The Prime Minister, Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, held a phone conversation with his British counterpart, PM Andy Burnham, where the latter assured him of the commitment to work with Mauritius and the United States pertaining to the Chagos Archipelago agreement signed on May 22, 2025. This is according to a Cabinet decision on September 25. At the same time, US President Donald Trump has expressed his opposition to the British Prime Minister.
According to statements made by British authorities, the sovereignty of Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago, seen as indisputable under international law in light of the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice of 25 February 2019, the Judgments of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea of 28 January 2021 and 28 April 2023, and UN General Assembly Resolution 73/295 of 22 May 2019, is not being questioned. The Cabinet also noted that the local jurisdiction has, at no point in time, put into question the continued operation of the military base in Diego Garcia, following the May 2025 Agreement, which guarantees the long-term, secure and effective operation of the base.
During his forthcoming visit to the UK, PM Ramgoolam will hold a meeting with the UK Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, to discuss the latest developments surrounding the Chagos Archipelago.
Among several other decisions, the signing of a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with the Czech Republic that clarifies the taxing rights of each country on income. The agreement provides certainty to investors in their dealings with Mauritius or the Czech Republic; grants preferential rates on dividends, interest and royalties as compared to withholding tax rates applicable in the Czech Republic; creates a conducive environment for greater cross-border investment flows between the two countries; establishes a framework for exchange of information between the tax authorities of Mauritius and the Czech Republic, with a view to combatting tax evasion and other tax malpractices; and provides a mechanism to taxpayers for the resolution of tax disputes.
The Cabinet also took note of the first Proliferation Financing National Risk Assessment (PF NRA) outcome, carried out to assess the Proliferation Financing Risk in Mauritius as well as the launching of the public version of the PF NRA Report. The overall national Proliferation Financing (PF) risk for Mauritius was assessed as Medium.
A consultative workshop was held on September 7 and 8, focussing on the preparation of a Concept Paper on the proposed Public Sector Reform legislation, with six thematic areas, guided by a slew of overarching principles such as good governance, transparency, accountability, reform and innovation, citizen-centric service delivery, institutional clarity and a performance- and results-oriented Public Service. The views and recommendations arising from the six thematic consultations have been consolidated, and a Concept Paper has been prepared, chartering out the principal policy directions and proposed features of the envisaged legislative framework, covering public sector governance, institutional accountability, human resource management, service delivery, ethics, innovation, digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence.
The Cabinet was also apprised of the second meeting of the Mauritius-India High-Powered Joint Trade Committee, set to take place in Mauritius from October 7 to 9. The broader objectives are: to oversee the implementation of the provisions contained in the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement; address any non-tariff measures encountered by the Parties; and consider possible improvements to the Agreement with a view to fostering market access and economic cooperation. The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement between Mauritius and India, signed in February 2021, comprises three key elements: Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, and Economic Cooperation.
The Cabinet also gave its assent for the island to host the African Harbour Masters Committee Conference 2027 on 06 and 07 April 2027, organised in collaboration with the Port Management Association for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Ports Management Association of West and Central Africa and the Mauritius Ports Authority.
The Conference seeks to foster collaboration among African Harbour Masters, share international best practices in harbour and marine operations, strengthen safety and environmental protection within African ports, promote sustainable bunkering and ship-to-ship operations, advance digital transformation through Maritime Single Window and Port Community Systems, as well as strengthen Search and Rescue capabilities, among others.
