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# [INDIAN OCEAN] Expanded EPA: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles Sign Sub-Saharan Africa's First Services Trade Deal with the EU
- URL: https://businessoi.media/en/ocean-indien-ape-elargi-aux-services-comores-madagascar-maurice-et-seychelles-concluent-avec-lue-le-premier-accord-commercial-services-dafrique-subsaharienne-en/
- Published: 2026-09-11T08:44:20.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-11T08:44:20.000Z
- Description: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles signed sub-Saharan Africa's first EPA covering services with the EU (10 June 2026). Financial services, investment, digital trade: what changes for the Indian Ocean region.
- Author: Emmanuel TAOCHY
- Tags: Maurice, Seychelles, Madagascar, Comores, Économie, Investissement, Flash de mi-journée, #en

**June 10, 2026 marks a turning point in trade relations between the Indian Ocean and the European Union. Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles concluded an expanded Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that covers, for the first time, services, investment and digital trade. A first in sub-Saharan Africa.**

## What the Agreement Covers

The modernised EPA goes well beyond the traditional goods chapter. It now includes:

- **Trade in services** (financial, tourism, digital, professional)
- **Investment** (protection and market access)
- **Digital trade** (legal framework for online commerce)
- **Sectoral cooperation** (sustainable development, supply chains)

The agreement is described by the parties as *«the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa»* — a qualification underscoring the strategic lead the four Indian Ocean archipelagos are carving out.

## Clear Ambitions

The joint declaration states that the agreement «will strengthen trade relations, improve supply chain resilience and support sustainable development.» It also aims to promote «local transformation, industrialisation and value creation» — a strong signal for investors looking to anchor in the region.

For Mauritius, the EPA aligns with the country's strategy to become a financial and services platform between Africa and Europe. The Seychelles, with their booming blue economy, see the agreement as a lever for expanding maritime and tourism service exports.

## Réunion Excluded: Omarjee's Response

Réunion, a French territory and EU outermost region, is not part of the agreement — it belongs to the European internal market and operates under a different regime. This asymmetry raises questions about Réunion's competitiveness versus its neighbours, now linked to Brussels under preferential access rules.

Réunion MEP Younous Omarjee called for Réunion's interests to be taken into account during implementation, particularly to avoid trade distortions in the zone.

## Timeline to Watch

The agreement was concluded at the negotiation stage in June 2026\. Formal ratification by the European Parliament and national parliaments is expected by end-2026 or early 2027\. Operational implementation of the new chapters (services, digital) may take an additional 12 to 18 months.

## Why It Matters

This agreement repositions the four signatory islands as top-tier trade partners for Europe — not just for goods, but for high-value services. As the EU seeks to diversify supply chains beyond Asia, the Indian Ocean becomes a strategic zone. For businesses in Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and the Seychelles, this is a window of opportunity to seize now — before regional competition catches up.

*Sources: Témoignages.re, EU Delegation to Mauritius (EEAS), Linfo.re, Africa News Agency (June–September 2026)*