Workshop on CECPA and other bilateral agreements

Workshop focusses on bilateral agreements between Mauritius and India

A half-day workshop focussing on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) and bilateral agreements between Mauritius and India was held, yesterday, at the Indra Restaurant in Domaine Les Pailles. The workshop was organised by the Hindu Business Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Professionals.
The Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Alan Ganoo, the Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs Kalpana Koonjoo-Shah, and other personalities were present at the opening ceremony of the workshop.


In a statement, Minister Ganoo highlighted that the CECPA between Mauritius and India has been implemented since April last year and to date, there is a need to reinforce our commercial relations with as many countries as possible. The bilateral agreements between Mauritius and India, he indicated, offer much opportunities to local businesses for imports and exports at preferential rates.

HBCCIP

He underscored that there are some 615 products that Mauritius can export to India at a preferential rate, while India can export some 310 products to our country with the same preferential access. As such, he observed, this workshop comes at an opportune time so as to sensitise the participants on the facilities and opportunities available to the Mauritian business community.


Furthermore, Minister Ganoo pointed out that Mauritius has also signed the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement and can therefore act as a bridge between India and the African continent. He also seized this opportunity to encourage all participants to be fully aware of all trade agreements signed between Mauritius and other countries so as to better use them to develop their businesses.


For her part, Minister Koonjoo-Shah underlined the workshop aimed at enabling participants to be more familiar with the CECPA between Mauritius and India and determine how they can make the most of this agreement. According to her, this workshop also provides a platform for existing and future business owners to discuss and share their views in their respective fields. She also encouraged women entrepreneur to take advantage of the CECPA so as to better expand their business.