of law and open markets. As someone with the well-earned reputation of not having succumbed to the many temptations of politics, you are well placed to impress on us the close relationship between probity, strong institutions and economic success.

I have taken the liberty to put to you a rather long shopping list. And yet, earlier on, I opined that national self-interest increasingly predominates. It therefore goes without saying that over and above our bond, our interests must coincide. I humbly believe that it does.

This is not primarily because you have a favourable balance of trade with us, or that your national carrier stands to capitalise further on its beneficial relationship with ours. As an economic powerhouse, you stand to be the leading player in the region. Whilst it may not be your largest market, its development should benefit yours. We must find ways of improving the flow of goods and services between your country and our regional partners. A more resilient Mauritius would be an ideal partner, nay ally, of yours in this drive for trade.

We thank you for your visit and pray that it helps reinforce and reshape our bond to face the oncoming challenges.