Cabinet Decisions taken on 26 September 2003

 

1. Cabinet has taken note of the report of the Minister of Industry and International Trade and that of the Minister of Agriculture, Food Technology & Natural Resources on the outcome of the WTO Meeting held in Cancun as well as of the proposals of the European Commission in relation to the reforms of the EU Sugar regime.Cabinet has taken note of the report of the Minister of Industry and International Trade and that of the Minister of Agriculture, Food Technology & Natural Resources on the outcome of the WTO Meeting held in Cancun as well as of the proposals of the European Commission in relation to the reforms of the EU Sugar regime.

2. Taking into consideration that the Second Phase of negotiations between the EU and ACP countries is expected to start on 30 September and will take place at a regional level between the EU and the different regional groupings within the ACP, Cabinet has agreed, in principle, that Mauritius should form part of an Eastern and Southern African ACP Countries grouping which would include Kenya, Djibouti, Comoros, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Democratic Republc of Congo, Malawi, Burundi, Rwanda, Seychelles, Madagascar, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is expected that other African countries would join in. At the Special ACP Trade Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for 1 and 2 October in Brussels, the Minister of Industry and International Trade will work closely with Kenya with a view to pushing the regional configuration forward.

3. Cabinet has reviewed the outcome of the Annual General Assembly of Air Mauritius held on 25 September and the situation at Air Mauritius. Cabinet has agreed to provide full support to the new Managing Director and to the national carrier.

4. Cabinet has taken note that the Textile Emergency Support Team (TEST) has submitted its final report on the level one assessment of the textile enterprises to the ACP/EU Centre for Development of Enterprises in Brussels. Following consultations with stakeholders and institutions, TEST will submit its policy recommendations, together with an Action Plan, to the Policy Intervention Committee on Textile chaired by the Acting Prime Minister. Thirteen entreprises have also agreed to undertake production audits for possible intervention.

5. Cabinet has reviewed the status of the power project by the Compagnie Thermique du Sud ltée(CTDS) and the re-engine project of St. Louis Power Station, and has noted that the CEB would consider coal/bagasse projects next with a view to meeting demand for energy beyond 2005.

6. Cabinet has reviewed the Conference Centre Project at Domaine Les Pailles and has taken note that discussions are evolving positively. The Conference Centre is scheduled to be commissioned by 15 August 2004 and would therefore be ready to host the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Meeting in 2004.

7. Cabinet has taken cognizance of the press interview given by the Vice-President of the Customs and Excise Union and viewed with concern very serious allegations made by him. Cabinet has further noted that the Comptroller of Customs has referred the matter to ICAC.

   8. Cabinet has reviewed developments in hotel projects at St Felix, Bel Ombre and Les Salines as well as the Integrated Resort Scheme Project at Le Morne. Cabinet has taken note that a team, led by the Acting Prime Minister and comprising the Ministers concerned and the representatives of the National Heritage Trust Fund, the Mauritian Cultural Centre, the Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture, the Black River District Council and the Village Council of Le Morne, will visit Le Morne on 27 September 2003.

9. Cabinet has taken note of the collapse of part of Military Road following excavation works carried out there in connection with upgrading works at Mamade Elahee Stadium. Cabinet has further noted that an independent investigation will be carried out to establish responsibility.

10. Cabinet has reviewed the evolution of the political situation in the region and has taken note that -

(a) two French nationals had been arrested in Comoros and of the efforts made by South Africa to return the situation there back to normalcy;

(b) the first round of a general election held in Swaziland has shown the desire of the voters for political reform there; and

(c) Zimbabwe has not yet been invited to attend the Commonwealth Head of Governments Meeting (CHOGM).

11. Cabinet has taken note that the Sub-Contracting and Partnership Exchange – Mauritius (SUBEX-M), in collaboration with the Malagasy Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Private Sector Development, will organize the Fourth Edition of SUBEX Fair in Madagascar in March/April 2004. The main objectives of the Fair are to create an awareness among operators in the region of the different opportunities and needs and to provide a platform for discussion of opportunities and areas of cooperation as well as to facilitate matchmaking.

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12. Cabinet has taken note that the following events will be held in Mauritius –

(a) a High Level Consultation Meeting on Integrated Waste Management for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Indian Ocean in February 2004, organized by the UN Programme International Environmental Technology Centre in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rodrigues. The objectives of the Meeting are inter alia to promote a Regional Integrated Waste Management Strategy developed by UNEP-IETC as an initiative to deal with the problem of waste in developing countries and to establish regional and sub-regional networks in major developing World regions;

(b) a Salon Bancaire, from 22 to 23 October 2003, organized by Grant Thornton International, where three foreign companies, viz. Sipromad Participation S.A, Giesecke & Devrient (G & D) and France Especes, will display products and provide information on services that are available for operators in the banking sector;

(c) a regional seminar on the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) on Simplification of Customs Procedures from 3 to 7 November 2003, organized by the World Customs Council. The aims of the regional seminar are to disseminate information on the benefits arising from the implementation of the RKC and to provide a platform to share experiences;

(d) the 51^st World Conference of “l’Association Mondiales des Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises Mondiales” and a meeting of “Entreprendre au Feminin Ocean Indien” from 1 to 4 October 2003. The objectives of the Congress are inter alia to encourage the exchange of knowledge and experiences between developed and developing countries on best practices and to promote the participation of Women Entrepreneurs in sustainable development;

(e) the third Regional Technical Working Groups Meeting of the Regional Integration Facilitation Forum (RIFF) on 2 and 3 October 2003 organized by COMESA. The aim of the RIFF is to achieve greater economic integration through the identification of major constraints to inter-regional trade, investment, payments and the development of measures to overcome them;

(f) a Workshop on Human Resources for Health in November 2003, organised by the Commonwealth Regional Health Community Secretariat and the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, aiming at developing strategies for attracting and retaining health personnel in Small Island States; and

(g) a training Workshop in Sample Survey Designs from 13 to 24 October 2003 organised by SADC in collaboration with the Central Statistics Office. The objective of the five-year Regional Statistical Training Project is to help SADC Member States to enhance the human resources capacity for the production and utilization of official statistics to support the priority policies of Member States.

13. Cabinet has taken note of the positive outcome of Air Services talks between Mauritius and Australia held on 17 and 18 September 2003. Air Mauritius will operate three frequencies weekly to Australia and call at four points, viz. Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.

14. Cabinet has taken note that in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Expansion Act, and on the recommendation of the Small and Medium Industries Development Commitee, the Minister of Industry and International Trade has approved 23 applications for registration as Small and Medium Entreprises. These Entreprises will be involved in the manufacture of nails, footwear, spring for mattresses, wooden furniture, baby nappies, knitted garments, the pre-press and digital photo and the packing of foodstuffs and in joinery works. The projects are expected to give rise to investment in production equipment to the tune of Rs 22,201,107, create 112 new employment opportunities and sustain 81 existing ones.

15. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the missions of the Minister of Labour & Industrial Relations to the UK where he had talks with the British Authorities on the reforms of the conciliation and arbitration services, the Registry of Associations and on the setting up of a Centre for Labour and Industrial Relations.

16. Cabinet has taken note that the MAB will carry out a management review of the Sea Training School with a view to rendering it more efficient, effective and responsive to the dynamism of the Marine Sector.

17. Cabinet has taken note of developments regarding the implementation of the Government On-line Centre Project by the National Computer Board.