Mauritius offers India free port facility for trade with Africa

Mauritius is offering a free port facility with zero customs duty and corporate tax-free regime for Indian companies that are predominantly export oriented, specially to African countries.

This was conveyed at a bilateral meeting by Sayyad Abd-Al-Cader Sayed Hossen, minister of industry, commerce and consumer protection, Mauritius with India's minister for commerce, industry and textiles Anand Sharma, on Friday.

Sharma was informed about the free port facility when the Indian minister was on a visit to Mauritius during 8-10 January 2013. The two sides have now decided to take the issue forward and explore the possibilities of approaching new markets through part value addition under the free port policy.

The Mauritius free port facility will have special arrangements with Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and will offer a Duty-Free Quota-Free (DFQF) regime for trade with the European Union (EU).

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) along with industry bodies, including the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) have been asked to take necessary action to carry forward the policy proposals.

Meanwhile. Sharma assured India's full support for the development of the textiles sector in Mauritius. The two countries have already signed several memoranda of understanding in the textiles sector.