Mauritius and UK Sign Enhanced Strategic Trade Partnership MoU

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing the UK–Mauritius Enhanced Strategic Trade Partnership (ESTP) was signed this morning by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Dhananjay Ramful and the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom of Great Britain (UK) and Northern Ireland, Mr Paul Brummell CMG, in Port-Louis.

The ESTP, providing a more focused and forward-looking framework for cooperation, will prioritise collaboration in four key sectors, namely: Green and Blue Economy; Healthcare and Life Sciences; Education; and Financial, Professional Services and Digital Transformation.

The Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning, Dr (Mrs) Jyoti Jeetun; Minister of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, Dr Kaviraj Sharma Sukon; and the Junior Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Hambyrajen Narsinghen, were also in attendance.

In his keynote address, Minister Ramful qualified the signing of the MoU as a testament of the shared commitment of Mauritius and UK to build a modern, dynamic and forward-looking economic partnership, one that is driven by innovation, investment, sustainability and shared prosperity.

The Minister pointed out that the UK remains one of Mauritius’ principal trading and investment partners with Mauritian merchandise exports to the UK exceeding £130 million in 2025, while two-way trade in services reached approximately £1.8 billion, underscoring the growing importance of the services sector in the bilateral economic alliance. UK stood as the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment into Mauritius, contributing nearly £308 million—representing approximately 40% of total gross FDI inflows, he underscored.

The ESTP, he highlighted, provides an important platform through which Mauritius’ national priorities can be pursued together with the support of UK, opening new avenues for cooperation across critical pillars by building on the comparative strengths of both our economies.

As regards the establishment of a UK–Mauritius Business Forum under the ESTP, Mr Dhananjay Ramful affirmed that the Forum will provide an institutional platform through which businesses from both countries can identify new opportunities, forge strategic partnerships and contribute directly to shaping the future of our bilateral economic relationship.

The Minister underlined Mauritius' status as a stable investment destination- offering certainty in an increasingly volatile global landscape, underpinning its political stability, sound democratic institutions, the rule of law, a predictable legal framework, a sophisticated international financial centre and one of Africa's most extensive networks of trade agreements. Positioned strategically at the crossroads of Africa and the Indian Ocean, Mauritius serves as a trusted gateway connecting international investors with some of the world's fastest-growing markets, he recalled.

Furthermore, he expressed conviction that the ESTP is poised to become a catalyst for greater investment, deeper innovation and stronger commercial ties between our two countries and that it will unlock new opportunities for trade and investment, deepen cooperation across priority sectors, and deliver economic benefits for Mauritius and the UK.

As for High Commissioner, Mr Paul Brummell, he described Mauritius as both a valued bilateral partner for the UK and a dynamic hub for business, finance, innovation, and connectivity. He characterised the signing of the MoU as a clear statement of intent, signalling that both nations are ready to advance their economic partnership, trade, and investment, to deliver tangible benefits in job creation, skills development, innovation, economic resilience, and shared prosperity.

He remarked that the evolving relationship of the two parties should be focused on embracing the future, as to how Mauritius is positioning itself as a high income sustainable outward looking economy, and how UK as a global trading nation can be a partner in that journey. According to him, the ESTP marks a new phase of our bilateral relationship focusing on shared history and shared growth and sets out where we believe UK and Muaritius can achieve the greatest impact together in priority sectors, bringing in the strengths of UK to help deliver them.

We want the ESTP to bring better visibility of UK opportunities, expertise and networks for Mauritian businesses while positioning Mauritius as a stable, strategically located partner for British enterprises and fortify investor confidence and expanding pathways for academic and professional qualifications, stated Mr Paul Brummell.

30 July 2026

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Topics: Bilateral cooperation