Port Louis: Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam on Tuesday announced that his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, will be conferred with the nation's highest honour, The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean.

Prime Minister Modi is currently on a two-day state visit to the island nation. Ramgoolam made the announcement at a community event attended by over 3,500 people, where Modi also addressed the gathering.

Expressing his gratitude for the recognition, Modi stated, "I express my heartfelt gratitude for being conferred the highest national award of Mauritius. This is not just my honour, it is the honour of 1.4 billion Indians. It is a tribute to the centuries old cultural and historical bonds of kinship between India and Mauritius. It is an acknowledgement of our said commitment to regional peace, progress, security and sustainable development. And it is a symbol of the shared hopes and aspirations of the global south," PM Modi said while receiving the award.

Thousands of people gathered at the venue, braving the heavy rain to see their leader accept the award on the National Day. PM Modi dedicated the award to the Indians who migrated to Mauritius and contributed to the nation's vibrant diversity.

First Indian recipient

Prime Minister Modi is the first Indian to receive this prestigious award, which recognises his contributions to strengthening ties between India and Mauritius. Ramgoolam noted that Modi is the fifth foreign national to receive this distinguished recognition.

This marks the 21st international award conferred upon PM Modi by a foreign nation, further adding to his global recognition for fostering diplomatic relationships.