His Excellency Mr. James Kingston Christoff, High Commissioner of Canada, presented his credentials to His Excellency Mr. Dharambeer Gokhool, G.C.S.K., President of the Republic of Mauritius, at State House this afternoon.
He was accompanied by Mr. Brian Ah-Chuen, Honorary Consul of Canada to Mauritius.
Bilateral relations between Mauritius and Canada, formally established in 1968 and since characterised by cordiality, shared values, converging interests, and a strong commitment to democratic governance and cooperation, were reviewed.
President Gokhool also highlighted the bilingual character of Mauritius and the contribution of the Mauritian diaspora in Canada, estimated at around 15,000 persons.
Discussions explored avenues for deepening cooperation in priority areas such as trade and investment, in light of evolving dynamics in US-Canada relations and the broader opportunities for Africa, with Mauritius positioned as a strategic gateway for the region.
Tourism cooperation was also addressed, with both sides welcoming ongoing discussions concerning possible tourist visa exemptions for Mauritian travellers to Canada.
President Gokhool and High Commissioner Christoff also reviewed existing Memoranda of Understanding in the education sector and expressed interest in broadening collaboration.
The meeting further touched upon the potential for enhanced youth cooperation, with the possibility of establishing future mechanisms – such as a Youth Mobility Agreement to facilitate mobility, particularly in emerging technological fields.
Climate change and sustainable development were also discussed. In view of the growing challenges, Canada’s expertise in key areas including climate risk assessment, ecosystem restoration, coastal erosion management, beach monitoring, the blue economy, and agro-industry, was welcome.