New Delhi

Ahead of the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, Mauritius’ Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning, Jyoti Jeetun, praised India’s technological strength and said the country is naturally positioned to lead in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

In a conversation with ANI, Jeetun described India as a long-standing technology powerhouse and said Mauritius feels privileged to be part of what she termed the next phase of global technological transformation.

“India has built a strong reputation as a technology-driven economy. For decades, it has demonstrated leadership in this space. If you look at global technology firms, many of their CEOs are of Indian origin. So India stepping forward in AI is a natural progression,” she said.

Jeetun confirmed that Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam will travel to New Delhi next week to attend the summit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Emphasising collaboration among developing nations, she said both India and Mauritius, as members of the Global South, see significant value in working together in emerging technologies.

“As countries from the Global South, we feel honoured to participate in this important phase of technological advancement that will shape the future,” she noted.

Deep Cultural and Economic Links

Jeetun highlighted the longstanding historical and cultural bonds between the two nations, noting that a significant portion of Mauritius’ population traces its ancestry to India.

She pointed to shared traditions and festivals, including Mahashivratri, during which thousands of devotees undertake a pilgrimage to Ganga Talao, a sacred site in Mauritius.

On the economic front, Jeetun said financial services have been a key pillar of bilateral engagement. Over the past three decades, Mauritius has developed a strong international financial services centre and has emerged as a significant source of foreign direct investment into India.

She also underlined growing cooperation in fintech, renewable energy and maritime security.

Gateway to Africa

Positioning Mauritius as a strategic bridge to Africa, Jeetun noted the country’s membership in the African Union, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

“Africa has favourable demographics and expanding economies. Many of the fastest-growing countries globally are from the continent. Mauritius offers stability, an established ecosystem and a gateway for Indian companies looking to expand into African markets,” she said.

India-AI Impact Summit 2026

India will host the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi from February 16 to 20. The event is structured around three core themes — People, Planet and Progress — and is expected to bring together world leaders, policymakers and technology experts to discuss the evolving role of AI.

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Leaders from 20 countries, including Mauritius, France, Brazil, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates, are scheduled to attend. Ministerial delegations from more than 45 countries, along with the UN Secretary-General and senior officials from global organisations, are also expected to participate.