Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Maurice Stratégie was initially set up as a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Economic Development Board. On 14 March 2023, it was incorporated under the Company’s Act 2001 as a private ltd company wholly owned by the EDB in accordance with section 5 (2) (c) of the EDB Act 2017. The EDB and Maurice Stratégie signed a Framework Agreement on 04 May 2023 for their effective setting up of Maurice Stratégie. A secondment agreement was signed by the parties on the same day for the provision of staff from the EDB to handle the core activities of Maurice Stratégie. Subsequently, the Maurice Stratégie Board Act 2024 established Maurice Stratégie as a body corporate to serve as a central research and planning bureau for Mauritius. The Act was assented to and gazetted on 31 July 2024 and came into force as of 16 August 2024. According to section 5 of the Maurice Stratégie Board Act 2024, the function of the Maurice Stratégie is to – 1. Conduct prospective work and inform public bodies about the possible medium- and long-term strategic plans that are contemplated for Mauritius. 2. Undertake strategic studies to inform the government of the actions required for the purpose of the preparation of reform, in particular through an analysis of the context of the decision and its foreseeable impact in the short term and medium term.

59 3. Participate in the evaluation of government policies. 4. Serve as a resource centre for the identification, organisation and evaluation of public consultations and debates. 5. Identify and publicise the experiences carried out abroad that may enrich reflection on such reforms as may be useful to Mauritius and the ways and means of carrying them out. I am also informed that the Board of Maurice Stratégie, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, which met on two occasions is composed of – • the Financial Secretary as Chairman; • a representative of the Prime Minister’s Office; • every Deputy Financial Secretary of the Ministry of Finance; • the CEO of EDB or his representative; • the Director of Statistics Mauritius; • a representative of the Bank of Mauritius; • a representative of the MRA; • a representative of the private sector, and • a representative of academia. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed that Maurice Stratégie has been working on various projects and reports, including securing technical support from the Agence Française de Développement and Expertise France, whereby a resident expert is currently supporting Maurice Stratégie. In this context, two short-term assistant missions are also being financed through the AFD and Expertise France. The Maurice Stratégie has conducted economic research and analysis, such as sectoral insights from Mauritius, Economic Review and Outlook 2025, and has published a paper on ‘Unlocking Mauritian Trade – A Situational Analysis and Opportunity Assessment Volume 1’. As regards part (b) of the question, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Maurice Stratégie has employed 28 staff members. Following the signature of the agreement between EDB and

60 Maurice Stratégie on 04 May 2023 for the provision of staff to handle the core activities of the institution, nine staff, comprising seven technical staff from the Strategic Planning Directorate and 2 messenger/drivers, were seconded from the EDB. Following the enactment of the Maurice Stratégie Board Act, out of the nine seconded staff, eight officers employed on a permanent and pensionable establishment of the EDB opted to be transferred to Maurice Stratégie as of 01 July 2023 on the same terms and conditions governing human resources matters at the level of the EDB in accordance with section 24 (1) of the Act. The Head of Department of the Strategic Planning Directorate of EDB, who was employed on a contractual basis since September 2015, was seconded as Officer-in-Charge to Maurice Stratégie on 01 July 2023. Following the institutionalisation of Maurice Stratégie, the officer was appointed Executive Director on a contractual basis for a period of three years with effect from 09 September 2024. Furthermore, one staff who has been seconded from the Ministry of Finance through the enactment is currently employed as Lead Research Analyst at Maurice Stratégie from 19 September 2024. In September 2024, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Maurice Stratégie called for applications from suitable candidates to join its team. Subsequently, on 03 October 2024, an offer of employment was made to the following – • six Researchers; • two Senior Analysts; • five Analysts; • three officers, and • two Secretaries. Thank you.

Now that the hon. Minister of Land Transport is in the House, we will go back to PQ B/297. Hon. Ms Stephanie Anquetil!

61 QUATRE BORNES, KOOSEEAL AVENUE – ROAD MARKINGS & CONVERSION