Mauritius willing to ink FTA with Pakistan

The traders and industrialists here have stressed the need for signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Mauritius which is willing to further economic ties with Islamabad beyond the already-signed Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Muhammad Haroon Agar Wednesday urged to pave the way forward to sign an FTA between Pakistan and Mauritius. His remarks came during a meeting with High Commissioner of Mauritius to Pakistan Mohammmad Rashad Daureeawo who visited the KCCI here Wednesday.
Agar said in 2007 Pakistan and Mauritius had signed a PTA that allowed hundred tariff lines to be traded between the two countries on preferential terms. The ultimate objective of this PTA was to pave the way for an FTA encompassing almost all products, trade and services.
He said serious efforts were required from both the governments and business communities to enhance bilateral trade and to double the trade volume between the two friendly countries. Pakistan and Mauritius can join hands to have joint ventures in Mauritius Exclusive Economic Zone to extend their trade to various African countries and reciprocally Pakistan could help Mauritius to extend trade from Gwader port to Central Asian Republic, SAARC block, Middle East and GCC countries. India, Agar said, was giving much attention to Mauritius and Pakistani investors too should come forward and capture their market share in Mauritius.
“Mutual Economic and Commercial Cooperation opportunities exist in tourism, textile, sugar, healthcare, education and financial services,” he said. Pakistan can export to Mauritius meat, fish fillets, fruits and vegetables, flowers, textiles, garments, sugar, sports and surgical goods, footwear etc. The KCCI president requested the Mauritius high commissioner to invite exhibitors to participate in the KCCI’s My-Karachi Oasis of Harmony Exhibition scheduled to be organized in July 2013.
On the occasion, High Commissioner of Mauritius Mohammmad Rashad Daureeawo said Mauritius, being a gateway to Africa, had a huge scope for Pakistani furniture, textiles, tiles and sanitary ware, carpets and mangoes and these marvellous opportunities must be tapped. He asserted upon the need to sign MoU between KCCI and Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry for enhanced mutual cooperation to facilitate business communities of the two countries. Pakistan-Mauritius trade and investment ties are presently low and simply call for aggressive measures. He said that Pakistani goods are best of the best in the world and has the potential to win respectable place in Mauritius market.
It is very encouraging that Mauritius-Pakistan Joint Working Groups is now envisaging negotiations for an FTA that hopefully would play very useful role. To establish direct air-link between two countries talks are underway between Air Mauritius and PIA, he informed. If basic visa requirements are completed, Mauritius High Commission in Islamabad can issue visa in one day, he conversed.
Pakistan exports to Mauritius comprise rice, cotton yarn, woven fabric, cotton fabric, bakery items and medicament mixtures while Pakistan imports from Mauritius sugar, food processing items, rubber and wood articles etc. He informed that Mauritius tops 2011 World Bank Report Ease of Doing Business Ranking due to soft and encouraging tax regime in the country whereby any foreign company can get registration in just three days.