A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is presently in Mauritius to hold discussions with the government on development and economic policies.
Sources from the Finances ministry indicate that the 5-member delegation will collect a maximum of financial data and will hold a series of discussions with officials of the ministry, the apex bank (Bank of Mauritius) and the private sector through the Joint Economic Council.
Parliamentarians, NGO and trade union representatives will also be consulted on certain issues, the sources note.
The sources add that the officials will study how the local financial system has been able to successfully face the global economic downturn, and steps the country intends to take in the future to sustain the economy.
Discussions will also touch on employment, inflation, public debt, budgetary deficit and the future perspectives of the pillars of the economy, namely, sugar, tourism, financial services and the information and communication technology, the sources added.
They pointed out that the IMF has hailed the decision of the government to introduce a “Stimulus package” to help local industries, and a relaxing of the monetary policy.
The sources averred that the IMF has predicted a 2% growth of the economy for this financial year but the actual growth will be around 2.6%.
Source African Press Agency
