Maozhong Free Trade Agreement provides more export opportunities for Mao products -Devis Dukira

Author:Direct Africa Time:2022.07.14

As the first free trade agreement signed by China and African countries, the China-Mauritius Free Trade Agreement officially took effect on January 1, 2021. Dewos Dukila, CEO of Mauritius Sugar Industry, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency that Maozhong Free Trade Agreement took effect to provide more export opportunities for Mao products. confidence.

As a non -profit organization, the joint organization of Mauritius sugar industry is mainly responsible for the marketing of Mao locally sucrose. Almost all sucrose producers, including small and medium -sized sugarcane planting enterprises, sugar -making factories, etc., are members of the organization.

Dukira said: "sucrose was once the economic pillar of Mauritius, and it is still the most important crop of Mauritius." At the beginning of Mauri, the area of sugar cane planting accounted for about 90%of the country's arable land. In recent decades, with the adjustment of the economic structure and the rise of other industries, the planting area of pork sugar cane has shrunk. Nevertheless, at present, 15%of the outlet income is still contributed by the sucrose industry. In addition to the by -products generated during the production of sucrose, such as sugarcane residue, the industry's contribution to Mao's domestic GDP is above 2%.

Dukira reviewed that before the implementation of the Maozhong Free Trade Agreement, Mao's types and quantities of export products exported products were very limited. Ten years ago, Mao's products exported to China were mainly sucrose, watch accessories and flowers. "(Maozhong) The free trade agreement is the door to export opportunities, including many Mauritius products including rum, textiles, etc."

The China -Mao Free Trade Agreement covers cargo trade, service trade, investment, and economic cooperation. In the field of cargo trade, the proportion of product taxes that finally realize zero tariffs reached 96.3%and 94.2%, respectively; in the field of service trade, both parties promised to open up more than 100 departments.

As early as ten years ago, he served as the head of the Marketing Department of Mauritius Sugar Industry. Dukira saw the development potential of cane sucrose in the Chinese market. "For the first time, we exported special sugar to China in 2010. Until 2020, due to import permits and other reasons, the export of Mao special sugar to China is only between 700 tons and 1100 tons."

The China -Mao Free Trade Agreement made a "tariff quota" arrangement for Mao sucrose: starting from 15,000 tons in 2021, an increase of 5,000 tons per year until it reached 50,000 tons in 2028. Within this quota, the cash sucrose tariff drops from 50%to 15%before.

Dukira introduced that in 2021, Mao's export of Special Sugar on Huali increased to 10,000 tons, which was significantly increased compared with the previous export volume. Dukira also said that in the long run, marketing focus on the Chinese market will focus on more added value and healthier special sugar segment markets. At present, Mao special sugar has been exported to 55 countries and regions, and Europe is still the most important market, but the proportion of Chinese markets is expected to continue to increase. "I have confidence, the sales prospects of special sugar in China will be very broad." (Source: Xinhuanet)