Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday arrived in Mauritius for a two-day visit to the East African nation. He was received at the airport in Port Louis by Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam. The two leaders were caught exchanging a warm hug as PM Modi landed at the airport.

PM Modi departed for Mauritius at around midnight. He will be there on March 11 and 12 for the country’s 57th National Day celebrations, where he is the Chief Guest. Furthermore, a contingent of Indian Defence Forces will participate in the celebrations along with a warship of the Indian Navy. PM Modi will also inaugurate more than 20 India-funded projects.

“I look forward to meeting my friend and Prime Minister, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam. I am also eager to be interacting with the Indian community there,” PM Modi tweeted on Monday.

“Mauritius is a close maritime neighbour and a key Indian Ocean partner. We are connected by shared values and deep rooted cultural ties. My visit will further strengthen the foundations of our friendship and build a brighter chapter in India-Mauritius ties,” PM Modi wrote in another tweet.

In his departure statement, the Prime Minister pointed out that the close and historical “people-to-people connect” between India and Mauritius is a “source of shared pride”. “We have made significant strides in the past ten years with people-centric initiatives,” he added.

Mauritius’s National Day celebrations will be held on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, besides the India-funded projects to be inaugurated by PM Modi, he will announce new major infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening democracy in the East African island nation, news agency PTI reported, citing officials.

PM Modi along with Ramgoolam will inaugurate the Civil Services building, the construction of which was completed at an approximate cost of USD 4.75 million (over Rs 40 crore) based on an MoU signed between the two countries in 2017.

Mauritian Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful told news agency PTI that an MoU on a line of credit will also be signed during PM Modi’s visit tomorrow.

“There will be the signing of a MoU on a line of credit, which is being granted by India, regarding the replacement of our water pipes,” Ramful was quoted as saying by PTI.