1. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the Draft Immigration (Amendment) Bill and the Draft Mauritius Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The objective is to amend the Immigration Act to provide for the Permanent Resident Status to be granted to foreigners investing an amount of US$ 500,000 in qualifying business activities such as Manufacturing, Freeport, Financial Services, setting up of regional Headquarters of International Companies, Information Technology and Hotel and Tourism related services and other strategic and technological sectors.
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2. Cabinet has agreed to the grant of an Export Service Certificate to five Companies engaged in the export and re-export activities, consultancy services, quality control, pre-shipment inspection and marketing.
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3. Cabinet has approved the grant of the following Industrial Investment Certificates under the Industrial Expansion Act, 1993 –
(i) 3 Export Enterprise Certificates;
(ii) 2 Pioneer Status Enterprise Certificates; and
(iii) 1 Industrial Building Enterprise Certificates.
Investment will be made inter alia in the fields of manufacture of garments, jewellery, UPVC openings, provision of information technology services and the construction of an industrial building of 10,000 square metres at Quartier Militaire. The implementation of the six projects will create some 140 job opportunities and will entail investment amounting to around Rs 81 M.
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4. Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a National Organising Committee under the chairmanship of the Director, Ministry of Economic Development, Productivity & Regional Development for the preparation of the COMESA Millennium Summit and related Meetings to be held in Mauritius from 8 to 19 May 2000. Furthermore a sub-committee of Cabinet under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister will coordinate and oversee the implementation of activities to make the COMESA a free trade area by 31 October, 2000 as agreed by all Member States at the last COMESA Summit.
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5. Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life going ahead with the construction of a National Children's Hospital in the region of Moka.
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6. Cabinet has taken note of –
(i)the appointment of Mr Rajkamal Taposeea as Executive Chairman of MEDIA;
(ii)the outcome of the participation of the Minister of Economic Development, Productivity & Regional Development in the Eighth Meeting of the COMESA Council of Ministers held in Zambia on 15 and 16 November, 1999;
(iii)that the Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity & Senior Citizens Welfare will organise a Senior Citizens Millennium Meet on
8 December, 1999 at Anjalay Stadium in the context of the International Year of Older Persons 1999. The aim is to bring together a large number of senior citizens to celebrate the advent of the new millennium. A cultural show will also be organised for the entertainment of the senior citizens; and
(iv)the appointment of Mr M.L. Noe as Chairman of the Mauritius Film Development Corporation.
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7. Following the fire outbreak at Port Louis Central Market, Cabinet has agreed to a scheme by the Agricultural Marketing Board to assist the victims. The scheme provides for the grant of three Million rupees as follows –
(a)one million rupees worth in terms of a predetermined mix of products (potato, onion and garlic) and in accordance with losses declared by each of the dealers as per questionnaire filled by them individually, so as to replenish stock lost in fire;
(b)one million rupees would be invested in the erection of new stalls for the dealers of potato, onion and garlic; and
(c)one million rupees to be given to the Solidarity Fund set up by the Government.
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