Export Oriented Enterprises sector: Mauritius still a reliable source market

Export Oriented Enterprises sector: Mauritius still a reliable source market

“Despite the difficulties faced since the worldwide outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, figures for the Export Oriented Enterprises sector for calendar year 2021 show that Mauritius still remains a reliable source market for several countries.”

The Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, Mr Soomilduth Bholah, made this statement, today, during a press conference in Port Louis on the performance of the Export Oriented Enterprises (EOE) sector. Prior to the press conference, the Minister had a working session with representatives of the Mauritius Export Association, SME Mauritius, Business Mauritius and the Economic Development Board, among others.

Minister Bholah highlighted that in 2021, the EOE sector contributed about 4.4% to Gross Value Added and it accounted for around 70% of total exports, excluding sugar. He pointed out that as at September 2021, the EOE sector comprised 234 enterprises and provided employment to 35,647 workers, including 15,525 expatriates. “Over the period January to December 2021”, he observed, “the EOE exports stood at around Rs 42.66 billion as compared to some Rs 37.29 billion during the corresponding period in 2020, representing an increase of 14.4%”.

He underlined that this rise was mainly attributed to: a relative upturn in export orders from the country’s traditional markets as