Seychelles And Mauritius Involved In EU/African Trade Talks
by Lorys Charalambous, Tax-News.com, Cyprus
09 February 2004

The European Union at the weekend launched trade talks with sixteen eastern and southern African nations, including Mauritius and the Seychelles, with a view removing barriers to trade and boosting investment activity.

Pascal Lamy, the EU’s Trade Commissioner, noted ahead of the summit, held in Mauritius, that: "The EPA negotiations with Eastern and Southern Africa will follow a hands-on approach: development is the objective, trade one of the tools."

The Commission added in a statement: "Tearing down barriers to trade among themselves is the necessary complement to the almost full access to the EU market already enjoyed by these countries."

Meanwhile, EU development commissioner Poul Nielson observed that the breaking down of inter-regional trade barriers and the creation of larger markets is critical if these countries are to “stimulate the necessary investments and productivity improvements that will drive their development."

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