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2. Cabinet has considered the Draft Board of Investment Bill which provides for the establishment of a Board of Investment for the promotion and facilitation of investments in Mauritius and which would act inter alia as a one-stop service for the relevant permits in connection therewith to be obtained expeditiously from public sector agencies.
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3. Cabinet has approved 26 applications for registration as Small and Medium Enterprises. Investment to the tune of Rs14M, including Rs296,000 for Rodrigues, will be made in a number of projects including paper-processing and manufacture of paper products, ready-made garments, wooden furniture, shoes and leather products, and gold and silver wares, which will create job opportunities for about 50 persons.
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4. The Government has decided to ratify the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No.182). In this connexion, a memorandum will be tabled in the National Assembly.
The Convention requires ratifying Member States to design and implement programmes of action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour as a priority and to establish or designate appropriate mechanisms for monitoring implementation of the Convention, in consultation with employers’ and workers’ organisations.
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5. Cabinet has agreed to contribute to the share capital of the PTA Reinsurance Company launched by COMESA through the acquisition of 100 shares amounting to around Rs3.5 million.
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6. Cabinet has been apprised that the Ministry of Environment will organise a series of activities from 3 to 10 June to mark the World Environment Day on 5 June. The theme chosen by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) this year is "The Environment Millenium - Time to Act". In Mauritius the activities will mainly focus on protection of the sea.
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7. Cabinet has been apprised of the constitution of the Jewellery Advisory Council with Ms Vylet Moutia as Chairperson.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Global Forum on "Local Governance and Social Services for All" which was held from 2 to 5 May, 2000 in Stockholm, Sweden. The Forum was attended by the Minister of Local Goverrment, Outer Islands Development and Small and Medium Enterprises and Handicraft.
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