U.S. Business Summit in Mauritius 

The United States Aims to Expand its Business Relationship with Mauritius

The U.S. sees in Mauritius a valued trade partner offering favorable conditions for successful business ventures. With over 100 American companies already established in Mauritius across various sectors, Ambassador Jardine pointed out the critical role these firms play in providing employment, infrastructure, and access to U.S. expertise. The ambassador also praised the strong partnerships with the Mauritian government and private sector, expressing confidence that the summit would open new avenues for trade and investment, further solidifying the U.S.-Mauritius economic partnership

A significant chapter in the U.S.-Mauritius trade relationship was written at the U.S. Business Summit held in Mauritius on August 21, 2024. This summit, marking the first of its kind in two decades, was inaugurated by Ambassador Henry Jardine, who represented the U.S. Embassy at this event. His words reflected the deepening ties and growing potential that the United States sees in its partnership with Mauritius. 

Ambassador Jardine began by highlighting the historical significance of the summit. “This is a momentous event. The U.S. government sees enormous potential in Mauritius. Mauritius is a valued trade partner to the United States – a relationship that we are actively seeking to expand in the coming months and years,” he said, setting the tone for the summit, and underscoring the commitment of the U.S. to not only maintain, but to enhance its economic and commercial ties with Mauritius.

We are fortunate to have great partners in the government and private sector of a country rated consistently as the best place in Africa for doing business

The ambassador pointed out that Mauritius is well-positioned to foster successful business endeavours. Currently, over 100 American companies and brands have established a presence in Mauritius, spanning diverse sectors such as financial services, telecommunications, information technology, logistics, food processing, fishing, clothing, education, and consumer goods. These companies, according to Ambassador Jardine, “provide employment for Mauritian citizens, critical infrastructure, a wide range of services and products, and perhaps most importantly, access to U.S. expertise and best practices.”

He also praised the strong partnerships that the U.S. has cultivated with both the Mauritian government and private sector. “We are fortunate to have great partners in the government and private sector of a country rated consistently as the best place in Africa for doing business,” he said, highlighting Mauritius’s top ranking in the continent for business-friendly environments. He further emphasized the regular dialogues he holds with his Mauritian counterparts to align on shared objectives, particularly in improving the business environment and facilitating increased trade and investment.

Reflecting on recent engagements, Ambassador Jardine recounted his participation in the American Chamber of Commerce Business Summit in April 2024. He noted that “the event convened the business community and government leaders to discuss the important topics of financial services, digital payments, the growth of SMEs, women entrepreneurs, and corporate social responsibility.” Such initiatives, he stressed, are vital in shaping the future of U.S.-Mauritius economic relations.

The ambassador also drew attention to a Congressional Delegation visit in April, which included members from the House Ways and Means and House Foreign Affairs Committees. This visit, he said, allowed U.S. officials to witness first-hand “the economic vibrancy here, and recognized opportunities to expand our commercial relationship.” The delegation’s discussions with Mauritius’s Prime Minister, Cabinet members, and business leaders reinforced the importance of renewing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and exploring new avenues for collaboration.

He also spoke about the ongoing efforts to advocate for U.S. business interests in Mauritius, particularly through recent engagements with U.S. tech companies. He mentioned a roundtable discussion held just two months ago with senior Washington officials, which focused on strategies to support greater participation by women in the tech sector—an initiative that the embassy proudly promoted during last year’s workshop on Women in Green Technologies.

As a testament to the potential and success of U.S.-Mauritius collaborations, Ambassador Jardine highlighted the Noveprim Group, part of the U.S. biotechnology giant Charles River, which is a major participant at the summit. “They are one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment in Mauritius and in this field, playing a critical role in developing the biotechnology sector for clinical research,” he remarked.

The summit itself was a convergence of leading American firms from sectors identified by the Government of Mauritius and industry contacts as priorities. Ambassador Jardine expressed confidence in the outcomes of the summit, asserting that “we have no doubt that it will open new avenues for trade and investment, deepen commercial ties with Mauritius, and enable the U.S. private sector to access opportunities in the market.”

The U.S. government sees enormous potential in Mauritius.

He reiterated his commitment to ongoing collaboration with Mauritian stakeholders, encouraging more U.S. companies to explore the opportunities Mauritius offers. “I look forward to continuing the valuable and productive collaboration with Mauritian public and private stakeholders, so that more U.S. companies will see Mauritius as the golden opportunity it is – both in terms of business expansion, and high quality of living, economic prosperity, and its strong social and democratic foundations.”

The summit saw the participation of Cynthia Griffin, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, leading a delegation of over 30 individuals, including representatives from eleven leading U.S. companies such as Abbott Laboratories, Ashipa Electric, Bioculture, Charles River Laboratories/Noveprim, Citi, Fortinet, Lucy Consulting Engineers, Rife International, Talus, Titan Health, and Varian Medical, among others. Key U.S. government trade, financing, and development agencies, including the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Development Finance Corporation, were also present, alongside the American Chamber of Commerce from Mauritius, South Africa, and Kenya.