Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, hailed the excellent diplomatic and economic relations between Mauritius and Japan, and called for a stronger partnership with Japan as Mauritius in the pursuit of industrial and economic development as well as industrial diversification.
He was speaking at the Japan-Mauritius Business Investment Forum which was held this evening at the Sofitel Mauritius L’Imperial Hotel in Flic en Flac.
Organised by the Economic Development Board in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Mauritius, the Forum brought together a business delegation of 19 Japanese companies led by the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr.
Yamada Kenji, and representatives of Mauritius-based enterprises. The event sought to offer the Mauritius-based enterprises a unique opportunity to network and explore potential business opportunities with Japanese investors.
Prior to the Business Forum, the State Minister Kenji paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister. Also present on the occasion were: the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Mr.
Alan Ganoo, the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr Renganaden Padayachy, and the Ambassador of Japan to Mauritius, Mr Shuichiro Kawaguchi.
In his keynote address, the Prime Minister also underpinned the unflinching support that Mauritius has benefited from Japan in various spheres including climate change mitigation and adaptation, project financing and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He indicated that Government has rolled out a massive infrastructure development strategy to modernise the country’s airport, port, road and telecommunication infrastructure with the aim of ensuring that Mauritius has the best infrastructure it requires to sustain its future development as an emerging high-income economy and valuable investment destination.
‘You have come to right place to explore business and investment opportunities, for the country offers a unique geographical position which is a strategic gateway between Asia and Africa’, further stated the Prime Minister.
He laid emphasis on the solid platform made up by the country’s conducive framework in the political, legislative, economic and diplomatic sound environment, for Japan’s access to the African market. Besides, Mr.
Jugnauth expressed confidence that Japan can play a pivotal role in Government’s priority development sectors, including smart agriculture, fintech, artificial intelligence, healthcare and ICT and dwelt on the wide range of investment opportunities in key sectors, such as textile, ICT, tourism, real estate and ocean economy, where both countries can deepen cooperation.
He stressed that Mauritius remains a preferred investment destination for over a decade it has ranked first in Africa for Ease of Doing Business and is today a well-established business destination for investors seeking a secure investment climate, a conducive business environment, political stability, transparent regulations and an efficient financial ecosystem.
On that score, he encouraged the Japanese Business community to avail of the Mauritius International Financial Centre as capital raising platform to structure investment to Africa.
He pointed out that the Mauritius International Financial Centre is key to driving quality foreign direct investment to the African continent, while adding that investment from Mauritius into Africa represents 9% of overall Foreign Investment in the continent.
Moreover, the Prime Minister invited both the Japanese and Mauritian business community to harmonise their actions to tap into brighter opportunities in Africa and for both Mauritius’ and Japan’s economy. He reiterated Government’s resolve to turn the interest of the Japanese business community into concrete partnership.
As for the Ambassador Kawaguchi, he underlined that the Japanese delegation comprises of businessmen who might be interested in doing business in Mauritius and have the powers to initiative massive investment.
The Ambassador described Mauritius as the most stable, democratic and the most business friendly country in the African continent. He added that the business forum will further expand the business relations between the two countries.
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