12 Parliamentarians and Key Businesses to Shape New Regional Strategy

Paul Bérenger, the Deputy Prime Minister, has officially launched the Regional Cooperation and Integration Council (RCIC), a new body aimed at boosting regional cooperation and speeding up Mauritius’s economic integration with its African and Indian Ocean neighbours.

The announcement came on Tuesday, 23 September, at a press conference, where the DPM introduced the council, which will be composed of 12 parliamentarians and representatives from key private sector organisations.

The RCIC’s primary mission is to coordinate regional strategies across crucial sectors like trade, investment, agro-industry, tourism, and financial services.

A New Era of Collaboration

The RCIC’s creation follows a preparatory meeting on August 29th, where the decision to formalise the council was made.

The project has received full approval from the Council of Ministers, reflecting a new policy of opening up to African and Indian Ocean partners.

Parliamentary members include Paul Raymond Bérenger, Rajesh Bhagwan, Arvin Boolell, Ritish Ramful, Michael Sik Yuen, Aadil Ameer Meea, Richard Duval, Jyoti Jeetun, junior minister Fabrice David, Joanna Bérenger, and Rajen Narsinghen.

The private sector is represented by influential bodies such as the Economic Development Board (EDB), Business Mauritius, the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), the Chambre d’Agriculture, the Mauritius Export Association (MEXA), the Association des Hôteliers et Restaurateurs de l’île Maurice (AHRIM), and the Association des Manufacturiers Mauriciens (AMM).

Strategic Focus and Economic Boost

DPM Bérenger identified a list of priority partner countries, including Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, La Réunion, Tanzania, Zanzibar, the Comoros, South Africa, the Maldives, Rwanda, and the Congo.

The Minister of Industry, SMEs, and Cooperatives, Aadil Ameer Meea, stated that the RCIC will be a “springboard” to promote the export of Mauritian manufactured goods to these emerging markets.

Arvin Boolell, Minister of Agro-industry, framed the initiative as an opportunity to revitalise cooperation with the private sector.

He emphasised the importance of seizing the “momentum” created by the African Continental Free Trade Area and the continent’s unwavering support for Mauritius’s territorial integrity.

Source: Le Mauricien