Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing visit to Mauritius is being described as another milestone in India’s role as a trusted global development partner, a perception that has become even more stronger in the last decade.
As part of his commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Mauritius, Modi will inaugurate the Civil Service College and an Area Health Centre, both built with India’s grant assistance.
These projects, officials say, underscore India’s dedication to enhancing Mauritius’ administrative and healthcare infrastructure, fostering long-term growth and capacity building.
An analysis of the steps taken in the last ten years shows that PM Modi’s vision of inclusive prosperity extends far beyond the Indian Ocean nation, reflected in a series of landmark projects India has undertaken across the world.
What has created a significant amount of goodwill among the locals is that these projects were supported by India despite having no immediate strategic value.
Yet, India remained committed to them, driven by its age-old relationship. These gestures reaffirm that India’s approach to global partnerships is rooted in historical ties, trust, and shared progress rather than transactional gains—something not many global powers can claim to practice.
The development initiatives by PM Modi have extended to Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Seychelles, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, showcasing India’s approach of mutual growth and cooperation.
In Bhutan, India financed and developed the Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck Mother and Child Hospital, with the first phase completed in 2019 and the second in 2024. This state-of-the-art facility, inaugurated by PM Modi and his Bhutanese counterpart, provides specialized maternal and child healthcare services, significantly bolstering the region’s medical infrastructure.
Similarly, India’s contributions to Bangladesh’s progress received global coverage in 2023 when the Indian PM , alongside the then Bangladeshi Prime Minister, jointly inaugurated three major projects: the Akhaura-Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link, the Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line, and Unit-II of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant.
Furthering cross-border collaboration, PM Modi and the Nepali Prime Minister flagged off the Jayanagar-Kurtha railway in 2022. Built with Indian grant assistance, this marked the first broad-gauge passenger railway link between India and Nepal, enhancing trade and people-to-people connectivity.
These projects were conceptualized and executed not just to take care of India’s strategic needs, but also to make the lives of the common people easier.
In 2021, PM Modi and Seychelles President Ramkalawan inaugurated the Magistrates’ Court building in Victoria via video conferencing, India’s first infrastructure project in Seychelles, constructed with a $3.5 million Indian grant.
A year earlier, in 2020, he and Mauritius Prime Minister Jugnauth jointly inaugurated the new Supreme Court building in Mauritius, further solidifying India’s support for institutional development in the island nation.
India’s contributions in Mauritius have been consistent. In 2019, PM Modi and PM Jugnauth inaugurated the Metro Express project and the New ENT Hospital via video conferencing, showcasing India’s commitment to modernizing public transport and healthcare in its close maritime neighbor.
India has played a very crucial role in Afghanistan’s reconstruction, something that is recognized by every power that has ruled Afghanistan.
In 2016, PM Modi and the then Afghan President inaugurated the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, also known as the Salma Dam, a lifeline for irrigation and power generation in western Afghanistan. A year earlier, in 2015, the Afghan Parliament Building was completed with Indian assistance and inaugurated by PM Modi and the then Afghan President, symbolizing the deep-rooted ties between the two nations.
Strengthening cultural bonds in the region, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the Jaffna Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka in 2015, a project that came to fruition in 2022, reinforcing India’s commitment to preserving and promoting shared heritage.
By investing in crucial sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security, Modi has ensured that India continues to reinforce its position as a reliable development partner, fostering growth and strengthening diplomatic ties across the globe.