Sanjay Matadeen: "Mauritius Needs a Contingency Plan to Address Crisis Situations"

Sanjay Matadeen points out that the current situation is largely beyond the country's control, as it is linked to external factors. According to the economist, Mauritius must learn from recent crises, including COVID-19 and the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. "These shocks highlight the importance of having contingency plans and better planning to cope with crisis situations," he explains.

These international tensions could directly impact the Mauritian economy, particularly through rising prices of oil and food products. Such increases will inevitably have an inflationary effect. Therefore, he calls for strengthening food security. "We need to produce more locally to reduce our dependence on imported goods. Regional trade must also be strengthened to secure supplies."

For Sanjay Matadeen, Mauritius should also accelerate its energy transition. "The country still heavily relies on oil products for electricity generation. We need to strengthen partnerships and agreements to develop renewable energy. Partnerships already exist with countries like India for solar energy, and we should leverage them more."

Another avenue is to reduce fuel consumption. He notes that the experience of remote work during the pandemic demonstrated that it is possible to limit travel. "If the government sets an example, particularly in the public sector, the private sector could follow suit."