US Embassy Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Prosper Africa’s Groundbreaking Visit to Mauritius
This important visit demonstrated the commitment of the US Government to drive economic growth, strengthen trade relations, and open new trade and investment opportunities between the United States, Mauritius, and other African markets.
Prosper Africa’s visit came on the heels of the August 2024 US-Mauritius Business Summit, which helped promote and strengthen trade and investment between the US and Mauritius. US Ambassador Jardine, Coordinator Robinson, and members of the most recent delegation explored strategic partnerships with Mauritian officials and business leaders in key sectors, including textiles, clothing, banking, as well as the blue and green economy.
Ambassador Jardine, Coordinator Robinson, and the delegation met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Maneesh Gobin, Minister of Industrial Development Naveena Ramyad, Acting Financial Secretary Anandsingh Acharuz, as well as representatives of the Central Bank of Mauritius, the Mauritius Investment Corporation , Mauritius Bankers Association, and Mauritius Finance to better understand Mauritian SMEs and the banking and financial sector. These meetings underscored Prosper Africa’s mission to increase two-way trade and investment opportunities, benefiting both the US and African economies.
The delegation also met with the Mauritius Exporters Association (MEXA) and visited local producers to learn about the Mauritian textile industry. Prosper Africa aims to connect US retail buyers with Mauritian suppliers, with plans to launch a US-Africa Trade Desk buyer platform, creating new opportunities for Mauritius’ established textile sector. The Mauritius Ports Authority led the delegation on a visit to Port Louis to better understand logistics and the movement of goods, as well as potential investment opportunities linked to the growth of the port.
During a networking event organized by AmCham Mauritius at the Hennessy Park Hotel, the Prosper Africa delegation met with American and local business representatives to discuss Mauritius’ unique role as a bridge for American companies wishing to expand into Africa. AmCham President Ravin Lama highlighted the importance of initiatives such as Prosper Africa in fostering economic growth and innovation, highlighting Coordinator Robinson’s leadership in catalyzing new investment and trade opportunities.
In her speech at the event, Coordinator Robinson expressed optimism about what she observed:
“Mauritius has impressed us with its dynamic business sectors, from textiles to financial services. Its role as a strategic bridge for American companies exploring opportunities throughout Africa is invaluable,” he said. “Prosper Africa is here to support sustainable economic growth, and we look forward to seeing partnerships emerge as we strengthen our collaborations with Mauritius and the region. »
During his remarks at the AmCham networking event, Ambassador Henry Jardine said:
“The US government sees huge potential in Mauritius for US businesses and wider economic ties. Mauritius is a valuable trading partner for the United States – a relationship we hope to continue to develop in the coming months and years. We see stronger commercial economic ties as a key pillar supporting wider bilateral relations. I hope that the connections made here will lead to lasting and significant relationships enabling the US and Mauritian private sector to develop opportunities in each other’s markets and stimulate development and investment in the Mauritian economy. »
The delegation also met with the Governor of the Bank of Mauritius to discuss the Bank’s efforts to strengthen the economic ecosystem of Mauritius, and Africa in general, for investors. Meetings with other organizations in the private sector provided a better understanding of the Mauritian financial services sector. These meetings included the Mauritius Investment Corporation – the country’s semi-public sovereign wealth fund – the Bankers Association of Mauritius, and Mauritius Finance, an organization that brings together key players such as management companies, accounting firms, law firms and institutional investors. Prosper Africa discussed the opportunities available to US financial companies and investors in Mauritius, to improve investments and better facilitate trade and business.
In meetings with representatives from the Department of Trade and Consumer Protection and the Department of Financial Services, Prosper Africa outlined its approach to using US government resources to facilitate business in the US and African markets. The US Embassy looks forward to continuing these efforts in Mauritius, recognizing the country as a critical partner in promoting shared economic prosperity across Africa.
Prosper Africa is a US presidential national security initiative aimed at strengthening the strategic and economic partnership between the US and Africa by catalyzing transformative two-way trade and investment flows. By bringing together the expertise and resources of 17 US government agencies, Prosper Africa increases the presence of American businesses and develops economic ties across African nations. Since its establishment in 2019, Prosper Africa has facilitated over 2,500 trade and investment agreements, valued at over $120 billion, in sectors including textiles, agriculture, finance, and critical minerals. The program is committed to sustainable growth by connecting African and American business ecosystems, creating jobs and expanding access to markets.
The US Embassy in Mauritius and Ambassador Henry Jardine were honored to welcome A. Robinson from Britain, Prosper Africa Coordinator, along with a delegation of Prosper Africa staff, US business leaders, and US government partners for a visit to Mauritius October 21-25. This important visit demonstrated the US government’s commitment to fostering economic growth, strengthening commercial relationships, and unlocking new opportunities for trade and investment between the United States, Mauritius, and the broader African markets.
Prosper Africa’s visit followed the US-Mauritius Business Summit in August 2024 which developed and enriched US-Mauritius trade and investment. US Ambassador Jardine, Coordinator Robinson, and members of the latest delegation explored strategic partnerships with Mauritian officials and business leaders in key sectors including textiles, clothing, and banking and including the blue and green economy. Ambassador Jardine, Coordinator Robinson and the delegation met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Maneesh Gobin, Minister of Industrial Development Naveena Ramyad, Acting Financial Secretary Anandsingh Acharuz, representatives from the Central Bank of Mauritius, Mauritius Investment Corporation, Association Mauritius Bankers, and Mauritius Finance to gain a deeper understanding of Mauritius’ small and medium enterprises and the banking and financial sector. The meetings underscored Prosper Africa’s mission to increase two-way trade and investment opportunities that benefit the US and African economies.
The delegation also met with the Mauritius Export Association (MEXA) and toured with local producers to gain insight into the Mauritian textile industry. Prosper Africa aims to connect US retail buyers with Mauritian suppliers, with plans to introduce a US-Africa Trade Desk buyer platform, facilitating new opportunities for Mauritius’ well-established textile sector. The Mauritius Ports Authority led the delegation on a tour of Port Louis to better understand the logistics and movement of goods as well as potential investment opportunities related to the growth of the port.
At a networking event hosted by AmCham Mauritius at the Hennessy Park Hotel, the Prosper Africa delegation joined representatives from US companies and local businesses to discuss Mauritius’ unique role as a bridge for American companies to expand into Africa. AmCham President Ravin Lama underlined the significance of initiatives such as Prosper Africa in fostering economic growth and innovation, highlighting Coordinator Robinson’s leadership in catalyzing new investment and trade opportunities.
In comments at the event, Coordinator Robinson expressed optimism about what he saw.
“Mauritius has really impressed us with its dynamic business sectors, from textiles to financial services. Its role as a strategic bridge for American businesses exploring opportunities throughout Africa is invaluable,” he said. “Prosper Africa is here to support sustainable economic growth, and we look forward to partnerships that will emerge as we deepen our partnerships with Mauritius and the region. »
During remarks at the AmCham networking event, Ambassador Henry Jardine said,
“The US government sees huge potential in Mauritius for US businesses and wider economic ties. Mauritius is a valuable trading partner for the United States – a relationship we hope to continue to expand in the coming months and years. We see stronger commercial economic ties as a key pillar to support wider bilateral relations. I hope that the connections made here will lead to long-lasting, significant relationships that enable the US and Mauritian private sector to develop opportunities in each other’s markets and promote development and investments in the Mauritian economy.”
The delegation also met with the Governor of the Bank of Mauritius to discuss the Bank’s efforts to strengthen the economic ecosystem in Mauritius, and more of Africa, for investors. Meetings with additional private sector organizations provided an understanding of the financial services sector in Mauritius. These meetings included the Mauritius Investment Corporation – the country’s quasi-Sovereign Wealth Fund – the Bankers Association of Mauritius, and Mauritius Finance, an organization that brings together leading players that include management companies, accounting firms, law firms and investors institutional. Prosper Africa discussed the opportunities available to US financial companies and investors in Mauritius, to improve investment and to better facilitate trade and commerce.
In meetings with representatives from the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection and the Ministry of Financial Services, Prosper Africa outlined its approach to harnessing US government resources to facilitate business across the US and African markets. The US Embassy looks forward to building on these efforts in Mauritius, recognizing the nation as a critical partner in promoting shared economic prosperity across Africa.
Prosper Africa is a United States Presidential national security initiative that aims to strengthen the strategic and economic partnership between the United States and Africa by catalyzing transformative two-way trade and investment flows. By pooling the expertise and resources of 17 US government agencies, Prosper Africa enhances the US business presence and builds economic ties across African nations. Since its establishment in 2019, Prosper Africa has facilitated over 2,500 trade and investment agreements, worth more than $120 billion, across sectors such as textiles, agriculture, finance, and critical minerals. The program is committed to sustainable growth by bridging the African and US business ecosystems, creating jobs, and expanding market access.