Mauritius is trying to revive its rice bond with India, ease out Pakistan:Takesh Luckho

Speaking at the global rice conference,  Takesh Luckho was quoted as saying by Business Standard that Pakistan became a significant rice supplier after India banned non-basmati rice exports in 2023 to cool down domestic markets.

He said India previously supplied rice to Mauritius as part of a long-term deals before the ban was imposed.

After the ban was imposed, Pakistan tried to recapture the market after the Mauritian government began the process of open tendering.

Luckho said Mauritius is trying to reverse the trend after India lifted the ban.

Pakistan is a major rival of India in the global rice market.

“Though, some amount of rice was supplied from government-to-government deals even during the ban, but it was not enough,” Luckho was quoted as sayign bby Business Standard.

Mauritius annually requires around 1,000 tonnes of basmati rice and 32,000 tonnes of non-basmati white rice, the newspaper reported.

Since 2005, India has been among the largest trading partners of Mauritius. For the FY 2024-25 Indian exports to Mauritius was USD 676.34 mn, Mauritian exports to India was USD 210.91 mn and total trade was USD 887.25 mn. Trade has grown by 329% in the last 17 years, from USD 206.76 million in 2005-06 to USD 887.25 million in 2024-25.

Petroleum products have been the largest export item for India between 2007 to 2019. Other Indian exports to Mauritius include pharmaceuticals, cereals, cotton, shrimps, prawns and bovine meat. Main Mauritian exports to India are vanilla, medical devices, needles, aluminium alloys, scrap paper, refined copper, men's cotton shirts, etc.