President Pranab leaves on three-day visit to Mauritius

President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday left for Mauritius on a three-day visit during which he will be the chief guest at the national day celebrations of that country.

Mauritius will celebrate its national day on Tuesday.

India and Mauritius will also sign several bilateral pacts in social sectors, including health and tourism, during Mukherjee's visit to the Indian Ocean island nation.

India and Mauritius enjoy close historical relations and New Delhi has termed the ties as "unique, special and extra ordinary".

India gives highest importance to its relations with Mauritius as 70 per cent of its people are Indian origin and 38 per cent its Foreign Direct Investment comes from that country, in addition to its geo strategic location, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Sudhir Vyas has said.

During his visit, Mukherjee will have meetings with Mauritius President Rajkeswur Purryag, Prime Minister Navin C Ramgoolam, Speaker of the National Assembly Abdool Razack Peeroo, Chief Justice Y K J Yeung Sik Yuen and Leader of the Opposition Paul Berenger.

President's Press Secretary Venu Rajamony has said the President was looking forward for the visit and greatly honoured to be chief guest at the national day celebration of Mauritius.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union minister Farooq Abdullah and the three service chiefs were at the Rashtrapati Bhawan earlier Monday morning to see off the President.

This is Mukherjee's second visit abroad after assuming the office of President. Last week, he had visited Bangladesh.