Citizens of Ukraine and Mauritius will soon be able to travel between their countries without needing a visa, thanks to a recent agreement establishing a visa-free regime.
During a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mauritius Maneesh Gobin, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba highlighted that this new arrangement will make it easier for Mauritian investors and entrepreneurs to visit Ukraine and explore new business opportunities, VisaGuide.World reports.
Under the Agreement, nationals of both countries, holding valid travel documents as specified in the Agreement, shall enter into, stay in, exit from and transit through the territory of the State of the other country without visas for a period not exceeding 90 days within 180 days.
The agreement is also expected to help increase the number of Ukrainian tourists in Mauritius after the end of the war. Such a policy will enter into force after internal procedures are completed in both countries.
The ministers also agreed to expand cooperation between Ukraine’s Sumy State University and Whitefield Business School in Mauritius.
Kuleba and Gobin separately discussed trade and investment between Ukraine and Mauritius. The ministers also agreed on further steps to prepare for the conclusion of an agreement on the mutual promotion and protection of investments and an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, which will contribute to the attraction of investments in Ukraine and its recovery.
Ukraine & Mauritius Discussed to Advance Investment Protection & Taxation Agreements
Kuleba invited Gobin to visit Ukraine and facilitate a business forum to foster partnerships between Ukrainian and Mauritian enterprises. Previously, Ukraine and Mauritius had agreed to initiate discussions on investment protection and avoiding double taxation.
On August 4, Kuleba embarked on his fourth tour of Africa, which included stops in Malawi, Zambia, and Mauritius. During his visit, he particularly emphasized the enthusiasm of Mauritian businesses regarding Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts. He invited Mauritius to join the Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine, scheduled for next year in Rome.
Since 2021, Ukraine has been working towards establishing a visa-free regime with Mauritius.
According to the VisaGuide Passport Index, the Ukrainian passport holds the 65th position globally as of August 2024. This ranking allows Ukrainian citizens to visit 114 countries without a visa. However, Ukrainian passport holders need to secure a visa in advance for access to other nations.
In comparison, the Mauritian passport is ranked 70th, allowing the holders of the document visa-free entry to 119 countries, but Mauritian travelers also need a visa for the rest.