MAURITIUS TRADE AND INDUSTRY MINISTER CALLS ON JAITLEY

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Mr. J. K. Cuttaree, Minister of Industry and International Trade of Mauritius, called on Shri Arun Jaitley, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Law & Justice, here today and discussed bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Mauritius ranks amongst the major trading partners of India from sub-Saharan Africa. Both the Ministers underlined the desire to expand and diversify bilateral trade and investment.

During the discussions, it was indicated that the first Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting with Mauritius would be held in New Delhi in November 2003 to review the implementation of the bilateral Trade Agreement between India and Mauritius which was signed in March 2000 at Port Louis, Mauritius. The Trade Agreement had provided for the establishment of a Joint Trade Committee between the two countries, which will meet at least once every two years alternately in India and Mauritius.

India’s exports to Mauritius in 2002-03 amounted to US $ 164.96 million, while imports from Mauritius were estimated at US $ 16.13 million. Both the countries entered into a Bilateral Investment, Promotion and Protection Agreement in 1998 to promote greater flow of two way investment and have also signed an Agreement for Avoidance of Double Taxation.