30 May 2012

Mauritian Financial Sector should Re-invent Strategies to Stay Competitive


The Financial sector of Mauritius, despite its reliance on Europe, should constantly keep reinventing strategies so as to remain competitive and face forthcoming challenges, said the Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Xavier-Luc Duval, this morning at the opening of a one-day summit meeting on “Leadership in a Globalised World: Nurturing New Partners”, at the Grand Baie Conference Centre.

Mauritius should spare no efforts into maintaining the good reputation of its financial sector as a sound, stable, transparent and internationally recognised by its counterparts, said Mr Duval. Government, he said, is fully committed to make of Mauritius a fully-fledged regional hub and a trading and services platform for Africa in view of its future economic development.

Vice-Prime Minister Duval further stated that Mauritius already offers good opportunities for investment in emerging as well as existing sectors namely, Seafood Hub, Agro Business, Tourism and Hospitality, ICT/BPO, Financial Services, Property and Real Estate Development, Health and Wellness, Education and Distribution and Logistics.

With regards to money laundering, Mr Duval recalled that Mauritius has one of the most stringent anti-money laundering legislation and therefore cannot be used as a platform for such unlawful practices. According to him, Mauritius has so far, fully collaborated in all money laundering cases that have been referred to the country. He also expressed concerns about the White paper on black money issued last week by the Indian authorities.

For his part the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection, Mr Cader Sayed Hossen, highlighted that as Africa emerges as a new frontier for investment and trade, Mauritius, with its special relations with countries as part of regional and continental initiatives under COMESA, SADC and the African Union, can act as a platform for a triangular cooperation that will link India and Africa. This is a new area which both the private sectors of India and Mauritius together with Africa should explore, he added.

The Indian Minister of State for Communications and IT, Mr Sachin Pilot, pointed out that India has emerged as a new economic force in the global scene and is reckoned as a world class player in many vital sectors. Many Indian enterprises are evolving into a major power houses and are looking offshore for investment opportunities, he added. He recalled that several Indian companies are already operating in Mauritius in various sectors.

Some 200 business leaders and policy makers from across Asia and Africa are participating in the summit which forms part of the continuing Global Business Leaders Series, a unique programme to link businesses in emerging markets.

A joint initiative of the All India Management Association (AIMA) and the Board of Investment, Enterprise Mauritius, Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Indian High Commission, the summit focused on building through leadership in emerging markets. The new competitive challenges, financial and social issues in the current times of uncertainty, Re-inventing strategies for emerging markets; Building competitive advantage through global partnerships, Igniting innovation, and Skills and Talent Management- Investing for Growth, were also on the agenda.

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