Speeches

Chargé d'Affaires Virginia Blaser's Remarks 
on the Occasion of The AGOA Week Workshop

La Grande Cannnelle, Domaine Les Pailles
Monday, April 6, 2009

Dr. The Honorable Arvin Boolell, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade;
Honorable Dharambeer Gokhool, Minister of Industry, Science and Research;
Honorable Mahendra Gowressoo, Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives;
Mr. Swaminathan Rajen, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Science and Research;
Mr. George Chung Tick Kan, Chairman, Mauritius Export Association; 

Distinguished Guests

It is a great pleasure to be here at the opening of this conference on Exporting to the U.S. under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Let me start by commending the Government of Mauritius for taking the initiative to organize “AGOA Week” at a time when the members of the local business community – and indeed companies around the world – are facing some of the toughest economic challenges of our times.
 
Following the G20 summit last week, world leaders issued a statement of principles on which the world’s economic recovery and future stability will be based.  Made clear up-front was the following:

“ Prosperity is indivisible; growth, to be sustained, has to be shared; and that our global plan for recovery must have at its heart the needs and jobs of hard-working families, not just in developed countries but in emerging markets and the poorest countries of the world.” 

Important for us today are these two basic principles: First – Free trade is essential.  The only way we can rebuild confidence is by ensuring that global commerce is stable.  And second – The increasing prosperity of all of us rests on increasing the prosperity of each of us.  This applies to countries, large and small; and to the people that live in them.

With this as the context for my remarks, today is a chance for me to tell you, in no uncertain terms, that the world’s largest and most vibrant economy will recover from these crises.  The economic problems have been much-publicized and much-feared, but the economy is not driven by news, it is driven by business.  And if there is one lesson learned about America through the years, it is this: We will move forward. 

And it is in the best interest of all of us, that we move forward together.
With this in mind, it is important to be clear on this point: Mauritius can rest assured that America will stand by the principles of open markets. 

We remain a reliable and steadfast partner, ready to seek out strategies to stimulate regional trade, ready to share knowledge, and ready to build a more resilient network that connects our markets. 

This is made evident when you consider what the United States has contributed to Mauritius these past few months and, indeed, the expertise and dialogue we bring to Mauritius this week alone.

In the past few months, the U.S. provided a consultant to prepare a National AGOA Export Strategy for Mauritius.  This report is now being used to help companies export to the United States.  Recommendations from the document are being incorporated into this AGOA week exercise and future planning meetings.  The study is in the hands of a number of groups – including the American Chamber of Commerce, MEXA and Enterprise Mauritius.

In accordance with this Export Strategy, our regional Trade Hubs provided technical assistance and support to several local firms to help them enter into the U.S. market, especially in the processed food and apparel sectors.  Through the participation of Mauritian companies in the Fancy Food shows in New York, some local companies are already or will soon be exporting to the U.S. such products as jam, agricultural rum, spices, tuna, special salt, and honey. 

Under AGOA, the Third Country Fabric Provision, which was extended to 2012, can help mitigate the global economic crisis’ adverse impact on textiles by providing an opportunity to local textile companies to increase their exports to the U.S. market.   Similarly, in the textile sector we assisted Mauritian companies to participate in the Magic Show and the Apparel Business-to-Business Meetings in both the United States and South Africa, which resulted in a variety of significant sale contracts with U.S. buyers.  

I would like to stress though that, thus far, Mauritian exports under AGOA have been largely dominated by textiles.  One independent report indicates that over 90% of exports from Mauritius to the United States are textiles and clothing.  We must break away from this and diversify. 

The list of products eligible for preferential exports under AGOA and the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) include more than 6,000 items.  The way is clear for Mauritian entrepreneurs to expand business with the U.S. in non-textile products.  The Government of Mauritius must seek ways and incentives for new and creative business ventures.  It is time to diversify Mauritian exports to the U.S. market.  
 
As a reliable and steadfast partner, we haven’t merely challenged Mauritian companies to find their way on their own.  We are reaching out, offering a help in active and critical ways.
 
As part of the AGOA Week, we have one of the United States’ top AGOA advisors, Finn Holm-Olsen, who is based in our Trade Hub in Nairobi, to assist Mauritian companies in diversification.  He is here to discuss with them – both in a conference venue and one-on-one -- export opportunities and creative strategies available to them under AGOA.

We also have our Agricultural Attache, Kari Rojas, who is based at the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria.  Kari will be speaking about sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for the export of food products to the U.S. market. 

Personally, I see huge potential for Mauritius in agricultural opportunities in trade and development.  Talk to Kari…and Finn and tap into their knowledge of markets and market development!

Barack Obama, less than four months before being elected President, stated clearly the importance of free trade:
“There are some who believe that we must try to turn back the clock on this new world; that the only chance to maintain our living standards is to build a fortress around America; to stop trading with other countries, shut down immigration, and rely on old industries. I disagree. Not only is it impossible to turn back the tide of globalization, but efforts to do so can make us worse off.”
      
The U.S. has one of the most open markets in the world.  I assure you, as does President Obama, that the global economic slowdown will not change that.  In fact, it makes it even more important that we press forward to build on the market access provided by AGOA.  It is our mandate, together today in Mauritius and in partnerships across the world, to ensure that global commerce grows, and that the growth is shared. 

By taking measure of the situation, as you will do this week, and then taking positive action, we will all become stronger.