The 9th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC 2026) was inaugurated today in Port Louis, Mauritius, and will run from 10 to 12 April 2026. Organised by India Foundation in association with the Government of Mauritius, the conference is held under the theme “Collective Stewardship for Indian Ocean Governance.”
The inaugural session brought together eminent leaders, policymakers, and scholars from across the Indian Ocean region. The Chief Guest’s address was delivered by Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam. India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, delivered the keynote address, and a curtain-raiser address was given by the President of India Foundation. Oman’s Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, also addressed the session.
India–Mauritius Bilateral Engagements
On 9 April, ahead of the conference, EAM Jaishankar called on Mauritius PM Ramgoolam. He posted on X: “Our wide-ranging partnership has witnessed remarkable and substantive progress in the last year. Discussed its various facets including development cooperation, health, education, capacity building, mobility, technology, maritime security, and people-to-people ties, as well as developments in West Asia and their impact. Deeply value PM Ramgoolam’s strong commitment to the enduring India–Mauritius friendship.”
He also met Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool and conveyed warm greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi.
Alongside Mauritius PM Ramgoolam, he witnessed the signing of a Letter of Exchange on a Special Economic Package, reaffirming India’s commitment to Mauritius’ infrastructure development, health, and security. The two sides jointly inaugurated 11 India-supported High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) spanning sectors including sustainable development, energy, sports, and infrastructure across Mauritius. In a first for any partner country, the iGOT Karmayogi portal — India’s flagship civil services capacity-building platform — was launched exclusively for Mauritian civil servants, marking a significant step in the two nations’ longstanding governance cooperation. A Memorandum of Understanding was also exchanged between the University Grants Commission of India and the Higher Education Commission of Mauritius. Additionally, a royalty cheque of USD 45,000 was handed over to Mauritius for the sale of nautical charts, reflecting the practical outcomes of bilateral cooperation in the domain of hydrography.
In EAM Jaishankar’s statement to the media, he announced the inauguration of a Renal Transplant Unit at the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Mauritius and noted the forthcoming completion of an AYUSH Centre of Excellence regarding health cooperation. On clean energy, he confirmed the handover of the final lot of e-buses to support sustainable public transport and mentioned that an Indian public sector enterprise is developing Mauritius’ first floating solar power project. On defence, he announced that India would soon position a Defence Attaché in Mauritius—a first—to strengthen growing security engagements. Regarding energy security, he confirmed that a Government-to-Government agreement for the supply of oil and gas to Mauritius is in its final stages.
Sideline Meetings
On the margins of the conference, EAM Jaishankar held a series of bilateral meetings with foreign ministers from the region. He met Japan’s FM Toshimitsu Motegi and discussed developments in West Asia, including international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. He also met Seychelles FM Barry Faure, reaffirming India’s commitment to supporting Seychelles with its current economic challenges and welcoming steps in implementing the Special Economic Package.
He met former Mauritius Prime Minister and MSM party leader Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, valuing his commitment to the India–Mauritius partnership. A meeting with Bhutan’s FM D.N. Dhungyel saw the two sides note continued progress in their unique bilateral partnership. Nepal’s FM Shisir Khanal, who attended the conference at his invitation to deliver Nepal’s national statement on Indian Ocean governance, also met with EAM Jaishankar.
Policy Context
The visit underscores India’s Neighbourhood First policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and commitment to the Global South. The conference brings together heads of government, senior officials, scholars, and experts from across the Indian Ocean Region to discuss maritime security, economic development, environmental sustainability, and evolving geopolitical dynamics.
