MAURITIUS: Construction of 750 million US dollar Chinese project set to begin on the Indian Ocean island

Record ID: 452611

  • Title: MAURITIUS: Construction of 750 million US dollar Chinese project set to begin on the Indian Ocean island
  • Date: 9th May 2008
  • Summary: SUBSISTENCE FARMER, RAVIN BIJLOLL WALKING WITH OTHER FARMERS OTHER SUBSISTENCE FARMERS WEEDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SUBSISTENCE FARMER, RAVIN BIJLOLL, SAYING: "Yes, we have been told that we have to move from this land because the government is not willing to renew our lease and they are taking the land for development of Chinese Tianli Group."
  • Embargoed: 24th May 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mauritius
  • Country: Mauritius
  • Topics: International Relations,Economic News
  • Reuters ID: LVAFSCKKBGPOYOY9ZZ09B7H2MUT
  • Story Text: Construction of 750 million US dollar Chinese project set to commence in Mauritius making the Indian Ocean island one of China's five special economic zones in Africa.
    Construction of the largest single investment into Mauritius, the Chinese Tianli project is due to begin. The project will cost 750 million US dollars over five years and will make Mauritius one of China's five special economic zones in Africa.
    Situated a few kilometres north of Mauritius' capital, Port Louis, the Tianli project aims to create a business park for more than a dozen Chinese businesses, providing them with a platform for business in the region.
    It has however caused mild controversy because more than 100 small farmers have been told to leave their land.
    "Yes, we have told that we have to move from this land because the government is not willing to renew our lease and they are taking the land for development of Chinese Tianli Group," said Ravin Bijloll, a subsistence farmer.
    Mauritian officials insist the project will bring its own benefits in terms of the visibility the project will create for Mauritius, which has become one of China's five special economic zones in Africa.
    "And let me just remind you this is an investment of approximately 20 billion rupees over a five year period that would create direct, indirect, or induced jobs of about 40,000," said Rama Sithanen, Mauritius' Finance Minister.
    Mauritius is politically stable, strategically located, and has preferential trade access to both African and European markets.
    The government began in 2006 to open and diversify the roughly 9 billion US dollar economy.
    "And the fact that Mauritius we have a very conducive business environment, it is quite natural that the Chinese nominate Mauritius to be their gateway to Africa in terms of our ranking, doing business ranking, we are the first in Africa, in terms of economic freedom, in terms of our taxation," said Ken Poonoosamy, a senior manager, at the Mauritius Board of Investment.
    When finished, the Tianli project will include a 300-bed hospital, a convention centre, housing, and a hotel, besides the offices and other accommodation.
    "At the conception stage they were thinking of mainly an industrial zone. They have tested the market, they came here, we discussed with them, and they have found that it would be more feasible for them to make of the Tianli project a service platform," added Poonoosamy.
    The World Bank and other groups have ranked Mauritius as Africa's top country for economic freedom, ease of doing business and good governance.
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