Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam of Mauritius
Between 2000 and 2005, Navin Ramgoolam was Leader of the Opposition.
Ramgoolam is known for his frank speaking and the ties he has with leading politician around the world, like French President, Indian Prime Minister, Chinese President.
Navinchandra Ramgoolam met President Pratibha Patil here on Wednesday.
Ramgoolam said at the Raj Bhavan in Patna, I am touched by the love affection shown by the people of Bihar the care taken by the Nitish Kumar government for the uplift of my ancestral village.
Ramgoolam is the first Mauritian prime minister to visit Bihar.
predictions ever since they met in 1993.
Responding to calls from industrialists and exporters for intervention to stop the appreciation of the Mauritian rupee, Mr Ramgoolam says the currency “had to reflect market forces.
Commenting on growing business links with China, Mr Ramgoolam says Mauritius had not been on the original list of five African countries targeted for China’s special economic zones.
Responding to criticism of the government’s integrated resort schemes (IRS) targeting wealthy individuals, Mr Ramgoolam says he does not want to see “rich enclaves in poor areas.
Referring to media reports that the recently elected leader of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress, Jacob Zuma, was trying to get the Mauritian courts to deny access to documents sought by South African prosecutors, Mr Ramgoolam says he met Mr Zuma about two weeks ago when he visited Mauritius.
Agreeing upon Hu's views on bilateral relations, Ramgoolam expressed gratitude for China's long-term support and unselfish assistance to Mauritius.
In an emotional speech at a public reception organised by villagers and the state government, the visiting prime minister, speaking in chaste Bhojpuri, said it was like a second homecoming for him and his family on reaching this remote village from where his grandfather Mohit Ramgoolam had gone to Mauritius without any money in his pocket.
Later on, my father Seewoosagur Ramgoolam took up the mantle from him and turned Mauritius a very prosperous and one of the most successful democracies in the world," the prime minister said.
However, villagers of Chhauttupur, especially one Deonarayan Ojha, yesterday sent a fax to the Mauritius Embassy at New Delhi stating that Seewoosagur Ramgoolam was the son of one Swayamvar Ojha who had been taken as a bonded labourer to the island nation in 1871 by the British.
We are happy and excited that Navinchandra Ramgoolam is visiting Harigaon, his ancestral village.
Mohit Ramgoolam was one of the hundreds of labourers forcibly taken by the British from Bihar to work in Mauritius sugarcane plantations in 1871.
Ramgoolam said that his visit to Bihar is a new beginning after Nitish Kumars visit to Mauritius last year.
PATNA: Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam was accorded a civic reception here on Monday ahead of his visit to the village which his ancestors left about 136 years ago as an indentured migrant.
Ramgoolam said that it was an emotional moment for him to be on the land to which he belonged but had never seen.
Underlining that life at times was much stranger than fiction, the Prime Minister outlined how his grandfather Moheet Ramgoolam had left his village, Harigaon in Bhojpur district, as an indentured migrant in 1871.
Officials said Ramgoolam was also briefed on the proposed Nalanda International University and the road map drawn for the development of 200 villages adopted by the university.
Appreciating Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's determination to fight ''hunger and poverty'', Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam has invited him to attend an international seminar on poverty to be held in Mauritius on April 20.
In a letter to Mr Kumar, the copy of which was released to press here today, Mr Ramgoolam said his presence and deliberation in the seminar would help in evolving ''focussed and effective'' strategies to fight the battle against poverty all across the world.
Ramgoolam has stated that he wants to resurrect the trade agreements that gave preference to Mauritian exports.
A special committee chaired by Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam has been set up to review the Independent Broadcasting Act.
On his first visit to Bihar, Ramgoolam was accompanied by his wife Veena and a 50-member official delegation, including a cultural team.
Ramgoolam said that Mauritius highly values its tieswith China, and highlighted the rapid growth of bilateral relations since thetwo forged diplomatic relations 35 years ago.
several countries in the Indian Ocean region.
Ramgoolam joined active politics in 1991, became the Leader of the Mauritius Labour Party and the Leader of the Opposition.
Ramgoolam was plesbiscited by the electorate and he became Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius for a second time.
Late Seewoosagur Ramgoolam was prime minister of Mauritius from 1961 to 1982.