Dear Readers
First let me extend to you all very warm greetings from Enterprise Mauritius for the New Year 2012.
2011 was a good year for Mauritian exporters, particularly for the Export Oriented Enterprises (EOE), which achieved a record level of exports to the tune of Rs 44.8 billion, (provisional figures). We at Enterprise Mauritius, are optimistic of the year ahead and we will built upon the success of last year to develop our export potential to the full, using our resources, capabilities and ingenuity to the maximum. Our Action Plan for this year was officially launched by Honourable Cader Sayed Hossen, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection at a press conference on 12 January instant and which is reproduced in this Newsletter. It can also be consulted on our website.
2012 has started on a fast pace. At the national level, EM participated in two Bilateral Trade Talks, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation with Turkey and the USA respectively
To further strengthen the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Mauritius and Turkey (signed in September 2011) our two countries are now engaged in establishing a Framework on Trade and Economic Cooperation. Discussions held in Mauritius on 11 and 12 January have been conclusive and the Agreement will be signed shortly. This FTA opens up new market opportunities for Mauritian products and services. EM is completing a full profiling of the Turkish market for the benefits of our exporters.
Mauritius also hosted the Fifth Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council Meeting on 16 and 17 January 2012 with the USA to review work in progress on bilateral trade and investment relation between our two countries. USA remains a very important economic partner of Mauritius both as a destination for our exports (valued at Rs 6 bn in 2011) as well as a source of FDI which stood at Rs 1.4 billion for the period January to September 2011.
At the firm level, we have re-organised the delivery structures of 'TeamEM' with enhanced focus on market-facing clusters to better service our clients and stakeholders. We have created three new divisions, namely that of Research and Development, Enterprise and Product Development, and Policy Advocacy and Export Facilitation. We are also working on the development of two new sub-sectors namely:-
(i) Luxury goods; and
(ii) Corporate gifts
To further provide proactive services to our exporters, we have appointed a Liaison Officer in the USA in the person of Mrs Barbara Ende whom we welcome into TeamEM. Moreover, we shall shortly also appoint a 'Representative' in South Africa so as to assist our exporting community.
Despite the fragile and uncertain global economic scene, we at EM remain determined to meaningfully contribute to further expand our exports to the world. This implies developing new markets, new products and achieving higher degree of export readiness so as to firmly integrate our manufacturing and services sectors (both EOEs and the Domestic Oriented Enterprises (DOEs)) into the regional and global supply chains.
On the regional front, we shall be particularly aggressive with a series of Buyers Sellers Meetings (BSMs), Contact Promotion Programmes (CPPs), Market Surveys and participation in selected Regional Trade Fairs. The fist BSM is scheduled in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda in March 2012. To this effect, EM has initiated preparatory works. The three consultants working on this project were recently in Mauritius to have consultations with potential exporters. A series of workshops were also organised to brief our exporting community of the business opportunities in these countries.
It is most encouraging to the stronger collective will of our exporters to penetrate the African market. Enterprise Mauritius shall continue its efforts in this direction and shall invite marketing experts to Mauritius from other African countries during the course of this year.
Next month we will organise the first Mauritius Exhibition in Mumbai on the 9 and 10 February 2012 at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel to showcase a wide range of Mauritian products to the Indian business community.
I invite our exporters to consult our Action Plan for 2012 and to register for participation in their selected events. TeamEM shall undertake to service as many exporters as possible.
I thank you for your continued support and wish you a pleasant reading.
Dev Chamroo
Chief Executive Officer
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