Taking bilateral ties to new heights, India and Mauritius on signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in hydrocarbon exploration and production operation on March 13, 2006.

The two countries also signed an agreement to set up a Pan-African telecommunication network connecting 53 member-states of the African Union with New Delhi.

The MoU in the hydrocarbon sector would help establish "a long-term and fruitful cooperation" between the two countries in this critical area.

Under the agreement, the ONGC will conduct of joint survey and exploration of petroleum resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Mauritius.

The agreements were signed on the concluding day of the three-day state visit of President APJ Abdul Kalam to Mauritius, which would give a further impetus to the traditionally strong bilateral ties.

India, which is scouting for energy resources, had also entered into an oil exploration agreement with Myanmar during the President's visit to that country, and today's agreement will definitely help in meeting growing energy needs of New Delhi.

"The prospects of gas and oil in Mauritius' EEZ are very high, and once these are tapped, it will be altogether a new ball game,' said Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, who is accompanying the President.

Under the MoU, ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) will prepare a detailed plan for carrying out further geophysical and geological studies at the delineated blocks, fields and areas within a period of three to nine months, depending upon the outcome of the evaluation of the data.

The report will later be given to the Mauritian government.

(www.zeenews.com)