Mauritius Hails India’s AI Leadership Ahead of India-AI Impact Summit 2026; PM Ramgoolam to Attend

Ahead of the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, Mauritian Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning Jyoti Jeetun has praised India’s technological strength, saying the country is a natural leader in the field of Artificial Intelligence.

Speaking before the summit in New Delhi, Jeetun said Mauritius feels “very privileged” to be part of what she described as the next chapter in global technological advancement. She confirmed that Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam will travel to India next week to attend the event.

“India is known for a strong technology-driven economy. It has had one of the strongest USPs in technology for decades. If you look at the CEOs of major global technology companies, many are of Indian origin. India is already a leader in this space. It is only natural that it is now taking the lead in AI,” she said.

Jeetun highlighted the shared outlook of India and Mauritius as countries of the Global South, stressing the importance of collaboration in emerging technologies. She said nations from the South see India’s AI push as an exciting development that they are proud to be associated with.

Emphasising the long-standing ties between the two countries, Jeetun said relations date back centuries, with a majority of Mauritius’ population tracing its roots to India. She pointed to shared cultural traditions, including Mahashivratri, during which thousands undertake a pilgrimage to Ganga Talao.

On the economic front, she noted that Mauritius has built a robust financial services centre over the past three decades and has emerged as one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment into India. The investment ecosystem between the two countries, she said, has grown significantly over time.

Jeetun also referred to expanding cooperation in fintech, energy and maritime security. She underlined Mauritius’ strategic role as a gateway to Africa for Indian businesses, noting its membership in the African Union, COMESA and SADC. With Africa accounting for 15 of the 25 fastest-growing economies last year, she said, Indian companies have strong opportunities to expand, with Mauritius offering a stable and well-regulated route into the continent.

India is hosting the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi from February 16 to 20. The summit will focus on three themes — People, Planet and Progress — and is expected to bring together global leaders, policymakers and experts to shape discussions on the future of AI.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders from 20 countries, including Mauritius, France, Brazil, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands and the UAE, are expected to attend. Ministerial delegations from more than 45 countries, along with the UN Secretary-General and senior representatives of international organisations, will also participate. – ANI