1. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction into the National Assembly of the following Bills –
(i) The Anti-Personnel Mines (Prohibition) Bill which provides for the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production or transfer of anti-personnel mines in fulfillment of the obligations of Mauritius under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction.
(ii) The Supplementary Appropriation(1999-2000) Bill which provides for the appropriation of further sums paid and applied for the service of the Government for the financial year 1999-2000 in excess of the amounts provided in the Appropriation Act 1999.
(iii) The Financial Services Development Bill which provides for the establishment and management of a Financial Services Commission (FSC) as a statutory body to regulate the non-bank financial services so as to ensure the development of the sector in a coordinated and harmonised manner and to promote fairness, efficiency and transparency of financial and capital markets and further make provision for the protection of investors.
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2. Cabinet has approved the grant of 3 Export Enterprise Certificates, 5 Pioneer Status Enterprise Certificates and 1 Regional Headquarters Certificate under the Industrial Expansion Act 1993 and the Development Incentives (Regional Headquarters Scheme) Regulations 2000. These projects will involve a total investment of about
Rs 89 million and the creation of employment opportunities for some 300 persons. Investment will be made, inter alia, in the manufacture of water purification units, manufacture of garments, information technology, manufacture of soil-less greenhouses, control panels and corresponding irrigation systems for the production of seedlings and for tissue culture of plantlets.
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3. Cabinet has agreed to the sale of Viagra against prescription by doctors, and the use of Di-Antalvic in hospitals and clinics on a trial basis.
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4. Cabinet has agreed to the grant of a Regional Development Certificate to FTL Regional Investment Ltd under the Development Incentives (Regional Development Scheme) Regulations 1999 for the creation of a clearing and forwarding agency in Madagascar.
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5. Cabinet has agreed to the creation of an Institute for Intercultural Dialogue and Peace for the promotion of research in the field of culture and related areas.
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6. Cabinet has agreed to the regionalisation of the Intermediate and Industrial Courts for speedier and more effective justice.
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7. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of –
(i) the Minister of Industry, Commerce and International Trade, in February last, to Geneva for the presentation of the Investment Policy Review of Mauritius at the UNCTAD;
(ii) the Minister of Agriculture, Food Technology & Natural Resources to Brussels, Rome and London from 17 to 25 February in connexion with ACP/EU, IFAD and biotechnology matters respectively;
(iii) the Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations to Namibia where he participated in the SADC Employment and Labour Sector Annual Meeting from 26 February to 2 March;
(iv) the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Corporation to Ndjaména – Chad from 5 to 8 February 2001, where he participated in the 39th Session of the "Conseil Permanent de la Francophonie" and the 15th Session of the "Conference Ministerielle de la Francophonie";
(v) the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice & Human Rights to Cairo where he participated in a Meeting of Ministers of Justice of Francophone countries from 19 to 20 February 2001; and
(vi) the Minister of Health and Quality of Life in India from 27 February to 8 March where he made arrangements with Indian medical institutions for the provision of technical assistance and the treatment of Mauritian patients in those institutions.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of –
(a) the composition of the Mauritius Film Development Board under the chairmanship of Mr Jean Michel Langlois;
(b) the reconstitution of the Tobacco Board under the chairmanship of Mr Abdool Latiff Jadoo; and
(c) the nomination of Mr Sadananda Kotiah as chairman of the Jewellery Advisory Council.
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9. Cabinet has taken note of the current status of COMESA Free Trade Area and of the forthcoming developments regarding trade aspects of the COMESA Treaty.
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10. Cabinet has taken note of actions initiated by Mauritius to ratify the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, commonly known as the Ramsar Convention, which deals with the protection and use of wetlands worldwide.
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11. Cabinet has taken note of the setting up of a "Bank of Knowledge, Experience and Skills" of retired persons in the context of the United Nations International Year of Volunteers, 2001 with a view to assisting NGOs and other organisations in capacity-building for an improved service delivery to the community. This approach is in keeping with the concepts of "productive ageing", lifelong service and inclusive society.
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12. Cabinet has noted that Mauritius will host the Fourth Annual Sub-Committee Meeting on Hydrogeology and the second Workshop on Minimum Common Standards for Groundwater Development organised by SADC – Water Sector Coordination Unit (WSCU), from 26 to 30 March, 2001.
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13. Cabinet has taken note of the Programme of Activities to be organised in the context of the World Water Day which will be celebrated on 22 March, 2001. The theme of this year is "Water and Health".
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