15 May 2014, Lagos – The Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr. Xavier Luc-Duval, has called on Africans to lend their support for re-authorisation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA.
Making the call at the dinner session of the just-concluded 2014 Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, on US-Africa Investment Forum Dinner, Luc-Duval said: “Mauritius is a strong supporter and believer in the effectiveness of joint regional integration.
“It will lead to integration into the global supply chains, including capital and financial flows, trading, information technology, telecommunication, tourism and marine exploration.”
He said Mauritius has developed a robust Africa strategy to support entrepreneurs seeking to expand business operations into the African region.
He said: “With a view to boosting trade in Africa, the Mauritian Government is working on providing a subsidy of 25 percent of the freight cost on containers exported to all countries in Africa except South Africa and Madagascar. This will be up to a maximum of $300 per container.
“The Export Credit Guarantee Insurance scheme for exports to Africa is being renewed. It offers a 50 percent subsidy on the cost of credit guarantee insurance by the government to enhance the role of Mauritius as a gateway to Africa.
“Six high level conferences will also be held by the board of investment across the continent to showcase investment opportunities in Africa.”
Earlier, Group Editor of the African Leadership Magazine, Mr. Sam Hart, said the event was organised on the sidelines of the OTC.
He said: “It is also a forum to recognise and honour individuals and organisations that have excelled in corporate social responsibility best practices, which has touched the lives of the people in their communities of operation.”
– Vanguard