National Defence College delegation from India calls on Housing and Lands Minister

A delegation headed by the Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC) from New Delhi in India, Air Marshal Manish Kumar Gupta, met with the Minister of Housing and Lands, Mr Shakeel Ahmed Yousuf Abdul Razack Mohamed, today, in Ebène.

The 15-member delegation comprised senior officers from the Indian Civil Services and Defence Forces, and senior military officers from Armenia, Ethiopia, France and Nigeria, currently undergoing training at the National Defence College. The visit forms part of their study tour to Mauritius, scheduled from 31 May to 6 June 2026.

In a statement following the meeting, Minister Mohamed underscored that the choice of Mauritius as a destination for the NDC study visit reflects the country's significance as a platform for transparent and open exchanges. He indicated that the visit aimed at enabling the senior officials to gain a better understanding of the country and its development trajectory.

Discussions focused on key policies and projects being implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Lands, including social housing initiatives for both low-income and middle-class families, the use of Artificial Intelligence and technology in the digital cadastre, hydrography, land planning and surveying.

The Minister also recalled the longstanding collaboration between Mauritius and India in the fields of social housing and hydrography. He expressed appreciation for India's financial assistance, capacity-building initiatives and knowledge-sharing efforts, which have contributed to the country's development. Minister Mohamed further stressed the importance of fostering two-way exchanges between Mauritius and India. According to him, learning from one another contributes to greater mutual respect, understanding and fraternity between nations.

Moreover, Mr Mohamed responded to questions from members of the delegation regarding the impacts of climate change and the country's dependence on fossil fuels. He elaborated on measures being undertaken by Government to address climate-related challenges and the repercussions of the conflict in the Middle East. These measures include strengthening preparedness, promoting the hybrid use of agricultural land to enhance food and energy self-sufficiency, and adapting key economic sectors, including tourism, to the effects of climate change.

For his part, Air Marshal Manish Kumar Gupta talked of the importance of not only military cooperation but also gaining an understanding of the country's culture. He noted that such knowledge is essential for better understanding the behaviour and characteristics of its population.

01 June 2026

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Topics: Housing, Energy, Foreign Affairs, Diplomacy, Artificial Intelligence, Bilateral cooperation