Mauritius calls on the textile industry to vigorously develop high value-added products

Mauritius Minister of Industry, Science and Research Dagokule recently stated that the Mauritian textile industry should further explore the potential of trade liberalization within the Southern African Development Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa; in addition, international competition for traditional textile products is becoming increasingly fierce. Under the fierce background, vigorous research and development of high value-added products is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Mauritian textile enterprises and finding new industry growth points. The minister also said that the recent appreciation of the Mauritian rupee has had an impact on the fundamentals of the Mauritian economy and recommended that measures be taken to maintain a balance of interests between the export industry, other industries and consumers.
Affected by the financial crisis and the appreciation of the rupee, Mauritius’s textile industry shrank by 4% in 2009, and its international competitiveness has also weakened; and the growth rate in 2010 is expected to be only 1%. At present, Europe is still the main export market for Mauritius’ textile industry; although South Africa’s demand for Mauritius textiles has grown rapidly in recent years, the overall African demand is still at a low level.