I. Sea Connectivity:
Sea connectivity challenges persisted during year 2021, given the supply chain disruptions in Asia and other main ports.
Notwithstanding the tremendous hike in sea freight costs, irregularity of vessels calling our port, delay in shipping time and skipping of vessels, remained very problematic to our export sector. MEXA strongly lobbied Maersk to maintain its service and provide more visibility on vessel schedule for exports to South Africa, which materialised as from 15th October 2021. As at to date, bookings and exports to South Africa is comparatively more stable.
- Extension of the DBM Wage Support Loan:
Further to representations made by MEXA, the Wage Support Loan Scheme implemented by the Development Bank of Mauritius (DBM) last year has been extended for another 6 months for the period January to June 2021. The sector also benefitted from a moratorium on payment of interest up to April 2022.
From feedback received, this provided huge cash flow relief to our export companies, principally for payment of employees’ salary.
- The COVID-19 period – services to members:
Quick Resumption of the export activities:
- Export manufacturing companies situated outside the red zone resumed operations as from 15th March 2021 at 50% of their workforce capacity and the export sector in general was allowed to resume operations at 100% as from 1st April 2021.
- Facilitating the obtention of Work Access Permits (WAP) for MEXA Members.
MEXA facilitated the application and approval of more than 29,388 WAPs for some 100 companies of our membership.
- MEXA Vaccination Campaign:
Since the very beginning of the vaccination campaign, MEXA facilitated the 1st dose of vaccination of the employees of the export manufacturing companies, for both Mauritians and expatriates.
- Repatriation: Facilitation for Arrival & Departure of key Technicians:
MEXA has also facilitated the repatriation of several of our members who were stuck in France, Tanzania, and Canada during the month of April to June 2021.
- Close assistance and guidance to members affected with positive cases of COVID-19 in the
workplace.
- Individualised services to our Members:
We continue to provide not only sectoral services but individualized services on a one-to-one basis. We attended to more than 400 queries with regards to Trade Preferences, labour Information, export procedures, connectivity and port operations during the year.