Africa-Press – Mauritius. The upbeat performance of the Export Oriented Enterprises (EOE) sector for the first half of 2021 was highlighted by the Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, Mr Soomilduth Bholah, today, at a press conference, in Port-Louis.
Compared to the first semester of 2020, exports of EOE increased by 34.5%, from Rs 14,770 million to Rs 19,863 million, in the first semester of 2021. The growth is eminently remarkable despite COVID-19 lockdown constraints and the second wave of infections, stressed the Minister.
He commended the resilience and courage of operators of the EOE sector as well as their efforts to satisfy orders amid logistical problems, limited access to raw materials and exports markets together with disruption in activities due to increase rate of infections among employees.
He underlined that the COVID-19 crisis has unlocked new market opportunities, and fuelled an increase in Mauritius’s exports to South Africa, in particular regarding Textile and Clothing.
The Minister also recalled the various measures proposed by Government to support the industry throughout the COVID-19 situation, including the Trade Promotion and Marketing Scheme and the Freight Rebate Scheme.
According to Mr Bholah, Government is committed to continue providing relief, and incentives to improve the competitiveness of local operators and make of Mauritius a reliable source market of quality goods.
Moreover, the Minister spoke of the shortcomings of the EOE sector which need to be addressed namely the lack of skilled workers and maritime connectivity. He said that it is important to be aware of the advantages of competitors such as Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Ethiopia.
Mr Bholah added that the requests of operators to recruit some 2 000 foreign skilled workers is being considered and that consequently, all necessary sanitary protocols for their coming to Mauritius will be adhered to.
Expressing confidence in the capability of the EOE sector, Mr Bholah averred that the various orders placed by overseas operators and the setting up of businesses by operators of international repute in Mauritius bode well for the future.
He is of the view that the positive economic outlook, predicted by the International Monetary Fund, regarding the country’s traditional markets of United Kingdom, United States of America and France, will contribute to maintain the rate of growth of the exports of EOE.
It is noted that some 235 companies make up the local EOE sector, employing some 36,507 people, among which 17,112 are expats from India, Bangladesh and Madagascar.
From January to June 2021, Mauritius’s main exports grew by 59.1% for Textile, Yarn and Fabrics; 27.5% for Wearing Apparel; 20.8% for Fish and Fish preparations; 36.2% for Jewellery and Precious Stones; 47.5% for Medical Devices; and 119% for Watches and Clocks
