As part of Mauritius’s adherence process to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises, the Economic Development Board and Maurice Stratégie jointly with the OECD Secretariat organised a capacity-building event on Wednesday 19th April 2023.
The aim of the event was to facilitate the exchange of information on the adherence process, the commitments relating to Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, as well as on the mandate, structure and practice of the National Contact Points (NCPs).
Some 50 representatives from the business community, trade unions, civil society organisations, and development partners as well as officials from various ministries and government agencies include Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development participated in the event.
In her welcome address, Prof. Christine Kaufmann, Chair of the OECD Working Group on Responsible Business Conduct, underscored the importance of Responsible Business Conduct in the global economy. She also lauded the decision by the Mauritian Government to adhere to the Declaration which would support the country’s development plans.
In his welcome address, Mr. Sachin Mohabeer, Deputy CEO at the Economic Development Board reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Mauritian Government to this crucial initiative, which has been accorded the highest priority. He highlighted that the OECD Declaration is in line with our national vision which also aims to establish an investment-friendly atmosphere in Mauritius that is both transparent and open, promoting the positive contribution that businesses can make to economic and social progress for our citizens.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Sanroy Seechurn, Director of Maurice Stratégie laid emphasis on the manifold benefits of adhering to the OECD Declaration. The adherence will serve to elevate Mauritius’s profile and make it more attractive to potential investors. Additionally, it will promote transparency in the investment regime, enable facilitation of reforms, and provide opportunities to benchmark OECD best practices through diagnosis.
It is worth noting that Mauritius could become the first country in Sub Saharan Africa to adhere to the Declaration, which has been adopted by all 38 OECD countries and 13 non-OECD countries.
