On 6 and 7 June the first ever Article 8 political dialogue with Mauritius was organised. The programme, in addition to a meeting chaired by Hon. Arvin Boolell, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Integration, included a working lunch with private sector apex organisations - Joint Economic Council (JEC), Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), and Mauritius Exporters Association (MEXA), a meeting with civil society organisations included in the EU HRD Strategy, a visit to projects financed by the EU, a visit to sugar and energy producer Omnicane and a presentation on the Maurice Ile Durable (MID) initiative from the Adviser to the Prime Minister, who is also the Chairman of the MID initiative. The EU was represented by five Heads of Missions (EU, Austria, France, Italy and United Kingdom). The first ever political dialogue with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) was also organised. The event was co-chaired by the Secretary General of the IOC.
The meetings took place in a very cordial atmosphere in line with the excellent relations that exist between the European Union and Mauritius.
Discussion EU-Mauritian relations
The first day started with a meeting chaired by Hon. Arvin Boolell, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Integration. The agenda covered issues of mutual interest to the EU-Mauritius relations such as fight against piracy and promotion of maritime security, EU-Mauritius development co-operation, priorities for the economic development of Mauritius, trade relations and EPA, regional matters. The minister congratulated the EU for the initiative to organise the political dialogue and expressed the interest for it to become an annual event.
Talks with Private Sector Representatives
Subsequently, the EU Heads of Missions met with private sector representatives: Chairman and Secretary General of Joint Economic Council (JEC), Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), and Chairman and Director of Mauritius Exporters Association (MEXA). The get-together provided an opportunity for the private sector to highlight the different mandates of each apex body. They also evoked the fact that in Mauritius the private sector has the opportunity to maintain an open and fruitful public –private sector dialogue. Representatives pointed out some key areas that offer investment and business opportunities available in Mauritius, specifically the knowledge hub which could possibly provide a high potential for European universities, as well as other sectors like medical tourism.
Visits to the DCP Projects
In the afternon, the EU Heads of Missions visited two projects financed under Decentralised Cooperation Programme (DCP) I in 2009: Magic Fingers Association and SOS Femmes.
Regional Cooperation
Sugar Industry
The programme was concluded by a visit to one of the main sugar refineries and energy producers Omnicane. The visit also included a presentation of the Chief Executive Officer who offered a perspective of new potential investments. Omnicane has been operational since the second semester of 2010. It has set up an efficient cogeneration plant (bagasse and coal) that allows it to sell electricity to the national grid. Approximately 90 % of the power produced is sold to the Central Electricity Board.
For more information about the EU-Mauritius Relations, please click here.
The meetings took place in a very cordial atmosphere in line with the excellent relations that exist between the European Union and Mauritius.
Discussion EU-Mauritian relations
The first day started with a meeting chaired by Hon. Arvin Boolell, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Regional Integration. The agenda covered issues of mutual interest to the EU-Mauritius relations such as fight against piracy and promotion of maritime security, EU-Mauritius development co-operation, priorities for the economic development of Mauritius, trade relations and EPA, regional matters. The minister congratulated the EU for the initiative to organise the political dialogue and expressed the interest for it to become an annual event.
Talks with Private Sector Representatives
Subsequently, the EU Heads of Missions met with private sector representatives: Chairman and Secretary General of Joint Economic Council (JEC), Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), and Chairman and Director of Mauritius Exporters Association (MEXA). The get-together provided an opportunity for the private sector to highlight the different mandates of each apex body. They also evoked the fact that in Mauritius the private sector has the opportunity to maintain an open and fruitful public –private sector dialogue. Representatives pointed out some key areas that offer investment and business opportunities available in Mauritius, specifically the knowledge hub which could possibly provide a high potential for European universities, as well as other sectors like medical tourism.
Visits to the DCP Projects
In the afternon, the EU Heads of Missions visited two projects financed under Decentralised Cooperation Programme (DCP) I in 2009: Magic Fingers Association and SOS Femmes.
The visit focused on the involvement of women associations in complementing government's action in championing for the protection and promotion of human rights, notably those of women and children. During the visit the discussions focused on 
the need and the methods to empower unemployed women and those subject to gender-based violence. Participants also agreed on the specific role of NGOs as regards to this specific field. Appropriate capacity building programme is needed to improve their capacity to deliver basic services to the poorest sections of the population which would result to the reduction of poverty in a context of sustainable development.
the need and the methods to empower unemployed women and those subject to gender-based violence. Participants also agreed on the specific role of NGOs as regards to this specific field. Appropriate capacity building programme is needed to improve their capacity to deliver basic services to the poorest sections of the population which would result to the reduction of poverty in a context of sustainable development.
Magic Fingers Association benefited from a total of MUR 420 000 (i.e. EUR 10 000) from the 9th EDF DCP. The objective of the project was to encourage capacity building and networking of vulnerable groups involved in high value textile craft and related products, with sharing of product design and development, production equipment for high end finishing and finally branding, marketing and commercialisation support. As a result, by 2011 80 unemployed, retrenched or elderly women were trained.
SOS Femmes benefited from a total of MUR 4 200 000 (i.e. EUR 100 000) from the 9th EDF DCP for the construction of shelter and purchase of equipment. The overall objective of the project was to alleviate poverty and improve living conditions of deprived women looking for shelter. The DCP has financed the construction of a shelter building to increase the welcoming capacity of SOS Femmes; and furnishing it with equipment so that desperate women and children can benefit from first hand care, homely attention, moral, medical, psychiatric or psychological support.
Discussions with the civil society
The second day started with a meeting between the EU Head of Missions and civil society representatives at the EU Delegation to discuss issues faced by the Mauritian society. Possible areas for mutual collaboration between the EU and the civil society were reviewed.
The second day started with a meeting between the EU Head of Missions and civil society representatives at the EU Delegation to discuss issues faced by the Mauritian society. Possible areas for mutual collaboration between the EU and the civil society were reviewed.
Regional Cooperation
The first ever political dialogue with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) was also organised. The IOC was represented by the Secretary General, Ambassador d’Offay, other IOC representatives and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mauritius which assumes the current Presidency of the IOC. The agenda covered four main subjects: fight against piracy and promotion of maritime security, IOC role in the Peace and Security Architecture of the African Union (AU), trade relations and EPA and EU-IOC development co-operation.
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The programme was concluded by a visit to one of the main sugar refineries and energy producers Omnicane. The visit also included a presentation of the Chief Executive Officer who offered a perspective of new potential investments. Omnicane has been operational since the second semester of 2010. It has set up an efficient cogeneration plant (bagasse and coal) that allows it to sell electricity to the national grid. Approximately 90 % of the power produced is sold to the Central Electricity Board.
For more information about the EU-Mauritius Relations, please click here.
