Mauritius is the fourth biggest importer of cotton yarn from India and offers easy access to the African market, the Mauritian prime minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam said here today. ``We are giving an added thrust to the I-T sector and 12 Indian software companies have already applied for permits to set up operations in Mauritius,'' he said.

The textiles produced in Mauritius would enjoy duty- and quota-free access to the US market, once the Africa Bill is passed by the US, he said.

Mauritius already has similar benefits in the exports to Europe under the Lome Convention.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the All India Association of Industries and the Mauritian Export Processing Zone Association to enable exchange of trade and investment-related information, in presence of the prime minister. The MoU envisages the promotion ofjoint ventures, technology transfers and bilateral trade cooperation.