A high-level business delegation from Mauritius convened with representatives of prominent Indian industry associations in Varanasi on Thursday to explore collaborative opportunities in key sectors, including renewable energy, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, financial services, tourism, and port and road development. Organized by Invest UP, the state’s investment promotion agency, the meeting aimed to strengthen economic ties and foster long-term investment partnerships between Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Mauritius.
The discussions, held under the aegis of Invest UP, saw active participation from senior officials and representatives of esteemed industry bodies, including the Indian Industries Association (IIA), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), Indian American Chamber of Commerce, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), and Laghu Udyog Bharti. The engagement underscored a mutual commitment to unlocking new avenues for trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
Shashank Chaudhary, Additional CEO of Invest UP, welcomed the 28-member Mauritian delegation with a comprehensive presentation on the investment opportunities in Uttar Pradesh. He highlighted the state’s robust economic fundamentals, noting that over 56% of UP’s population is within the working-age group, offering a significant demographic dividend. Chaudhary also emphasized UP’s unparalleled connectivity, supported by an extensive network of expressways, five international airports—including the forthcoming Noida International Airport, poised to be one of Asia’s largest—and 16 domestic airports. He further outlined the state’s investor-friendly ecosystem, which includes over 34 sectoral policies offering some of India’s most attractive incentives.
Chaudhary invited the delegation to leverage UP’s Fortune Global and India-500 Investment Promotion Policy 2023 and the UP Industrial Investment & Employment Promotion Policy 2022, both designed to attract global investors. He also showcased the state’s commitment to ease of doing business through Nivesh Mitra, India’s largest single-window platform for investor facilitation.
Leading the Mauritian delegation, Sanjay Bhunjun emphasized the deep historical and cultural bonds between India and Mauritius, referring to Mauritius as “Chhota Bharat” (Small India). He highlighted the shared values and emotional ties with Uttar Pradesh and positioned Mauritius as a strategic gateway for Indian businesses seeking to expand into African markets. Bhunjun underscored Mauritius’s potential as a base for trade and investment, fostering stronger economic linkages.
P S Gangadhar, Joint Secretary, Government of India, reinforced the immense potential of Uttar Pradesh and the complementary strengths of Mauritius as one of India’s largest sources of trade and foreign direct investment (FDI). He stressed the opportunity for both regions to forge robust alliances that could drive mutual prosperity.
The meeting concluded with a strong commitment from both sides to build on these synergies. Industry associations from Uttar Pradesh expressed keen interest in deepening ties and extended invitations to Mauritian businesses to invest in the state. The discussions mark a significant step toward unlocking transformative trade, investment, and cultural exchange opportunities between Uttar Pradesh and Mauritius.