On Thursday, Ambassador Kirk welcomed Ambassador Anund Neewor, Mauritian Secretary for Foreign Affairs, to Washington, D.C. to participate in the fourth U.S.-Mauritius Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council meeting.
Mauritius has an open and dynamic economy in Sub-Saharan Africa and is a leader among developing countries seeking to advance economic development through trade. The TIFA has provided mutual benefits for both the United States and Mauritius. It has significantly enhanced cooperation between Mauritius and U.S. trade agencies on topics such as trade promotion, sanitary and phytosanitary issues, and trade-related infrastructure. The TIFA has also served as a direct forum for representatives of U.S. companies to engage directly with Mauritian officials. Furthermore, as a result of work under the TIFA, Mauritian firms have participated in a variety of U.S. trade shows, resulting in millions of dollars in new trade deals.
In 2009, total trade between the United States and Mauritius was valued at nearly $240 million, with U.S. exports of $70 million, a 37 percent increase from the previous year.
