Turkish Ambassador to Mauritius, S.E. Halime Ebru Demircan, recently presented her credentials to the President of Mauritius, marking her first visit to the island nation. Demircan expressed her delight in discovering a country that serves as a model of political stability, economic dynamism, and harmonious coexistence in the region. She noted that her colleagues and she were deeply touched by the warm welcome they received.
Demircan described the current state of relations between Turkey and Mauritius as friendly and cordial, built on equal partnership, mutual trust, and respect. She highlighted the significance of scholarships granted by Turkey to Mauritian students and mutual support within international organizations, which strengthen the countries' friendship. The ambassador also mentioned the agreement on free trade and reciprocal investment protection as a solid foundation for their economic partnership.
The volume of trade between Turkey and Mauritius has surpassed $100 million in 2025, with Turkish Airlines operating a crucial link between the two nations. The airline's flights have increased from 7 to 10 per week, attracting new travelers to Mauritius. Demircan emphasized the importance of maintaining this frequency and potentially increasing it to 21 flights per week, leveraging Turkish Airlines' extensive network that covers more destinations than any other airline globally.
The Turkish ambassador outlined her priorities, focusing on consolidating friendship and deepening bilateral cooperation. She aims to enhance exchanges through high-level visits and consultations in various fields, including commerce, tourism, energy, defense industry, maritime security, and healthcare. Demircan also mentioned the potential for collaboration between Turkish Airlines and Air Mauritius, such as code-sharing or interline agreements, which could benefit Air Mauritius by accessing Turkish Airlines' vast network.
Several initiatives are currently being discussed, including the finalization of an agreement to avoid double taxation. Other areas of cooperation include mutual administrative assistance in customs matters, fisheries, tourism, and air transport. The internal approval process for a 2023 protocol amending the free trade agreement is underway in Turkey, which is expected to boost trade between the two nations.
Demircan identified significant potential for growth in areas such as energy, defense industry, and maritime security. She also highlighted emerging sectors like healthcare, blue economy, and space cooperation as exciting prospects for collaboration. The ambassador emphasized that Mauritius, as a financial and strategic hub in Africa, and Turkey, with its industrial and technological power, have a unique opportunity to build an innovative partnership.
The economic complementarity between Turkey and Mauritius offers substantial opportunities for cross-investments. Turkish investors view Mauritius as a dynamic market and a gateway to sub-Saharan Africa, while Mauritian companies can access a market of over 85 million consumers in Turkey, with potential to reach over 1.1 billion consumers globally through Turkey's extensive free trade agreements.
Key points
- The volume of trade between Turkey and Mauritius has surpassed $100 million in 2025.
- Turkish Airlines operates 10 flights per week between Turkey and Mauritius, with potential to increase frequency.
- Turkey and Mauritius are finalizing an agreement to avoid double taxation.
