1.Cabinet has taken note that His Excellency Mr Li Peng, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Permanent Member of the Communist Party of the People’s Republic of China, will pay an official visit to Mauritius from 15 to 17 November 1999. He will be accompanied by his spouse and a 125-strong delegation including representatives of the private sector. The visit of the Chinese Leader is part of a six nation tour to Africa and the Middle East, Mauritius being his first destination.
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2.Cabinet has taken note that following the passage of a powerful cyclone which has caused deaths of thousands of people and extensive damage to housing, agriculture and infrastructure, the State Government of Orissa has made a call for International aid. In a spirit of solidarity Cabinet has decided that Mauritius makes a contribution of US $ 50,000 to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund set up by the Government of India for that purpose.
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3.Cabinet has agreed to SBEC Systems AB Sweden, proceeding with the implementation of the integrated sugar refinery and co-generation power plant project in the Mauritius Freeport. In this respect, Government will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the promoters of the project. The implementation of this project will attract foreign direct investment to the tune of about Rs 4 Billion and will give a major boost to the Freeport Sector. The project will also have positive impact on the national economy in the form of higher revenues for both the Port and the Freeport, new employment opportunities for Mauritians and the advent of new technology and know-how.
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4.Cabinet has taken note that a task force has been set up to look into ways and means to assist the traders of the Central Market whose business has been affected by the fire outbreak. As an immediate measure two streets are being reserved for specific use by the traders. Consideration is also being given to assist the traders to restart their businesses.
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5.Cabinet has approved 19 applications for registration as Small and Medium Enterprises as recommended by the Small and Medium Industries Development Committee (SMIDO). Apart from the existing enterprises which are engaged, inter alia, in the manufacture of bags, metal products and ready-made garments, seven new enterprises will be engaged inter alia in the manufacture and packaging of sugar cubes and spices and vulcanisation activities. The seven projects will give rise to investment in production equipment to around Rs 2,604,033 and create 97 jobs.
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6.Cabinet has been apprised of progress achieved in the implementation of the measures announced in the last Budget Speech. In this connection, a committee under the chairmanship of the Minister of Finance is regularly monitoring progress of all the measures announced.
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7.Cabinet has agreed to a scheme whereby the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Technology & Natural Resources will entrust derocking of sugar cane fields of small planters falling under the Northern Plains Irrigation Project to the Sugar Planters Mechanical Pool Corporation. This scheme covers an area of 480 hectares. hectares. It is recalled that derocking of sugar cane fields is being carried out for the implementation of the Northern Plains Irrigation Project and has to be completed before the coming into operation of the Midlands Dam.
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8.Cabinet has agreed to a request of the Commonwealth Secretariat to Mauritius hosting the Fifth Regional Election Management Training Programme for Commonwealth African Countries early next year. Some 35 delegates from abroad are expected to attend the training programme together with some 15 participants from the Electoral Commissioner’s Office and the Electoral Supervisory Commission.
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9.Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the participation of the Attorney-General & Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Minister for Reform Institutions at the Second Meeting of the "Bureau du Suivi" of the Conference of Francophone Ministers of Justice held in Cairo on 25 and 26 October 1999 under the aegis of the "Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie".
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10.Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of participation of the Minister of Environment and Urban and Rural Development, at the first meeting of SADC Ministers of Environment held in Cape Town on Friday 8 October, 1999.
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11.Cabinet has taken note of the composition of the Executive Committee of the National Women Entrepreneur Council for the period September 1999 to September 2001 to be under the chairperson of Mrs Medha Ramsurrun-Ajodah.
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