Reply (The Minister of Commerce and Consumer Protection): I wish to inform the House that Government has not taken the view that the Competition Commission of Mauritius has been ineffective in the discharge of its statutory mandate. The Competition Commission remains an independent statutory body established under the Competition Act, with the responsibility to investigate anti-competitive conduct, abuse of monopoly situations, collusive agreements and other restrictive business practices. I am informed that as at May 2026, the Competition Commission had received and processed some 1,400 issues, including complaints, referrals, merger notifications, cartel screenings, monopoly screenings and internally generated matters. A comprehensive list and the corresponding reports on all the issues investigated by the Competition Commission is available on its website. I am placing, in the Library of the National Assembly, a list of the achievements of the Competition Commission since its establishment to date. I would like to invite the hon. Member to visit the web page of the Competition Commission to obtain further details on the different issues looked into by the Commission. As regards part (a) of the question, Government has not identified shortcomings warranting any conclusion that the Competition Commission has failed in its mandate. However, it is recognised that competition investigations are, by nature, complex, highly technical and often lengthy processes requiring extensive economic assessment and evidential analysis. The objective of the Inter-Ministerial Committee is to provide a broader policy and coordination platform at Government level to examine issues which may not fall solely within the remit of competition enforcement legislation. In many instances, pricing issues are influenced by a combination of factors, including import dependency, freight and insurance costs, exchange rate fluctuations, supply chain disruptions, market concentration, regulatory constraints and international market developments. Notwithstanding the above, I am informed that the Competition Commission has endeavoured to ensure the effective enforcement of competition law and to reinforce the Competition Commission's role as an independent body promoting competitive markets for the benefit of consumers and the Mauritian economy. The Competition Commission has continued to deliver on its core functions through its enforcement activities, merger review processes, advocacy initiatives and institutional development efforts. Particular emphasis has been placed on improving operational efficiency, fostering a performance-oriented culture, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and ensuring that the Competition Commission remains responsive to emerging market challenges. As regards part (b) of the question, as mentioned earlier, the setting up of the Inter- Ministerial Committee is intended to complement existing institutional mechanisms through enhanced policy coordination among relevant Ministries and public bodies. The Committee will allow Government to assess broader structural and policy issues impacting prices and consumer welfare, while the Competition Commission continues to exercise its statutory functions independently under the law. Government remains committed to ensuring fair market practices, safeguarding consumer interests and maintaining an appropriate balance between effective competition enforcement, economic realities and broader public interest considerations. INTERNATIONAL DRIVING LICENCE – MAURITIAN CITIZENS – ONLINE APPLICATIONS