India reiterates its support to Mauritius in anti-piracy

India on Tuesday reiterated its support to Mauritius for anti-piracy, during an official visit of the President Pranab Mukherjee in Port-Louis.

"Piracy in the Indian Ocean has a negative impact on all of us," said the President of India to the press."We are very committed to the security of Mauritius and will continue to work to improve cooperation in security."

Mauritius, the Seychelles as was the last year faced with the growing threat of Somali pirates had extended their zone of action beyond the Somali coast, far into the Indian Ocean.

The number of acts of piracy are still down significantly from last year, due to the deployment of an international armada of war in the Gulf of Aden and the presence of armed guards on merchant ships.

Pranab Mukherjee has said that such ships of the Indian Navy would continue joint exercises with Maurice against piracy.

India is an important partner of Mauritius, in the fight against piracy but also economic.

Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Mauritius on Monday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of the Government of Mauritius. He participated in the celebrations of the 45th anniversary of the independence of Mauritius.