The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Anand Sharma met Mr. Sayyad Abd-Al-Cader Sayed Hossen, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection, Mauritius, in Port Louis last evening. During the meeting, the Mauritian minister conveyed that most of the issues regarding renewal of contract with Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) have been sorted out and only the final touches are being put in place. Shri Sharma welcomed the development and said that “in such negotiations, issues are bound to arise but mature democracies sort them out through discussions and deliberations.” Shri Sharma reiterated India`s commitment to ensure uninterrupted supply to Mauritius. “We would like to continue this trusted partnership agreement with Mauritius”, said Shri Sharma. India’s exports to Mauritius comprises largely of petroleum products as a result of the three year Agreement signed between MRPL and the State Trading Corporation of Mauritius in July 2007 for the supply of all petroleum requirement of Mauritius. The Agreement is expected to be renewed later this month.
The Indian Minister raised the issue of export of basmati rice to Mauritius. In May 2013, a draft agreement for recognition of export inspection and certification system of Export Inspection Council of India for export of basmati rice to Mauritius was forwarded to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection of Mauritius. The Mauritian Minister assured that there is a broad agreement on the proposal and that they will soon revert on it. Shri Sharma said that India will be happy to extend any assistance with regard to the issue. Basmati rice is a unique Geographical Indication (GI) product under the World Trade Organization (WTO). Standards in India are dynamic in nature and are currently being harmonised amongst all relevant institutions for ensuring uniformity which will be notified when ready. India has already nominated the Export Inspection Council as the nodal agency which will issue a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) for all Basmati rice exports from India to Mauritius.
The Mauritian side expressed happiness on the advancements in the field of textiles and conveyed determination to take forward the intended outcomes of the Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) signed recently. Five institutional level MoUs were signed to take the partnership forward. These are:
i. MoU between Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) and Enterprise Mauritius (EM)
ii. MoU between Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA) and Mauritius Standards Bureau
iii. MoU between NITRA and National Productivity and Competitive Council (NPCC) of Mauritius
iv. MoU between Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) and Mauritius Export Association (MEXA); and
v. MoU between Institute of Apparel Management (IAM) and Fashion and Design Institute of Mauritius (FDI)
Shri Sharma expressed “India’s willingness to implement these MoUs and project proposals in a fruitful and time bound manner.” The Mauritian side informed the Indian Minister that under DISHA Mauritius, a draft compliance code is under preparation.
Apart from these MoUs, a Letter of Intent outlining the implementation plan for training for 1000 textile factory workers, 35 scholarships in the textile sector as well as the development of a compliance code (on the lines of DISHA) for 10 Mauritian textile factories was also signed between the two governments.
On the issue of export of Indian mangoes to Mauritius, the Mauritian side informed Shri Sharma that they will cooperate with the Indian side with regard to harmonisation of standards.
Later in the evening, in his meeting with the Mauritian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration & International Trade, Dr. Arvin Boolell, Shri Sharma discussed the issue of liberalisation of visa and conveyed that including Mauritius in the list of the countries that get visa on arrival is under consideration. Both the leaders discussed the upcoming WTO Bali Ministerial. Shri Sharma conveyed that the development dimension of the round should not be lost sight of and Trade Facilitation cannot be the only outcome. “Trade Facilitation has to be balanced with internal balances. G-33 proposal on food security is also important expected outcome of the Ministerial”, Shri Sharma added.
Mr. Richard Marles, Australian Trade Minister, in a meeting with Shri Sharma appreciated India`s efforts in the area of fighting piracy in the Indian Ocean Rim region. Mr. Marles said that small countries of the region rely on countries like Australia and India for the scourge of piracy in the region and India is playing its part. He also informed Shri Sharma that Australia is working out an India Strategy Paper to deepen economic ties.
Mr. Taira Masaaki, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Economy, Trade & Industry, Japan, conveyed Shri Sharma that this meeting of Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) has sensitised Japan on the importance of IOR as opposed to their pre-occupation with the Pacific Region. Shri Sharma thanked Japan for their contribution in the development process of the emerging Indian Ocean Rim region.