1. Cabinet has taken note of the positive discussions that the Acting Prime Minister had on 4 December 2003 with the World Bank Mission which is currently in Mauritius. The issues discussed included:
(i) the strategy in terms of World Bank support for Mauritius;
(ii) the Public Expenditure Review report;
(iii) the implementation of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework;
(iv) the management support services for restructuring the textile sector; and
(v) the need for reorganizing the Ministry of Finance with a view to ensuring effective implementation of expenditure and fiscal policies.
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2. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Industry and International Trade will attend the third AGOA Forum to be held in Washington from 8 to 10 December 2003 and has been invited to perform the opening ceremony jointly with Mr Colin Powell, US Secretary of State.
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3. Cabinet has taken note that Dr N.C. Dlamini Zuma, Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa and Mauritian Technical Experts will attend an African Union (AU) Troika and Countries of the Region Meeting on 18 and 19 December 2003 to review the situation in Comoros with a view to finding a solution to the political crisis there. Further, President Mbeki, in his capacity as Chair of the AU Troika and Countries of the Region, will chair a meeting of the four Presidents on 20 December 2003.
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4. Cabinet has agreed that an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) be signed with the Kingdom of Sweden. The aim is to intensify economic cooperation and stimulate investment initiatives for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
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5. Cabinet has agreed that a Housing Division be set up in the Ministry of Housing and Lands with a view to coordinating and spearheading development in the housing sector in a global and proactive manner.
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6. Cabinet has agreed to Regulations being made under the Travel Agents and Tour Operators Act to provide for a security varying from Rs 100,000 to Rs 500,000 to be furnished by Travel Agents and Tour Operators, on the basis of annual turnover.
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7. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of:
(i) the Acting Prime Minister to Brussels on 27 November 2003 where he participated in the ACP Ministerial Consultations on Sugar;
(ii) the Minister of Industry and International Trade to Paris and Brussels from 24 to 27 November 2003 where he attended the 7th ACP Trade Ministers’ Meeting and the 78th Session of the ACP Council of Ministers respectively;
(iii) the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation to Sri Lanka on 27 November 2003 where he attended a Meeting on the Funding of IOR/ARC Secretariat; and
(iv) the Minister of Health and Quality of Life to Zambia from 17 to 22 November 2003 where he attended the 38th Regional Commonwealth Health Ministers’ Conference.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of preparations underway for the celebration of the Cavadee and Maha Shivaratree Festivals 2004.
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9. Cabinet has taken note that in the context of the 7th GOPIO Convention scheduled from 5 to 7 December 2003, the Ministry of Arts and Culture is hosting a Bhojpuri cultural troupe from the Republic of India under the Cultural Exchange Programme. Two recitals are scheduled on Saturday 6 December at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture and on Sunday 7 December at the Farmers Service Centre, Goodlands, respectively.
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10. Cabinet has taken note that a delegation led by the Commissioner General of the Revenue Authority of Rwanda and comprising Commissioners for Customs and Excise, Income Tax and VAT will visit Mauritius from 7 to 14 December 2003 to study our Revenue Administration, and will have working sessions with officials of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and International Trade and the Ministry of Economic Development, Financial Services and Corporate Affairs.
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11. Cabinet has taken note that the Development Bank of Mauritius will grant concessionary loans not exceeding Rs 50,000 to a group of taxi owners affected by the fire at La Plantation Hotel to help them meet their financial commitments as the hotel is not expected to become operational before three months.
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12. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Permanent Arbitration Tribunal for a period of one year.
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13. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life has served Prohibition Orders on operators of tuckshops located at SSR International Airport, in view of the poor hygienic conditions in which food is prepared and the lack of proper infrastructure and sanitary facilities.
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14. Cabinet has taken note of the publication and release of the:
(i) Health Statistics Annual Report for Mauritius for 2002; and
(ii) Digest of Vital and Health Statistics for Rodrigues for 2002.
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15. Cabinet has taken note of arrangements being made by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life to address health issues at Plaine Corail Airport in Rodrigues, in view of its opening to international traffic as from 14 December 2003.
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16. Cabinet has taken note of arrangements being made by the Ministry of Arts and Culture in collaboration with the District Council of Black River and the Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture for the celebration of Christmas at national level on 23 December 2003 at Bambous.
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17. Cabinet has taken note of the award of contracts by the State Trading Corporation for the supply of wheat flour for the year 2004.
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