The new High Commissioner of Pakistan in Mauritius presented his credentials to the President of the Republic on August 16. For his first interview with the media, he speaks to Sunday Times about the state of relations between Pakistan and Mauritius and expresses his wish to give a new impetus to our Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and to boost our bilateral relations.
Zahirah RADHA
Q: You’ve been in Mauritius since a month now. What is the current state of relations between our two countries?
Pakistan has been one of the first countries to open a High commission in Mauritius after its Independence in 1968. Since then, both countries have cultivated a strong bilateral relationship characterized by mutual respect and cooperation. We share a deep cultural affinity, rooted in the historical migration of Mauritians from the Indian subcontinent. The best part of our relations is that there haven’t been any contentious issues between our two countries. Mauritius has always supported Pakistan in international fora, and vice versa. Besides, there are opportunities for further economic collaboration. The partnership between Pakistan and Mauritius is poised to grow and flourish in the years to come. In fact, I came here on the 13th of August and I got my credentials only three days later, that is on the 16th of August. This is perhaps the fastest credentials that I witnessed in my diplomatic career. I believe, it shows the warmth that Mauritius has towards Pakistan.
Q: You mentioned that there haven’t been any contentious issues between our two countries. But still, trade between the two countries has remained quite low in spite of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) signed in 2007. Why is this so?
You are absolutely right that despite the existence of a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) signed in 2007, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Mauritius has remained relatively low. There are certain issues in terms of export baskets from our side and the market size here in Mauritius. There are also other issues pertaining to tariffs imposed by Pakistan but which weren’t really meant for Mauritius and later on, imposition of duties by Mauritius on Pakistan. These factors did not help the expansion of bilateral trade. Hence, the PTA couldn’t expand, as we initially expected it to. The trade volume last year was around USD 34 millions. There’s potential for much more than that. Trade should be a two-way traffic. Trade should be a two-way traffic benefitting both the countries. The way forward is to sit down and resolve all outstanding issues related to trade.
Q: What exactly are these other outstanding issues?
Other than those already mentioned, a few factors have contributed to the low trade volume. The absence of direct flights between the two countries has increased transportation costs, making trade less competitive. Then, there’s also a lack of awareness. Both countries have limited awareness of business opportunities in our respective markets. On top of that, cumbersome visa requirement imposed by Mauritius has hindered trade by making it difficult for Pakistani businessmen to visit the country.
Efforts to address these challenges have been made, such as the establishment of a Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade. I will be trying to hold this JWG meeting as soonest as possible. In addition, other MoUs and existing mechanism should also be utilized to strengthen the bilateral ties.
Q: This Joint Working Group (JWG) is long overdue, isn’t it? It’s on the agenda since the last time I was here, that is two years ago…
The primary aim of the JWG is to resolve these kinds of issues. I’ll be pursuing this with the Ministry of Commerce in Pakistan and our host ministry in Mauritius. I also mentioned it to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister when I met them after the presentation of my credentials. I don’t know how long this will take, especially with the forthcoming elections and transitional period, but I’ll certainly try to activate things.
Q: So, we have yet a long way to go till the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), like Mauritius has with India and China?
Mauritius is the only country in Africa with whom Pakistan has a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). That’s a unique opportunity for us and we need to broaden the scope of this PTA. One of my aims in near future is to restart negotiations on it. It will be expedient that the two sides sit down and resolve the issues of unilateral imposition of tariffs on certain items. There can be new tariff lines which can be added from both the sides.
It may not be possible to give a time-line for graduating the PTA into FTA as it involves a number of stakeholders. Let us first reap the benefits of PTA, by expanding it to other tariff lines and later the services sector.
Q: Is the PTA the only way to go as far as strengthening our bilateral relations is concerned?
I don’t think that the PTA is the only panacea. We were having trade with Mauritius even before that. Mauritius has quite an open and free economy in terms of imports. But we can certainly support Mauritius in some areas, like the pharmaceutical sector. It’s a big market, to the tune of around one billion dollars. The Pakistani pharmaceutical industry can provide excellent quality medicines and neuroceuticals at competitive rates. It will help government’s own procurements. Currently, the volume of pharmaceuticals from Pakistan is low and I intend to talk to the Pharmaceutical Association of Pakistan which wants to hold initially a webinar with stakeholders here. And later on, we can work on bringing some delegations to Mauritius.
Q: The absence of a direct flight between Mauritius and Pakistan is also seen as an obstacle to the facilitation of trade, as you mentioned yourself. Your predecessor, in an interview given to us, mentioned that talks had started between our respective airlines and he was confident that an agreement would soon be reached. Where do things stand as at now?
This is another slow-going issue. Both sides are still negotiating. Our national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), is working on a code sharing agreement with Air Mauritius. Pakistan International Airlines had issues related to its privatization, hence there has been a halt in the process. You will agree that such ventures need to be commercially viable. Unless it’s profitable, airlines won’t be getting into that. I will be definitely pursuing it as it can increase trade and people to people contacts, including tourism. But for that also, we need to push for a visa relaxation regime.
Q: In which other areas can we foster cooperation, besides the pharmaceutical field?
Initially, we want to expand it in the medical field, like we did with the expansion of the scope of the MoU on Ophthalmologists’ visit to Mauritius. Now, Mauritian patients can go to the same hospital in Pakistan to perform surgeries free of cost. The terms are being worked out. There are many other fields in which cooperation can be expanded such as sports, cancer treatment, and technical education. For instance, we can provide vocational training to students who don’t qualify for HSC here.
In addition, I am also planning to organize a parliamentary delegation to Pakistan after the elections are conducted in Mauritius in coming months. During last two years, we had half a dozen trade delegations which visited Pakistan. Cooperation in the field of education can also be expanded by twinning educational institutes in Pakistan with Mauritius counterparts.
Q: What about the Gwadar Port and its link to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), how can Mauritius benefit from it?
Gwadar Port, located in Pakistan, is a key component of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a global infrastructure development project initiated by China. The BRI aims to connect China with Europe and Africa through a network of roads, railways, ports, and pipelines.
Gwadar Port is situated at a strategic location on the Arabian Sea, offering a shorter and more efficient shipping route for Chinese goods to Europe and Africa compared to the traditional route through the Malacca Strait. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under the BRI, connects China’s western province of Xinjiang with Gwadar Port. This corridor includes infrastructure projects such as highways, railways, and pipelines, facilitating trade and investment between the two countries.
Mauritius can benefit from increased trade with China and other countries in the region through Gwadar Port. The port can serve as a hub for goods transiting between Asia, Africa, and Europe. Current volume of trade between Mauritius and China is around $ 1.2 billion. The logistic cost and shipment time can be significantly reduced if trade through Gwadar may be considered by the shipping agencies of Mauritius.
Q: How does Mauritius fit into Pakistan’s “Engage Africa Policy”?
Under this policy, we managed to open five new missions in the African continent, in smaller size countries but whose economies are progressing at a faster pace, like Rwanda, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and Uganda. We are also opening a few trade offices, including in Ethiopia. Mauritius, as a small island nation in the Indian Ocean, can play a significant role in Pakistan’s Engage Africa Policy. Given its strategic location, economic stability, and strong diplomatic ties with various African nations, Mauritius can serve as a gateway for Pakistan to expand its footprint in the African continent.
In terms of economic cooperation, Mauritius can, firstly, act as a trade hub for Pakistani products, facilitating their entry into other African markets. Secondly, Mauritius’ stable economy and favourable business environment can attract Pakistani investments, particularly in sectors like tourism, technology, and manufacturing. Thirdly, collaboration between Mauritian and Pakistani businesses can lead to joint ventures and partnerships, leveraging the strengths of both countries.
With regard to regional integration, as a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Mauritius can help Pakistan engage with other African countries within this regional bloc. Mauritius’ participation in the AfCFTA can also provide Pakistan with opportunities to access a larger African market. Above all, Mauritius being member of other regional organizations such as IORA and IOC can also coordinate with Pakistan on the issues related to Indian Ocean.
As far as the diplomatic channel is concerned, Mauritius can advocate for Pakistan’s interests within the African Union and other regional organizations. Mauritius’ existing diplomatic ties with African nations can help Pakistan establish and strengthen relationships with these countries.
In terms of knowledge sharing also, Mauritius can share its experiences and best practices in areas like economic development, governance, and sustainable tourism with Pakistan. Pakistan can benefit from Mauritius’ expertise in capacity building programs and training initiatives.
To conclude on this topic, Mauritius’ strategic location, economic stability, and diplomatic influence make it a valuable partner for Pakistan in its Engage Africa Policy. By leveraging these strengths, Pakistan can expand its economic and diplomatic footprint in Africa, fostering mutually beneficial relationships and contributing to the continent’s development.
Q: Do you think that a High-Level ministerial delegation comprising of government officials, businessmen and other stakeholders would help in taking our bilateral relations to another level?
In my first meeting on my credential presentation ceremony with the President of Mauritius, it was emphasized by the President that the two countries should also engage at the highest level. The same desire has resonated in my calls on the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister. The last time such an engagement took place was in 2016 when ex-President Amina Gurib-Fakim visited Pakistan. I have shared my strong recommendations with my government in this regard to have bilateral interactions as soon as possible.
Another easy option would be to have meetings on the sidelines during international forums, like the Commonwealth organizations. In addition, Parliamentarians from both sides can enhance their cooperation. In this regard, we are working a cooperation MoU as well.
We have also proposed to our government that the 2025-2026 Pakistan-Africa Trade Conference be held in Mauritius. The holding of a single country exhibition in Mauritius in cooperation with the private sector and Mau-Pak Association is also in the pipeline. Businessmen from Mauritius had actively participated in the last event held in Cairo in 2023 and sponsored by the government of Pakistan.
I’m looking forward to a very constructive and engaging collaboration with different sectors, including the media, during my tenure here. We would also like to see more Mauritian students benefiting from our scholarships. Some have remained unused in the past and we believe that this opportunity shouldn’t be wasted. We are finding ways to broaden the scope of these scholarships to include technical education and post graduate studies as well. May I seize this opportunity to thank the Government and the people of Mauritius for the very warm welcome extended to us.
