Japan to provide a tugboat to Mauritius to enhance response to potential disasters

Following his courtesy call on the Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, on 10 February 2025, at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Mauritius, Mr Kan Masahiro, said that a grant for a tugboat to Mauritius which is now considered would be finalised at the cabinet meeting in Tokyo soon.

The Ambassador stated that the tug boat would prove very useful in strengthening the capabilities of Mauritius in disaster management and in protecting the environment, in case of incident such as an oil spill.

According to Ambassador Masahiro the meeting with the Prime Minister was cordial. Discussions revolved around bilateral relations and focused on the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Policy, which rests upon the establishment of a rule-based international order and the consolidation of principles such as free trade, freedomof navigation, and the rule of law, deemed essential for the stability and prosperity of the region.

The question of maritime security, the National Day Reception to celebrate the birthday of the Emperor of Japan, and the Expo 2025 to be held in Osaka, Japan from April to October were also on the agenda of discussions during the courtesy call.

For the Ambassador his mission was to further promote the cordial relationship between Mauritius and Japan, and he rejoiced that both Nations shared the same values like the rule of law and democracy. He pointed out that Prime Minister Ramgoolamwas expected to attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), which is scheduled to be held in Yokohama, Japan from 20 to 22 August 2025.

Source : GIS Mauritius