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National Export Strategy:
Shaping
the Future
As the global market becomes
more competitive and the dynamics
of trade constantly evolve, Small
Island Developing States like
Mauritius need to continuously
adapt and innovate to find their
place in international markets.
For Mauritius, the ability to take
full advantage of its export
markets is fundamental for its
sustained economic development.
For the first time, Mauritius has
embarked on a comprehensive and
forward-thinking exercise with the
development of a National Export
Strategy (NES) aimed at boosting its
export performance whilst improving
the competitiveness of key export
sectors. The NES is being designed
with the technical assistance and
support of the International Trade
Centre (ITC). It has been successfully
developed by ITC in several countries
including Mozambique, Jordan,
Romania, Jamaica, Uganda and Ivory
Coast.
The NES methodology provides
for a comprehensive analysis of the
existing export sector and undertakes
a series of national consultations to
identify priority export sectors and
cross-sector strategies for enhanced
export performance. The main
outcome of the NES is a blueprint
for enhancing the competitiveness
and development of the export sector
whilst ensuring maximum benefits to
economic and social development of
the country.
In Mauritius, the NES is being
driven by the Ministry of Industry,
Commerce and Consumer Protection,
and Enterprise Mauritius and a
national core team consisting of key
Ministries, private sector institutions
and relevant government agencies
has been set up to drive its design
and implementation. The core team
includes representatives of various
Ministries including Agro-Industry,
Tourism, Finance and Economic
Development, ICT and the main
private sector institutions namely
the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (MCCI), Business
Mauritius and the Mauritius Export
Association. It must be highlighted
that the NES was initiated in 2013
“Opting for an innovative
and comprehensive
methodology for
addressing the
challenges and
improving the
competitiveness of the
export sector.”
following preliminary discussions
between the MCCI, the Ministry of
Industry and the International Trade
Centre.
With the elaboration of a National
Export Strategy, Mauritius is going
beyond the conventional approach
and opting for an innovative and
comprehensive methodology for
addressing the challenges and
improving the competitiveness of the
export sector.
1.Going Beyond Trade Preferences
Traditionally, countries, including
Mauritius, have addressed export
competitiveness by focusing on
issues relating to trade policy, such as
securing market access, negotiating
preferential treaties and protecting
local industries. However, as
preferences are constantly eroding,
there is increasing pressure on
industries to be globally competitive.
Over the last decades, Mauritius
has relied extensively on trade
preferences with its exports of
goods destined primarily to markets
with preferential access namely
under the Economic Partnership
Agreement (EPA), the Africa Growth
and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and
more recently, to markets in the
SADC and COMESA region. In
2014, exports to these preferential
markets represented over 70% of
total exports. It is also important
to highlight that there has not been
much export diversification over
the last two decades with our main
export product categories remaining
unchanged namely with textiles and
garments, fish and fish products,
sugar and jewellery.
The NES refreshingly goes beyond
trade preferences. It broadens the
focus to embrace a development
paradigm to adapt to the imperatives
of globalization, where the ultimate
objective is to improve business
competitiveness. The NES also
tries to address one the main
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