1. Cabinet has taken note with satisfaction that as the result of the intense lobbying of Mauritius, the US has extended the Third County Fabric Derogation under AGOA III for a period of one year with effect from 1 October 2004.
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2. Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a Committee, under the Chair of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport (Land Transport Division) to look into the overall restructuring of the National Transport Corporation with a view to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization.
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3. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius ratifying the Ban Amendment of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous wastes and their Disposal. The Convention regulates the movement of hazardous wastes and obliges its members to ensure that such wastes are managed and disposed in an environmentally sound manner.
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4. Cabinet has agreed to the incorporation of Enterprise Mauritius and the creation of a State-owned company to which the industrials estates of MIDA would be eventually transferred.
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5. Cabinet has taken cognizance of the report of Mr M. Kellermann, Consultant of the International Trade Centre on the role and organisational structure of the Mauritius Standards Bureau and has agreed to the setting-up of a Steering Committee to examine the report and make recommendations for its implementation.
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6. Cabinet has agreed to the construction of a modern market at Central Flacq in order to cater for the needs of the inhabitants of the region and also to improve hygienic and environmental conditions in which trading activities are presently being carried out.
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7. Cabinet has taken note that the Small Medium Industries Development Committee had recommended the registration of 27 Small and Medium Enterprises. These enterprises are expected to invest about Rs 14M in production equipment and to create some 168 new jobs.
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8. Cabinet has taken note of the proposed three-day visit of a seven-member delegation from the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in November 2004 in order to inter alia study the laws and regulations for social services in communities and the policies of elderly people and support to families in difficulties.
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9. Cabinet has taken note that regulations will be made under section 47(2) of the Waste Water Management Authority Act to allow for an effective control on the standards for discharge of industrial effluent into the wastewater system. Industries will, where necessary, be allowed to re-adjust the current standards of their effluents by 31 December 2004.
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10. Cabinet has reviewed arrangements made for the National Divali Celebrations and has taken note that the services of two top professional Indian artists have been enlisted by the National Organising Committee. Further, the preliminaries of the Ramayana Chanting Competition will start today and the finals will be held on 01 and 02 November at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre.
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11. Cabinet has taken note of progress regarding the rehabilitation of the main road at Chamarel being undertaken by the Road Development Authority. The project cost is Rs 25M.
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12. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of -
(a) the Minister of Tourism and Leisure to France from 28 September to 4 October 2004 where he attended the Top Resa Tourism Fair in Deauville;
(b) the Minister of Women’s Rights, Child Development and Family Welfare at the First Meeting of the COMESA Ministers Responsible for Women/Gender Affairs held in Kigali, Rwanda on 30 September 2004;
(c) the Minister of Industry, Financial Services and Corporate Affairs to St. Kitts and Nevis, Washington and London from 28 September to 8 October 2004 where he attended the 2004 Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting, the 2004 World Bank/IMF Annual Meeting and the Mauritius International Apparel and Textile Exhibition (MIATEX) respectively; and
(d) the Minister of Local Government and Solid Waste Management to Reunion Island from 6 to 8 October 2004.
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13. Cabinet has taken note of arrangements made by the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research for the holding of the 51st Ministerial Session of the “Conference des Pays Ayant le Français en Partage” (CONFEMEN) at the International Conference Centre in Grand’ Baie from 17 to 22 October 2004.
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14. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the First Meeting of the Artisanal Fisheries Consultative Committee held on 11 October 2004 under the Chair of the Minister of Fisheries to look into the problems and grievances of artisanal fishers and to find appropriate solutions to their situation.
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15. Cabinet has taken note of the Fourth Session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Working Party on Billfish held at the Albion Fisheries Research Centre from 27 October to 01 November 2004. The objectives of the workshop were inter alia to review statistical data, information on the stock of billfish.
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16. Cabinet has taken note of the hosting in Mauritius of the Fourth Informal Indian Ocean Air Traffic Services (ATS) Convention Group Meeting (IIOACG) from 8 to 10 December 2004.
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