Mauritius beckons Indians

The natural beauty of Mauritius more than matches the lavender prose you get to read in tourist brochures about the country: unspoilt beaches, skies reminiscent of a Matisse blue, sun-sets that take your breath away, landscapes dotted with low hills, serene rivers and lakes, sugar cane fields and tea plantations as far as the eye can see. Add to this exquisite colonial architecture, austere churches and mosques, garishly painted Hindu temples, villages nestling in coconut groves, swanky hotels and restaurants serving a variety of fine cuisine.

Indians have a special reason to flock to this tiny island in the Indian Ocean. Close to 70 percent of its 1.2 million inhabitants trace their roots to the sub-continent. Indo-Mauritians revel in cultural and religious affinities they share with the mother country. They are also voracious consumers of Indian films, film music and TV serials. This allows for convivial exchanges in five Indian languages: Hindi, Telegu, Tamil, Gujarati and Marathi. Pro-India sentiment runs high here for another reason.

The leaders of India 's freedom struggle, especially Mahatma Gandhi, took an avid interest in the movement to rid Mauritius of British colonial rule. Several streets, squares, schools, hospitals and other public buildings have been named after them. It is hard to think of another patch of foreign land where an Indian visitor feels so completely at home.

The sentiment has strengthened after India's emergence as a nuclear and economic power. Indo-Mauritians are no longer content to harp on the traditional factors that contributed to cementing ties between the two countries. The talk now is increasingly about how Mauritians, cutting across racial and religious divides, stand to gain from the achievements of a resurgent India to meet the grim economic challenges that confront them.

For about two decades Mauritius registered high growth rates largely because two of its three main sources of revenue — sugar and textiles — benefited from preferential regimes. But once the regime was dismantled in textiles, or drastically reduced in sugar, the economy turned vulnerable. The third source, tourism faces an uncertain future  with escalating transportation, lodging and boarding costs.

Compounding these difficulties are the steep hikes in crude oil prices, the growing burden of heavily subsidised social services, a cumbersome bureaucracy and a pampered working class. But the situation is by no means beyond redemption. Mauritius is a vibrant democracy with robust institutions and a free press. It has a sound educational system which dispenses instruction in English and French. The infrastructure is world-class. And not least, it enjoys remarkable political stability.

After the convincing victory in parliamentary elections this year, the Social Alliance led by Navin Ramgoolam's Labour Party again rubbished the opposition in the municipal polls in early October. The prime minister enjoys greater leeway than any of his predecessors, including his father, Seewoosagar Ramgoolam, the undisputed leader of the independence movement.   His invincible position allows him to take bold measures to generate wealth. This is where he expects a hefty influx of Indian investments, technology and managerial skills.

However, it will not be an easy ride for Indian investors since Mauritian elite still look up to France, Britain and other Western countries as epitomes of culture and entrepreneurship. The business establishment will not readily abandon its monopolistic instincts. It took years for Indian Oil to enter the country. Amul has been knocking on the doors in vain for a long time as well. A whole generation of children have never tasted fresh milk. They have been raised on powered milk imported from Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Ramgoolam's forthcoming visit to India at the end of this month provides an opportunity for both countries to sharply raise their level of co-operation. It already exists on the security front. Frigates of the Indian navy frequently drop anchor in the Saint Louis port.

But the new challenges call for massive investments not only in areas like informatics and bio fuels but also in agriculture, dairy farming, food processing and fisheries. The idea is to create a large number of Mauritian entrepreneurs who, in turn, can generate jobs and act as a bridge between Indian businesses and the huge market in Africa. A paradise for tourists and a haven for business: that's the name of the new Mauritian game under Navin Ramgoolam's dispensation. 

dileep.p@apcaglobal.com