In fact the economy of Mauritius still owes much to the Textile & Apparel sector, which represents 42% of our total merchandise exports and Rs25,7 billions foreign earnings in 2009.

Based on 2009 census, Mauritius has 200 manufacturing T&C enterprises in operation employing around 50,000 persons focusing principally on the following product lines namely:

• T-shirt / Polo Shirt;
• Bottoms /Trousers (including denim);
• Shirts / Blouses;
• Knitwear (pullovers, cardigans) ; and
• Swimwear & Lingerie.

Structure of the sector

The textiles and clothing sector can be considered as being made up of three categories:

(A)    Top 20 companies – 100% export oriented, about 60% of jobs and 80% of exports.
(B)    50 medium size companies – Mixed with some predominantly domestically oriented, some heavily subcontracting dependant and others more exports oriented.
(C)    About 130 small companies – 90% domestically oriented.

Mauritius has already understood that the low cost model (relying exclusively on mass production labour and cheap products) is no longer an option for its manufacturers.

Mauritian companies have engaged in a new type of business model where market knowledge and emphasis on innovative products and service development are key determinants for an efficient production and marketing of higher value products and services.

Trends noted are that volume (qty) has decreased but value has increased over time thus confirming that Mauritius has moved up-market.

Major customers (Past & Present)

Mauritius exports garments mostly to Europe (UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Scandinavian countries amongst others) and USA but the regional market (SADC-mainly South Africa and Reunion Island) is equally important.

Some of the customers that Mauritian companies work/have worked with are:

UK: BHS, Debenhams, Tom Wolfe, Hawkshead, Moss Bro, Jasper Conran, Thomas Nash, Duffer, John Rocha, Top Shop, Burton, Carhartt, Canterbury, Cold Method, Country, Feeling, Devred, Dicks,…
USA: Calvin Klein, Chaps (Warnaco), Lucky Jeans, Tommy Hilfiger, Svoboda, Rocawear, Guess…
Italy: Max Mara, Champion, Please, Sinv, Take Two…
France: Quicksilver, Tony Hawk, Serge Blanco, Gotcha, Roxy & Vetir (Gemo), Naf Naf, Orvis,…
Belgium: JBC, N.V,…
South Africa:  Guess, Cerutti, US Polo, River Island …

Logistics

With a modern seaport and a well-developed freeport sector, Mauritius offers a comprehensive range of integrated logistics facilities such as warehousing, consolidation of shipments, customs control, pre-shipment inspection and shipment services.

Activities / Events organised by Enterprise Mauritius

• Organisation of local workshops, forum on Textile & Clothing Sector
• Presentation on India Market;
• Presentation on Italian Market;
• AGOA Week (April 2009);
• Signature of Agreement with USAID (March 2010); and
• Forum on State of the Textile & Clothing Sector (March 2010).

Proposed participation in forthcoming International Fairs

• Texworld New York: 13th to 15th July 2010;
• Magic Show: 17th to 19th August 2010 Las Vegas, USA;
• ZOOM by Fatex: 14th to 16th September 2010 (next to Premiere Vision) at Paris Parc des Expositions, Villepinte, France (Intended for Medium-Sized companies); and
• Texworld Paris: 13th to 16th September 2010, Parc Des Expositions, Le Bourget France.

Institutions / Bodies / Associations

1. Operating under the Aegis of the Ministry of Industry, Science and Research
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
3. Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA)
4. Mauritius Export Association (MEXA)
5. Association of Mauritian Manufacturers (AMM)