Bilateral relations Switzerland–Mauritius

After South Africa, Mauritius is one of Switzerland's most important trading partners in sub-equatorial Africa. It has a large expatriate community and attracts many Swiss tourists.

Key aspects of diplomatic relations

Switzerland has set out a strategy for sub-Saharan Africa for 2021–24.

Switzerland lifted the visa requirement for Mauritian nationals on 1 June 2009 upon the entry into force of the agreement between the Schengen countries and Mauritius. Reciprocity has been guaranteed for Swiss nationals by an agreement that entered into force in October 2010.

The Swiss ambassador in Pretoria is accredited to Mauritius; the ambassador of Mauritius in Geneva is accredited to Switzerland.

Treaty database

Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy 2021–24 (PDF, 48 Pages, 3.1 MB, English)

Economic cooperation

According to Swiss customs statistics, the trade volume between Switzerland and Mauritius was only CHF 70 million in 2020, Mauritius' actual standing is a reflection of its dynamic growth, favourable business environment and substantial Swiss investments in industry, commercial and tourist services, and companies which re-invest abroad, in particular in India.

Trade promotion, Switzerland Global Enterprise SGE

Cooperation in education, research and innovation

Researchers who are citizens of Mauritius can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.

Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) and Mauritius' Ministry of Health have set up an agreement on cooperation in medical technician training. The government of Mauritius and HUG have also signed a number of cooperation agreements with a humanitarian focus.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists, SERI

Swiss nationals in Mauritius

According to the statistics on the Swiss abroad, at the end of 2020 there were 670 Swiss nationals living in Mauritius; 843 Mauritian nationals were living in Switzerland.

History of bilateral relations

Switzerland appointed an honorary consul in Port Louis in 1862. With Mauritia's independence in 1966, the honorary consulate was re-established, becoming a consulate general in 1992. Prior to independence, the territory of Mauritius lay within the remit of the Swiss embassy in London for diplomatic matters. From 1968 to 1976 diplomatic relations with Mauritius were covered by the Swiss embassy in Addis Ababa; from 1976 to 2000 by the embassy in Dar-es-Salaam; and, since then, by the embassy in Pretoria.

Mauritius is a member of the International Organisation of La Francophonie and hosted the 1993 summit, the first to be attended by a Swiss president.

Mauritius, Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (de, fr, it)

Diplomatic documents of Switzerland, Dodis

Last update 09.02.2022

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