His Excellency Mr. Henry V. Jardine, Ambassador of the United States of America to Mauritius, met with Mr. Mahen Kundasamy, Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Mauritius, who was accompanied by senior executives, on Wednesday, 18 June 2025, at the U.S. Embassy in Port Louis.
This meeting served as an opportunity to deepen economic diplomacy and reaffirm shared values underpinning the Mauritius–U.S. relationship. Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral trade and investment, strengthening institutional collaboration, and positioning Mauritius as a gateway for U.S. companies seeking to expand their footprint across the African continent.
Ambassador Jardine underscored the need for two-way exchanges, encouraging Mauritian enterprises to explore business and investment opportunities across the United States. Discussions also covered the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which remains a cornerstone of Mauritius–U.S. trade relations, as well as the potential to initiate a dedicated bilateral trade agreement between the two countries.
From an economic perspective, Mr. Kundasamy presented Mauritius’ value proposition as a stable, secure, investment-grade platform for U.S. companies, highlighting its robust International Financial Centre, investor-friendly environment, extensive network of over 45 Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (IPPAs), and preferential access to major markets such as India, as well as key regional trade blocs such as SADC, COMESA, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Ambassador Jardine noted that these strategic advantages make Mauritius an ideal hub for U.S. companies operating in Africa, particularly in the energy and mining sectors, to establish regional headquarters, optimise corporate structuring, and manage operations within a transparent, rules-based environment.
Mr. Kundasamy highlighted growing opportunities in emerging sectors such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, renewable energy, and fintech, where Mauritius offers a competitive edge through targeted incentives and a skilled bilingual workforce. He invited the Ambassador to support efforts in facilitating U.S. investor delegations to Mauritius, enabling them to explore these opportunities firsthand and engage directly with key industry stakeholders. They also discussed working with the U.S. Embassy to send Mauritian delegations to trade and investment shows and conferences overseas to meet U.S. companies and to raise awareness of opportunities in Mauritius for potential U.S. partners. It was mutually acknowledged that periodic engagements between the EDB and the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) could serve as a useful platform to advance trade and commercial relations between the U.S. and Mauritius.
Ambassador Jardine acknowledged Mauritius’ longstanding commitment to shared democratic values, peaceful transitions of power, transparency and good governance, positioning the country as a trusted and impartial partner in the region.
Concluding the meeting, both parties emphasised the importance of transforming the longstanding Mauritius–U.S. diplomatic relationship into broader trade, investment, and business collaboration across sectors of shared interest. They expressed strong confidence that Mauritius’ unique position as a gateway to Africa presents compelling opportunities to attract U.S. investment and foster strategic partnerships benefiting both countries and the wider African region.
