Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India attaches “paramount importance” to strengthening relations with countries in the Indian Ocean region, which is vital for its security and progress.

Mr. Modi said this in a pre-departure statement before leaving for Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka on a five-day three-nation foreign tour.

He expressed confidence that his visits to all the three countries will reinvigorate India’s relations with them in this all-important region “we call home-the Indian Ocean”.

“My visit to the three Indian Ocean Island countries reflects our foreign policy priorities in India’s immediate and extended neighbourhood. India attaches paramount importance to strengthening relations with this region, which is vital for India’s security and progress,” he said in the statement.

Mr. Modi said he was keenly looking forward to the three-nation visit, observing that India had strong, multifaceted and important relationship with each of these countries and that they all occupied a very important place in its foreign policy.