The Australian High Commission welcomes the establishment of AustCham Mauritius as an important platform to strengthen business ties between Australia, Mauritius and the region.
We recognise the increasingly dynamic role Mauritius plays in the Indian Ocean region, particularly as a gateway to Africa.
Australia’s economic success – with 26 years of consecutive growth – has delivered one of the highest standards of living in the world and a reputation for excellence, quality and reliability. Australia’s openness to trade and investment is vital to our economic strength.
Our countries have a strong common history based on our people-to-people links and shared values in support of democracy, good governance, rule of law and inclusive economic development.
Australia is home to around 30,000 Mauritians, providing a valuable diaspora to increase engagement – including trade and investment – between our two countries.
We have long-standing trading relations that today have evolved to reflect the growing services sectors, including finance, education and tourism, with a renewed focus on research, advanced technologies and innovation.
But there are opportunities for us to build our commercial links further in areas of mutual benefit.
A significant level of two-way trade connects us – in 2017 over A$415 million, with some 100 Australian companies represented in Mauritius, evidencing the island’s position as a regional financial services hub.
Our two-way tourism figures are growing, with some 22,000 Australians visiting Mauritius in 2017.
More than 2,300 Mauritians are currently studying in Australia, with a significant number also choosing to study for Australian qualifications through education institutions in Mauritius.
We look forward to AustCham Mauritius providing a platform to facilitate exchanges between Australian and Mauritius business leaders and promoting trade and investment opportunities. We want to help you do business together.
The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) will work with the Chamber to keep members informed of market updates in Australia and facilitate linkages with businesses in Australia.
We also look forward to supporting AustCham Mauritius through high level networking events – we’ll be celebrating 50 years of bilateral relations in 2020 – and policy discussions on priority economic, trade and investment issues.
I am delighted to support the launch of AustCham Mauritius and hope it will provide a boost to our existing commercial links and ensure that business between Australia and Mauritius continues to be successful, innovative, and dynamic.
HE Jenny Dee
Australian High Commissioner to Mauritius