Mauritius-EU-Sugar Industry-Reforms

European Commissioner visits Mauritius to assess reform of sugar industry

APA - Port Louis (Mauritius) The European Commissioner for Agriculture Mariann Fischer-Boel, arrived in Mauritius on Thursday in order to make an assessment on the progress Mauritius has made in the reform of the sugar industry.

At a press briefing on Thursday evening at the Laboudonnais Hotel in the capital Port Louis, the Commissioner, in the presence of the Minister of Agro-Industry Dr Arvin Boolell indicated that she was impressed by the way that Mauritius was exploiting the multi-functionality of the sugar sector, namely the production of special sugars, electricity and ethanol and the efforts that are being made here for local production of fresh milk.

Fischer-Boel observed that the disbursement of one billion Euros in order to help Mauritius further reform the sugar industry depends on the European parliament but she added that she had discussed with Boolell the possibility of arguing at the European Commission in the Belgian capital Brussels that Mauritius is an island and as such the country is in a different situation than other countries.

She further added that she has never underestimated the difficulties that Mauritus is facing following the reduction by 39% of the price of sugar that the European Commission is currently paying to Mauritius but that she was satisfied by the way the country was using the money allocated by the EC.

The Commissioner, who visited a dairy cooperative in Nouvelle Decouverte, 25 km from the capital during the day stated that she was very much worried about the food security of the island but praised the efforts made by the state to increase milk production following the disbursement of € 7.5 million by the EC to sustain milk production. She stated that she will press that more financial help be given to dairy cooperatives by the EC.

For his part, Boolell stated that the visit of the Commissioner was awaited with impatience and that it will be beneficial to the country. He added that "the results are here and Fischer-Boel can see for herself the reforms that have been made".

On Friday, the Commissioner is scheduled to meet small planters, representatives of small and medium enterprises, the Prime Minister, Dr Navin Chandra Ramgoolam and the Minister of Finance Rama Sithanen before leaving Mauritius early on Saturday.

source:apanews