On the current status of DTAA
Mauritius has proposed the setting up of a strategic partnership team with India that would work on measures to ensure that the Mauritius financial services sector functions in the interest of both our countries. A package of administrative measures also has been submitted to the Indian Government to ensure its concerns about the use of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). The various proposals are being considered by the Indian authorities.
On the Free Trade Agreement between Mauritius and India
Negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) in the context of CECPA have been concluded. The PTA is finalized and is ready for signature. Once the PTA is signed and implemented, both sides will then work on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
On the Agalega Islands
Mauritius does not have the intention to hand over Agalega to any foreign country. In 2005, a request was made to the Indian authorities for financial and technical assistance for the development of Agalega. The Indian authorities have agreed to carry out a survey of the existing facilities. The Government of India is willing to work out a plan for the development of economic activities centred on coconut cluster, agricultural diversification and fisheries.
On the MOU on Exploration of Hydrocarbons in the EEZ of Mauritius
Following the MOU signed in Mauritius in March 2006, a first meeting of the Joint Working Committee comprising the Mauritius Oceanography Institute and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Videsh Ltd. was held in New Delhi in July 2006.
Subsequently, the Chief Geophysicist of ONGC Dehradun had a working session in Mauritius in August 2006 to gather data available in Mauritius in this field with a view to ensuring the optimum exploitation of our marine resources.
 On air connectivity between Mauritius and India
At present Air Mauritius is flying out twice a week from New Delhi, four times a week from Mumbai and once a week from Chennai. India, on its part, has still to designate a second carrier to operate on the India-Mauritius route. In 2006 around 38,000 tourists from India visited Mauritius. This is an increase of 26% over the previous year. The result for the beginning of 2007 is promising. In February 2007, the Indian market registered growth of the order of 30% compared to February 2006. A growth of 10-15% is expected for the year 2007 primarily because of increased capacity.
On the Diaspora / PIO Research Centre
Nearly 25 million People of Indian Origin have settled down in 110 countries worldwide. Those established in small states like Fiji, Mauritius , Trinidad, Guyana and Suriname make for more than 40% of the total population in these countries. Some five to six million Overseas Indians live across the African continent.
We are therefore looking forward to the national Governments in these countries along with the Government of India to devise policies and mechanisms to promote greater interaction among PIOs. Similarly, we are aiming at enhancing more exchanges between these countries and India. As proposed by the Indian Prime Minister during the recent Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, we are expecting an early setting up of an Indian Overseas Facilitation Centre to facilitate people-to-people contacts.
The Government of Bihar has kindly accepted to help in establishing a research center in Bihar. Such a center will have an online database on PIOs living abroad and all information pertaining to their ancestors who left India in search of a better future, more specifically, under the British Raj.
The research center will also house an exhibition hall for artifacts. We believe that existing archives in countries where people of Indian Origin have settled down will provide historical information for the proposed research center.
Mauritius already has an archive on immigrants at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute. All information on our ancestors will be shared with the research center once it is established.
On the Chagos Archipelago
Mauritius continues to claim its right to exercise its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago at the UN General Assembly. The question of the sovereignty of Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago is being discussed at the highest level between Mauritius and the UK.
It should be emphasized that the Constitution of the Republic of Mauritius defines its territory as including all the islands of the Chagos Archipelago.
It is important to note that in April 2006, for the first time since their eviction in the 70s, the Chagossians were able to pay a visit to a number of the outer islands in the Chagos Archipelago. The visit organized jointly by the Mauritius and UK Governments gave the Chagossians the opportunity to see their former homes and graves of their ancestors on the three main islands, including Diego Garcia.
On the CECPA
Negotiations on most of the issues have already been completed namely on Trade in Goods, General Economic Cooperation as well as institutional arrangements and dispute settlement. CECPA also covered discussions on trade in services as well where considerable progress has been achieved. The outstanding issues in the investment chapter are under discussion with India. Several areas of cooperation identified by the two countries would consolidate the existing bilateral, economic and technical cooperation between Mauritius and India.
On priority areas for investment
ICT - The competitive advantage of Mauritius lies in its ability to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure (Ebene Cyber Tower) and cost savings in operations. ICT security legislations, skilled and bilingual human resources, attractive fiscal incentives give an edge to Mauritius in the ITES / BPO market.
Knowledge Industry - Mauritius has the key success factors to become a leader in the region in education and knowledge industry.
On attracting more Indian investment in Mauritius
A fast track Committee has been set up under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister for fast processing and implementation of projects put forward by foreign companies. The Business Facilitation Act of 2006 has rationalized the procedures for the setting up of enterprises. The Board of Investment of Mauritius has opened a regional office in Mumbai in 2006 to attract investment from India. These facilitation measures have generated positive response from Indian investors.
On the Role of Africa-India Chamber of Commerce
African economies are at a stage of development when India could take advantage of the business opportunities offered by Africa and identify the mechanisms to tap the potential benefits by using the most appropriate technology at competitive costs.
Expansion of bilateral trade between India and Africa implies that existing bottlenecks in bilateral cooperation must be identified and eliminated, sectors that could act as engines of growth targeted (pharmaceuticals and health, ICT, agro-industry and food processiong, education and knowledge industry) to boost bilateral trade.
The Africa India chamber of Commerce would provide the necessary framework to channel the industry’s efforts to this end and give more visibility to the Africa-India bilateral cooperation. It will also strive to find new areas of mutual cooperation and ensure the smooth flow of trade, investment, joint ventures and technology.
On a significant development during his tenure
As High Commissioner, I am proud to mention that we have triggered various initiatives with the close collaboration of the Government of Bihar to give fresh impetus to the Mauritius-Bihar relations at all levels—political, economic, social and cultural. As rightly suggested by the Indian Prime Minister in his address to the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, we want to make a ‘Mauritius out of Bihar’ so that our Bihari brothers and sisters emulate our struggle to come out of their difficult economic situation. This is, no doubt, an ongoing process and more people-to-people contacts will be encouraged to achieve our common objectives.
|
Time to Grow Together
