Speaking on the sidelines of a global rice conference, Luckho told a select group of reporters that Pakistan became a significant rice supplier after India’s non-basmati rice exports in 2023 to cool down domestic markets.

He said before that, the majority of the rice was supplied by India through long-term deals

However, after that, the Mauritius started a process of open tendering, which is when Pakistan companies tried capturing the market. He said that they are now seeking to reverse this in the world rice market.

“Though, some amount of rice was supplied from government-to-government deals even during the time, but it was not enough,” Luckho said.

Mauritius annually requires around 1,000 tonnes of basmati rice and 32,000 tonnes of non-basmati white rice.

The country, since its formative years, has been supplying non-basmati white rice to its 1.3 million people at a highly subsidised rate as a welfare measure.

A 2.5-kilogram packet of white rice sold to beneficiaries is priced at around 26 Mauritian rupees (one Mauritian rupee is equivalent to around 1.94 Indian rupees).

“The same packet in the open market costs around 56 Mauritian rupees,” Luckho said.

The bilateral ties between the two countries were further strengthened following the recent visit of Mauritian Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam to India.