Chargé d'Affaires Opens the Third Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council Meeting

April 21, 2009

Chargé d’Affaires Virginia Blaser delivering her remarks at the opening of the TIFA Council Meeting in the presence of (from right to left) Minister of Foreign Affairs Arvin Boolell, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa Florizelle Liser and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Virginia Blaser opened the third TIFA Council Meeting on Tuesday, April 21 at Le Meridien Hotel in Pointe-aux-Piments.  Her remarks were followed by speeches from the head of the high-level U.S. delegation, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa Ms. Florizelle Liser and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Arvin Boolell, which ended the opening ceremony. The U.S. and Mauritian delegations then proceeded to the talks on TIFA for the rest of the day. A joint statement by the heads of the U.S and Mauritius delegations followed by a press conference closed the TIFA Council Meeting.

The Embassy has worked closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to finalize the work program for the council meeting.  In addition to Government officials, the U.S. delegation met with representatives of the Mauritian private sector.  Site visits to some companies exporting products to the U.S. were also scheduled.

Other members of the U.S. delegation participating in the TIFA Council Meeting include Patrick Coleman, Director for African Affairs, U.S. Trade Representative Office, and Mr. Dan Jacobs, Senior Negotiator, Office of Investment Affairs, Department of State.

On Monday, April 20, the Public Affairs Section of the Embassy organized a roundtable discussion led by Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa Florizelle Liser with the press. 

(Remarks of Chargé d'Affaires Virginia Blaser)

U.S. Embassy Sponsors Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Public Outreach Campaign

April 22, 2009

Minister of Education, Culture and Human Resources Vasant Bunwaree hands over a CD, with visual materials that will be used for the IPR Campaign, to Chargé d'Affaires Virginia Blaser.

Minister of Education, Culture and Human Resources Vasant Bunwaree launched an awareness campaign on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) on Wednesday, April 22 at Sir Harilall Vaghjee Hall in Port Louis. The launching ceremony was held in presence of U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Virginia Blaser.  Florizelle Liser, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa, and members of her delegation, who were in Mauritius this week to participate in the third Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council Meeting, were also present.

On September 29, 2008, U.S. Embassy Port Louis signed a Cooperative Agreement close to $16,000 with the Mauritius Society of Authors (MASA) to conduct a public IPR awareness campaign. The primary objective is to raise awareness on the dangers of counterfeited products and the importance of protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights.

The awareness campaign will include the following activities targeting the student population and the general public (i) talks in high schools (ii) a program on the national television on IPR to include debates, interviews, and Q& A’s from the public, and (iii) an advertising/awareness campaign on TV and radio as well as distribution of posters/flyers on the dangers of IPR violation. The timeframe of the program is April to September 2009. 

In addition to Minister Bunwaree, MASA Director Gerard Louise and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Anand Neewoor delivered remarks at the launch and they all thanked the U.S. Embassy for supporting such a project.

(Remarks of Chargé d'Affaires Virginia Blaser)


OTHER EMBASSY NEWS

Effective October 27, 2008:  Increase in Student and Exchange Visitor Program Fee (more)

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) Now Mandatory for All Visa Waiver Travelers (more)

French Version:  Voyages dans le cadre du Programme d'Exemption de Visa  (telecharger)