India-Mauritius CECPA

Table of Contents

India-Mauritius CECPA- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2: International Relations- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

India and Mauritius held the 1st session of India-Mauritius High-Powered Joint Trade Committee in New Delhi.
India-Mauritius High-Powered Joint Trade Committee had been constituted as per the mandate of the India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership agreement (CECPA).
India-Mauritius High Powered JTC was set up to review the general functioning and implementation of the India-Mauritius CECPA.
Both sides agreed to hold the next session of India- Mauritius High Powered JTC meeting in 2023.

About: The India-Mauritius CECPA provides for an institutional mechanism to encourage and improve trade between the two countries.
- India-Mauritius CECPA entered into force on 1st April, 2021.
- CECPA is the first trade Agreement signed by India with a country in Africa.
Scope of Agreement: The India-Mauritius CECPA Agreement is a limited agreement, which will cover-
- Trade in Goods,
- Rules of Origin,
- Trade in Services,
- Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT),
- Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures,
- Dispute Settlement,
- Movement of Natural Persons,
- Telecom,
- Financial services,
- Customs Procedures and
- Cooperation in other Areas.
Certificate of Origin (CoO): Indian exporters have to obtain a Certificate of Origin (CoO) from the authorised Indian agencies to avail the preferential benefits under the CECPA.
- The online application for CoO for the India-Mauritius CECPA can be made from 01 April 2021 through the common digital platform for issuance of certificate of origin of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

From India: The CECPA between India and Mauritius covers 310 export items for India, including-
- Food stuff and beverages (80 lines),
- Agricultural products (25 lines),
- Textile and textile articles (27 lines),
- Base metals and articles thereof (32lines),
- Electricals and electronic item (13 lines),
- Plastics and chemicals (20 lines),
- Wood and articles thereof (15 lines), and others.
From Mauritius: Mauritius will benefit from preferential market access into India for its 615 products, including-
- Frozen fish,
- Speciality sugar,
- Biscuits,
- Fresh fruits,
- Juices,
- Mineral water,
- Beer,
- Alcoholic drinks,
- Soaps,
- Bags,
- Medical and surgical equipment, and
- Apparel

Export from India: As regards trade in services, Indian service providers will have access to around 115 sub-sectors from the 11 broad service sectors such as-
- Professional services,
- Computer related services,
- Research & development,
- Other business services,
- Telecommunication,
- Construction,
- Distribution,
- Education,
- Environmental,
- Financial,
- Tourism & travel related,
- Recreational,
- Yoga,
- Audio-visual services, and
- Transport services.
Exports from Mauritius: India has offered around 95 sub-sectors from the 11 broad services sectors, including-
- Professional services,
- R&D,
- Other business services,
- Telecommunication,
- Financial,
- Distribution,
- Higher education,
- Environmental,
- Health,
- Tourism and travel related services,
- Recreational services and
- Transport services.