Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as the government trading arm, the State Trading Corporation (STC) starts with importing key essential and strategic commodities such as ration rice, wheat flour, petroleum products, liquefied petroleum gas, Basmati rice, milk powder, edible oil and pulses. I am informed that there are currently 240 officers at the STC of which 13 work in STC Rodrigues. These officers are spread across 55 grades in various technical and administrative cadres. I am further informed that all these officers are given training facilities both in-house and on-the-job. Over the last five years, these officers have received training in over 150 courses. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed that only the officers of the supplies and sales cadre are currently affected by this criterion. The prescribed scheme of service for the different posts in the supplies and sales cadre of STC requires the officers to have a certificate or a diploma in purchasing and supply management or procurement and supply management or logistic management to be eligible for the promotion. I am further informed that in 2004, the STC sought the assistance of Polytechnics Mauritius Ltd for the mounting of a specific course for the officers in the supplies and sales cadres. This will entitle them to receive either a certificate or diploma. This will entitle them to receive either a Certificate or a Diploma. Since October 2024, 21 supplies and sales officers of the STC in Mauritius, had enrolled in the certificate course on Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chain Operations. However, four of them have, since dropped out. Additionally, three

69 other supplies and sales officers have enrolled in the diploma course on Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chain Operations. I am informed that both training courses are fully sponsored by the STC. Once these officers have successfully completed their courses, they will be eligible for promotion in the supply and sales cadre. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (b) of the question, I am informed that there are six officers of the procurement and sales cadre in the STC Rodrigues who are required to be trained. I am further informed that Polytechnics Mauritius has agreed to mount the training for these officers in a specific delivery format which will include fly-in fly-out model for the faculty along with selected face to face sessions facilitated by the team in Rodrigues. It is expected that the courses will start by the end of August this year.

Okay. The hon. Third Member for Beau Bassin and Petite Rivière! CONSTITUENCY NO. 20 – MORC. LA CONFIANCE, BEAU BASSIN – FOOTBALL GROUND REHABILITATION