How to Fix our BOP Problems

That's kind of simple and, no, we don't need to depreciate our rupee as one ex-Governor has again been suggesting. We just need to reduce imports and increase exports. First, imports.

In 2008, we imported for Rs8.5 billion of fish and fish preparations, Rs3 billion of milk, Rs2 billion of vegetables and fruits, Rs1.5 billion of meat, Rs6 billion of road vehicles and Rs24 billion of petroleum products. That just doesn't sound right. If you recall, our exclusive economic zone is more than a 1,000 times larger than our land area or if you prefer each Mauritian can be supported by 1 square kilometre of sea (although it would make more sense to speak in terms of cubic kilometres, right?). So am positive we can cross that one out in a few years. There is a milk project underway so imports should decrease there too. As far as vegetables go we could adopt a few of Kreppalloo Sunghoon's recommendations: subsidise fertilizers, remove VAT on agricultural machinery and create a land bank to optimise the use of arable land. Likewise I am sure we can do something about all the meat we're bringing over from abroad by getting Rodrigues into the loop. Finally, we can reduce both the amount of fuel and road vehicles we import by having a sufficiently comfortable public transportation system. Having it run till 2 a.m. everyday will also make our economy more dynamic.

As far as exports go we should favour those that will provide meaningful jobs to a maximum of our fellow citizens. We don't need entrepreneurs of the sweat-shop variety whose greed knows no bounds.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I now commend the Bill to the House.

P.S: BOP = Balance of Payments.