UPDATE - Kyiv welcomes interest of Mauritius in taking part in Ukraine’s recovery

REVISES DECK; ADDS STATEMENT BY UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Thursday that he welcomed the interest conveyed by Mauritius in taking part in the recovery of his country.

“Given Mauritius’ highly developed economy and business environment, we welcome its strong interest in taking part in the recovery of Ukraine,” Kuleba said in a statement on X following talks held with Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth in the capital Port Louis.

Expressing that both countries agreed to begin work on bilateral deals to protect investments and avoid double taxation, Kuleba said Ukraine and Mauritius, in this regard, place a high value on protecting fundamental UN Charter principles such as sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“I am grateful to Mauritius for taking a principled stance in support of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, as well as for joining the Peace Summit communique,” Kuleba further said.

He also said that they discussed how the two countries can strengthen their cooperation in areas such as political dialogue, trade and investment, and Ukraine-Africa relations.

Kuleba later met with his Mauritian counterpart Maneesh Gobin and they agreed to take additional steps in preparation for the signing of an agreement on mutual promotion and protection of investments, as well as an agreement to avoid double taxation.

"At the end of the negotiations, the Ministers signed a visa-free agreement between Ukraine and Mauritius, which at this stage will primarily facilitate the trips of Mauritian investors and businessmen to Ukraine in search of new work opportunities in our country," said a Ukrainian Foreign Ministry statement.

Kuleba’s visit to Mauritius marks the first-ever visit by a Ukrainian foreign minister, and is the last stop of his four-day Africa tour which began on Sunday and included talks with leaders of Malawi and Zambia.

This is Kuleba's fourth tour to the 55-nation continent since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. The visits are meant to elicit support and counter the growing Russian influence in the region.​​​​​​​