Africa-Press – Mauritius. A full-day brainstorming session amongst stakeholders for the preparation of the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority (MCIA) five-year strategic plan (2021-2025) was launched, this morning, by the Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Maneesh Gobin, at Bonâme Hall in Réduit.
Some 50 stakeholders attended the brainstorming session which aimed at understanding the strategic planning process for the MCIA, as well as working towards the MCIA strategy.
The Chief Executive Officer of the MCIA, Mr Satish Purmessur, the Senior Chief Executive of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security and Chairman of the MCIA Board, Mr Medha Gunputh, and other personalities were present at the opening ceremony.
In his address, Minister Gobin highlighted the importance of strategically planning for the long-term development of the cane sector, which has to adapt to the new situation since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He pointed out that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in freight prices, there is a need for Mauritius to be less dependent on only two shipping lines and find new means to export the local sugar.
Moreover, the Agro-Industry Minister underscored that the amount of sugar intended to be sold in niche markets should increase, and observed that Government is committed to bring the cane industry to another level of development.
For example, he stated, Mauritius and India had already signed a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement, thus enabling local sugar, as well as other products and services, to be exported to India.
The Minister also recalled that special sugars from Mauritius are sold on the Chinese market and that some commercial brand names are buying Mauritian sugar to manufacture their products.
He added that there is a demand for bio-sugar on the international market, which can be addressed by the local cane industry. All these, he indicated, are food for thought for the brainstorming session and these aspects, among others, will be taken into consideration before drafting the MCIA’s strategic plan. He further reiterated that Government will provide the financial means so that the cane industry remains a viable sector of the economy.
