GIS – 10 July 2025: “The relations between Mauritius and the United States of America (US) continue to deepen, marked by growing cooperation in areas such as education and exchange programme, maritime security, climate resilience and trade. I look forward to the coming year of further progress and also getting closer to the completion of our new embassy.”
This message was conveyed by the US Ambassador to the Republic of Mauritius, Mr. Henry Jardine, at a reception held yesterday evening at the Intercontinental Resort Hotel in Balaclava. The event marked the 249th anniversary of U.S. Independence, commemorated annually on July 4th, commonly known as the Fourth of July.
The President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Dharambeer Gokhool; the Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam; the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Paul Raymond Bérenger; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Dhananjay Ramful; Ministers, and members of the diplomatic corps, were among the distinguished guests present.
The theme of the event focused on alumni of US exchange programmes, highlighting participants who have benefited from these initiatives. On that occasion the Prime Minister, himself an alumnus of a US exchange programme, was presented with a special badge.
In his remarks Ambassador Jardine emphasized Mauritius’s important role as a valued partner of the US, noting the close collaboration between the two countries over the years in addressing global challenges and advancing shared goals. “Our cooperation is grounded not only in our shared interests but in the bonds between our people.”, he said, noting the increasing importance of having people to people connections as a major part of diplomacy.
He referred to a number of exchange and educational programmes that have been funded by the US to support the civil society. These programmes have contributed to fostering personal relationships between the two countries. To date, approximately 754 Mauritians have participated in US exchange programmes such as the Fulbright and Humphrey Programmes, the International Visitor Leadership Programme, and the Mandela Washington Fellowship, among others. In addition, another 300 Mauritians have taken part in various law enforcement and military education programmes, Ambassador Jardine added.
Highlighting the strong potential for security cooperation, Mr Jardine recalled that the US and Mauritius recently co-hosted the African Maritime Forces Summit, which brought together over 250 participants from 44 countries and organisations. The event, he indicated, reiterates Mauritius’s key role in driving regional efforts to address climate change and combat threats such as piracy, drug smuggling, Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing, disaster response, with the support of the Indian Ocean Commission and the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
According to Ambassador Jardine, Mauritius is rightly positioned to serve as a gateway for investment in Africa and South Asia. The US Mauritius Business Summit, hosted in collaboration with the Economic Development Board reaffirms the country’s commitment to promote commercial opportunities and offers a conducive environment for trade and investment.
The US Ambassador congratulated Mauritius and the United Kingdom on the signing of the agreement recognising Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos Islands. The agreement, he said, supports the continued security presence of the US in the region and enhances the US and Mauritius partnership for the coming decades. “We look forward to developing a US State partnership programme with Mauritius and its security forces”, he added.
Government Information Service, Prime Minister’s Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius. Email: gis@govmu.org Website: https://gis.govmu.org Mobile App: Search Gov
