Mauritius Joins Asian Regional Block As an Observer Member

As part of the Mauritian government’s policy to strengthen its relations with Asian countries, Mauritius will on Saturday be admitted as an observer to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

SAARC, a regional block which groups eight Asian countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, is presently holding its 15th summit in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo.

The decision to accept the membership of Mauritius in an observer status was taken in the Indian capital, New Delhi in December 2007 at SAARC’s 29th ministerial session.

According to an official source, the Mauritian minister of Agro-Industry, Dr Arvin Boolell has been delegated to attend the conference and will hold bilateral talks on trade and commerce with heads of government of member states. He will also seek their cooperation in order to be able to meet the challenges of food security, the source said.

The source adds that high on the agenda is the problem Mauritius is facing to import enough rice. Boolell will also discuss the possibility of partnership projects in the agro-industrial sector which Mauritius plans to set up in Madagascar and Mozambique, it said.

The source went on to state that the minister will raise the question of cooperation with Indian officials concerning the manufacture of wind turbines for the production of electricity as India, together with Denmark, are world leaders in wind turbine energy production. The help of India will also be sought to set up a modern pharmaceutical industry for local consumption and for export to southern African countries.

Established in 1985, SAARC is the world’s biggest regional block with a population of some 1.5 billion people and with an annual per capita income of about US$2800.

Source African Press Agency

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