Dr. (Mrs.) Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, the President of the Republic of Mauritius called on President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan on December 7, 2015.

Welcoming Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim on her first visit to India, President Mukherjee congratulated her on being the first woman President of Mauritius.

President Mukherjee said people of India are delighted that Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim has personal, professional and academic linkages with India. India attaches high importance to its relations with Mauritius which has a very special place in the hearts and minds of the Indian people.

The President expressed confidence that with the achievements of the President of Mauritius in the fields of science and technology, education and innovation, Mauritius will become stronger and a new dynamism will be added to India-Mauritius bilateral relations.

The President of Mauritius conveyed her condolences to people of Chennai who are suffering on account of floods. She described Indians as brothers and sisters and not just friends. She conveyed gratitude for India’s assistance in the development of Mauritius ever since its independence and called for a continuation of the close ties in the coming days based on institution and capacity building.