The Chinese Chamber of Commerce was founded on 8th December 1908. It is the second-oldest overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce. The first overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce was set up in Singapore in 1906.

The main objective of the Chamber was to safeguard the interests of the Chinese Community in Mauritius, which consists mainly of traders. Our forefathers, the early pioneers of the Chinese grocery shops and of the credit system for consumers in Mauritius, had the wisdom and foresight to set up a Chamber of Commerce for the protection and promotion of their business interest, and to assist the arriving Chinese immigrants, promote Chinese culture, and help members of the Chinese Community in need of assistance as a result of old age, sickness or infirmity.

One of the first duties of the Chamber was to communicate, interpret and explain to its members Government legislation and regulations relating to the distributive trade. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce served as the intermediary between the Government and the Chinese Community, and has thus played an active role in the economic development of Mauritius. During the Chinese immigration period, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce was responsible for the registration of Chinese Immigrants. Unfortunately all the historical documents that accounted for that period were burned in the fire that destroyed the Chamber’s building in 1993.

During World War II, the Chamber was called upon by the Colonial Office to organise the implementation of food rationing through the Chinese shops in all the towns and villages. The exercise was carried out to the full satisfaction of Government and ensured an equitable distribution of staple foods to the whole population during those critical years of uncertainty and food shortages.

The first President was Mr Chan Wan Yee. Among those who served as President in more recent times, were Sir Jean Moilin Ah-Chuen, who was also Minister of Local Government, and Mr Marc Fok Tseung, who was a Member of Parliament and the Mayor of Port Louis. Messrs Adrien Konfortion, Jabin Hsu and Wong Hew Peng served dutifully as the Chamber’s Secretary for many years.

The Chamber was the first to organise the Annual Spring Festival Gift Distribution to the needy of the Community and has been doing so continuously since 1918.

Another important annual event organised by the Chamber since 2005 is the popular China Town Food and Cultural Festival which is held in April or May, bringing Mauritians of different origins and cultures together in an atmosphere of happy festive mood and harmony to walk freely in China Town (which is then closed to motor vehicle traffic), visit the Chinese shops, pharmacies, tailors, eat in the restaurants, and applaud the talent and skills displayed here and there by musicians, artists, athletes and dancers in the art of Chinese calligraphy, martial arts, music and classical and modern dancing.

The Chamber also runs ‘Kit Lok’, a funeral parlour for the Chinese Community, set up to provide vigil facilities for bereaved families of shopkeepers, many of whom were then living in the villages.

The Chamber is managed through a good blend of its “Seniors” with the younger and business-school-trained generation of the Chinese business community, which will ensure its continued development and perennial course.

Objectives

  • To protect and promote the business interests of the Chinese Community in Mauritius.
  • To represent the interest of members vis-à-vis governmental and non-governmental authorities.
  • To promote interaction among traders and industrialists.
  • To facilitate meetings between members and their foreign counterparts.
  • To promote business activities, local and overseas, for the benefits of traders and industrialists.
  • To provide benefit to members of the Chinese Community, during sickness or infirmity or old age and death.