Economy and Business

Mauritius turns to China for more investment

By Chen Qide (China Daily Shanghai Bureau)
Updated: 2010-09-01 15:14

A delegation from Mauritius sought business opportunities in China by holding an investment and trade forum in Shanghai on August 31.

The forum, sponsored by the Mauritius government, aimed to inform businesses of what Chinese enterprises want when they invest in Mauritius, said Nandcoomar Bodha, minister of Tourism and Leisure of Mauritius.

The delegation consisted of more than 30 business executives from the industries of tourism, logistics, agriculture, finance and new energy. They also will go to Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

As a gateway to Africa, Mauritius is a favorable place for Chinese investors who can manufacture products in the island country and export them to the African continent as well as Europe, said Bodha.

"We are turning to the East for more economic partners while we maintain ties with the West, because the global economy has focused on the East," he said.

Many Chinese have invested in Mauritius, making contributions to its development.

"But we need more cooperation with China to have more Chinese enterprises do business in Mauritius," the minister said.

Mauritius, which makes textiles, tourism, sugar and service its four pillar industries, has witnessed steady economic growth, with its per capita gross national product reaching $8000.

Its exports amounted to $5 billion last year, with a considerable part of those goods sold to the African continent, said Louis Amedee Darga, chairman of Enterprise Mauritius.

Africa is a great market, from which Chinese businesses can also import coffee, rum and tea via Mauritius, he said.

"We will discuss sales of rum with local hotels and restaurants in China," Darga said.