Speeches

CHARGE D’AFFAIRES VIRGINIA BLASER
REMARKS ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF THE
TIFA MEETING

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2009, 9.00 A.M.
LE MERIDIEN HOTEL, POINTE AUX PIMENTS

It is a great pleasure to be here at the opening of the third U.S.-Mauritius Trade & Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council Meeting in Mauritius.
 
Let me start this brief welcome with a statement of principles issued by world leaders following the recent G20 summit, on which the world’s economic recovery and future stability will be based. In the G20 statement 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.  With this in mind, it is important to be clear on this point: America is and will 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. 
 
TIFA

This is exactly why we are here today. The Trade and Investment Framework Agreement -- or TIFA -- which was signed between Mauritius and the United States in 2006.  This agreement is designed to promote business and investment relations between our two countries. And we are committed to important trade opportunities provided under TIFA.  Building linkages between the private sectors of the two countries is one of the priorities in the TIFA Work Plan. 
 
TIFA is a concrete example of the United States’ commitment to partner with Mauritius – our commitment to explore avenues of cooperation; our commitment to strengthen trade; our commitment to expand investment relations between our two countries.  Let me give you a few examples of how Mauritius and the United States have collaborated under TIFA thus far: 
 
AGOA: Last year, 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.  In accordance with this Export Strategy, the United States has provided technical assistance and support to several local firms in Mauritius to help them enter the U.S. market, especially in the processed food and apparel sectors. 
 
AGRICULTURE: Through the participation of Mauritian companies in the Fancy Food shows in New York, local companies are now exporting a variety of new products to the United States.  Our regional Agricultural Counselor, Scott Sindelar, recently visited Mauritius to review the agricultural component of the TIFA and assess how U.S. Department of Agriculture programs could better support that agreement.  During the review, Mr. Sindelar identified several areas where USDA programs might be of interest to Mauritius, including food safety and security, sanitary and phytosanitary technical issues, agricultural biotechnology, and skills development for agricultural export. 

Indeed, the Agribusiness Workshop which the Embassy organized two weeks ago, bringing experts from the U.S. Potato Board and the U.S. Grain Council, is a direct result of that review.  Our partnership has enabled Mauritian participation in developing markets.  In the past year a good number of Mauritian companies participated in the Food Labeling Workshop held in Johannesburg.  And in coming months at least three Mauritians will attend the Biosafety Workshop in Pretoria.  Two Mauritians have, for the first time, applied for the Cochran Fellowship Program which provides specialized training in agriculture in the United States. 
 
TEXTILE: Under AGOA, last year, the Third Country Fabric Provision was extended to Mauritius until 2012.  This will help to mitigate the adverse impact of the global economic crisis on textile companies in Mauritius, providing an opportunity for them to increase their exports to the U.S. market.   Similarly, in the textile sector we have 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. 
 
DIVERSIFICATION: Our commitment to expand trade between our two countries extends beyond agriculture and textiles.  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.  As part of the AGOA Week held just two weeks ago (the organization of which I commend the Minister), the United States sent two experts to share with Mauritian businesses export opportunities under AGOA and the potential for diversification of Mauritian exports to the U.S. market.  
 
The policy goals of Mauritius align with those of the United States.

Consider if you will, that the stimulus package recently enacted by President Obama includes extensive investment in sustainable, energy-efficient technology, and for rebuilding our country’s infrastructure.  These ideals extend beyond our borders: In support of the “Maurice Ile Durable” program to make Mauritius a greener and more efficient island, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is providing $325,000 for the Central Electricity Board (CEB) to finance a feasibility study for its Transmission and Transformer Network Monitoring System in Mauritius.  When this study is completed and the Monitoring System is modernized, Mauritius should benefit from cheaper and more efficient energy.
 
Our two governments have gone a long way in exchanging information on a Bilateral Investment Treaty.   We have in our TIFA delegation here this week Mr. Dan Jacobs,  Senior Negotiator from the State Department’s Office of Investment Affairs, who is here to focus on the Treaty discussions with a view to finalizing the exchange of information.  The Bilateral Investment Treaty can provide a framework to enable and encourage investment flows between the United States and Mauritius.
The TIFA talks this week are a tremendous example of how seriously the new administration takes our trade relationship with Mauritius.   We are happy with the progress that has been made on the TIFA work plan over the past year, and we look forward to finding more ways to increase trade and investment between Mauritius and the USA.
 
I will leave you with the two ideas with which I began.  First: Free trade is essential.  That belief is why we are all here today.  Second: Through trade, wealth grows when it is shared.

Thank you