Punching Above Our Weight Interview with H.E
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COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING Punching above our weight INTERVIEW WITH H.E. NAVINCHANDRA RAMGOOLAM PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS How important is the Commonwealth to Mauritius? provides assistance and advice. The Commonwealth is It’s very important. Sometimes people don’t realise that particularly valuable to small countries that otherwise the Commonwealth is a vast and diverse organisation, have little say in international affairs. We get a chance not only concerned with just one region, but a truly in CHOGM to express our views. We were listened global organisation that includes 53 countries and to, through the Commonwealth channel, when issues 2.2 billion people. It has therefore a significant and arose, for example in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa powerful role to play in international affairs. Even and Rhodesia. though we are a small country, Mauritius has played a significant role in the Commonwealth since we joined Mauritius is due to host CHOGM in 2015. How in 1968. We are an example of the values and principles important is this for you personally? NAVIN RAMGOOLAM that the Commonwealth represents, particularly with It’s very important for us. We have hosted important was born in 1947. He regards to democracy, human rights, good governance summits before. We have hosted the AU summit in served as Prime Minister and negotiating peaceful solutions. 1976, and the Francophonie summit in 1993. We are of Mauritius between We have also drawn attention to the plight of small looking forward to hosting CHOGM in 2015. It will 1995 and 2000, was island developing states (SIDS). Our former Foreign be an opportunity to showcase Mauritius as a unique re-elected in 2005, and Minister – now the President of the Republic – was multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society. And it’s also again in 2010 for a third one of the first to speak of the importance of SIDS. an opportunity for Africa, because let’s not forget term. He is leader of the The Commonwealth has helped us through this. Today that 18 other countries out of the 53 Commonwealth Mauritius Labour Party, it is at the forefront of discussions that take place in nations are African. And there are economic spin-offs; and serves as the Minister international fora. Thanks to the Commonwealth we you have the Business Forum for example which takes of Defence, Home Affairs, now have an office at the UN in New York dedicated place in during the CHOGM period, where over 1000 External Communication, to SIDS. We have another office in Geneva for business people from throughout the Commonwealth and is Minister for world trade organisations and negotiations. So that is get a chance to network and discover opportunities for Rodrigues. He is also a something that I think we can take pride in. trade and investment. There are also other meetings, doctor and lawyer. The Commonwealth has various organisations that the Youth Forum for example, all of which I think are give advice, scholarships, internships and fellowships. very important. We have a good example to showcase, Another important aspect relates to its independent and CHOGM will put us at the forefront of the electoral observers, who are well respected. We also international scene. receive assistance for building up human resources capacity. Mauritius and the Seychelles have made a What do you regard as your main economic joint submission to the UN for an extended continental accomplishments since coming into office? shelf. I persuaded my friend, President Michel of When we came to power in 2005, the economy was Seychelles for us to make a joint submission and not in a good position. But we’ve taken courageous we agreed to ask the Commonwealth to help. They decisions; we have implemented bold reforms and provided assistance. This resulted in Mauritius and opened up the economy. Today, somebody who Seychelles being jointly conferred jurisdiction upon an comes to work here can buy a property; there are no area of 396,000 square kilometres. That is the kind of exchange controls. We’ve bought corporation and thing that the Commonwealth has been able to help us personal tax down to 15 per cent which is one of the with. And this in turn is our own contribution, because lowest in the world. We have also improved the ease of it demonstrates a way forward for other countries. doing business. That is why, for example, the World Bank classifies us number one in Africa, and 20th in How to you respond to the scepticism regarding the the world, for the ease of doing business. The Fraser significance and relevance of the Commonwealth in Institute ranks us 6th in terms of economic freedom. the 21st century and its diminishing global stature? We have accelerated our investment in education. People who say this don’t understand how the Mauritius has had free education since 1977. We Commonwealth works. Apart from the summit, introduced free transport for students, pensioners and 68 there’s an executive arm of the Secretariat which the handicapped in 2005. We have also established new FIRST universities. We have readjusted the economy, while strong institutions that we already had. Education In 2006 we at the same time ensuring social justice. Following his is a priority area for us. We have an independent visit to Mauritius, Nobel Prize winner for Economics, judiciary. We have kept the Privy Council as the started the Joseph Stiglitz, wrote an article entitled ‘The ultimate court of appeal. Our financial sector is well- Mauritian Miracle’. He said if I were to tell you this regulated and financial services contribute 10 per Mauritian small country, a small island in the middle of the ocean, cent to our GDP. In 2006 we started the Mauritian far from anywhere, with no national resources, gives International Arbitration Project with a view to International free education, free health service, has a growth of 3.3 developing Mauritius as a state-of-the-art and safe per cent and has moved from a low income country to place for resolution of business and investment Arbitration a firm middle income country you would think either disputes. We signed a Host Country Agreement with this country has a lot of oil and gas or it’s about to go the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and the Project with bankrupt. And it’s neither of these. I think it’s the way PCA has, for the first time in its history, appointed a that we’ve managed to do both – balance social justice Permanent Representative outside The Hague. a view to and economic reform. What are your sectoral priorities? developing As a small island economy you’re vulnerable to In our Government Programme we stated our external shocks. How do you ensure that you keep intention to promote the Ocean Economy as one of Mauritius as the economy open yet protected? the new pillars of development. This is a major project We have kept diversifying the economy. James which will have far-reaching impact on the lives of a state-of- Meade – winner of the 1977 Nobel Memorial generations to come. When we add the Exclusive Prize in Economic Sciences – and Richard Titmuss Economic Zone and Continental Shelf, Mauritius is the-art and came to Mauritius in the ’60s to write a report with ranked among the countries with the largest economic recommendations for the future management of the territories in the world – nearly 2.4 million square safe place for economy. The report was actually very pessimistic. kilometres – over 1,000 times the size of our land mass, They said this country is doomed, being a small almost as big as Western Europe in a sense. This is resolution of country relying on sugar cane, far from any other where the future is. I consider the ocean ecosystem country, subject to the vagaries of the weather and of Mauritius and its marine biological diversity as our business and undergoing a population explosion. Basically, they core national assets. If our use of these assets is well didn’t think we would survive. We proved them managed, they can meet a broad range of economic investment wrong. We implemented reforms and we built on the and social aspirations. disputes Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius 69 FIRST COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING Given that you’re an island affected by climate Alternative change, to what extent are you pursuing other people and learn to live together. In spite of the alternative energy? fact that we’re doing pretty well, I want to strengthen energy is a these attributes within people. My government has also Alternative energy is a major priority for us. We have adopted an Equal Opportunities Act. All Mauritians major priority sun, wind and waves, and we are also a volcanic island. should and could become stakeholders in the country. We must target 35 per cent autonomy by 2025 through They all have the same right. for us. We increased use of green energy. When I was in New York this year, just before I addressed the UN General You have been Prime Minister for some time. What have sun, Assembly, the Climate Change Report came out, which is your long-term vision for Mauritius? What place was not very optimistic and gave us all something to would you like Mauritius to have in future world affairs? wind and think about. The Ocean Economy is a big priority for us, and not just marine biotechnology. My government A long time back, before the Suez Canal was opened up, waves, and has already initiated a major project to extract cold Mauritius used to be called the Steward of the Indian water from the depth of the ocean for air conditioning Ocean because every ship had to go through Mauritius.