exports of goods produced locally, he will state the total volume and value thereof in respect of each of th…
(No. B/143) Mr K. Rookny (Third Member for Pamplemousses & Triolet) asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade whether, in regard to exports of goods produced locally, he will state the total volume and value thereof in respect of each of the past five years, indicating the – (a) contribution thereof to the Gross Domestic Product, and (b) number of persons employed directly and indirectly in export-oriented sectors in Mauritius.
Reply: At the outset, let me underline that Export-Oriented Enterprises (EOE) still constitute a vital segment of the Mauritian economy, acting as a major pillar for industrial development, foreign exchange earnings, and employment. The value of exports by Export Oriented Enterprises amounted around Rs42.2 billion for the year 2025 (as per latest estimates). On the whole, the EOE Sector accounted for around 27% of Manufacturing value added in 2025. Also Manufacturing sector as a whole accounted for 11.1% of GDP in 2025. I am placing in the library of the National Assembly the information pertaining to total value of EOE exports, as well as volume and value exported by the three main Export Oriented Sectors, namely Fish and Fish Preparations, Textile Yarn and Fabrics and Apparel. Exports by these three sectors (in terms of value and volume) have decreased during the 2021-2025 period. Regarding part (a) of the question, the contribution of Export Oriented Enterprises as a percentage of GDP at market prices was estimated at around 3% for the year (as per latest estimates). It has been on a declining trend since the year 2021 whereby the contribution to GDP stood at 3.9%. There are numerous factors which account for this decline including the reduced consumer spending in our main export markets especially Europe as a result of the war in Ukraine; impact of the reciprocal tariff imposed by the US; rising cost of production and increasing competition from low-cost producers. The geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are expected to worsen the situation. Regarding part (b) of the question, the Export Oriented enterprises continue to be a vital employer, with 224 companies employing roughly 28,434 people as at September 2025. However, employment in the export sector decreased over the five-year period. For the year 2021, employment stood at 35,024. Allow me to underline that Statistics Mauritius does publish indirect employment figures for inter sectoral linkages. OVERSEAS MEDICAL TREATMENT – REGISTERED ORGANISATIONS & MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS – AUDIT