India, March 10 -- Mauritius is a key partner in the Indian Ocean and a gateway to Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday ahead of his two-day visit to the island country that is expected to deepen security and development cooperation between the two sides.

Modi, who will be in Mauritius on March 11-12 at the invitation of Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, will be chief guest at the National Day celebrations in Port Louis on Wednesday. A military contingent from India will participate in the event along with a warship of the Indian Navy.

"Mauritius is a close maritime neighbour, a key partner in the Indian Ocean, and a gateway to the African continent. We are connected by history, geography and culture," Modi said in a...