Indian state visit to Mauritius review

Representatives of the Braj Binani Group told NEWSNOW yesterday they will set up a state-of-the-art cement grinding and packaging plant in Mauritius.

“We have obtained the land. We are going ahead and we are here to stay. The idea is to make Mauritius an Industrial hub”, said Mr Rajesh Kumar Bagri, director of the Indian group.

And “contrary to what some commentators say”, the group believes Mauritius is the right place for distribution to Africa. The Braj Binani Group applied for and obtained an Environmental Impact Assessment licence for its proposed project.

The Indian President in conversation with Minister of Finance Pravind Jugnauth at the business meeting yesterday.

But an objection has been filed against the licence, alleging that the project will be detrimental to the environment. The directors of Braj Binani Group disagree.

Mr Bagri and Mr Vinod Juneja, managing director, held a press conference at the Grand Bay International Conference Centre to reinforce their point. They were part of the business delegation accompanying the Indian President, Mrs Pratibha Patil, on her State visit to Mauritius.

Mr Bagri and Mr Juneja both said they are confident that the cement grinding and packaging plant will materialise. But they admit that the delay in the administrative procedures is a source of concern as it implies additional costs.

However, this will not stop them from constructing a cement plant in Mauritius. “We have obtained the land. We are going ahead,” said Mr Bagri.

The cement plant, he added, is a very important project. “It all started in 2007. We made our intention known to some people and they encouraged us. They moreover told us Mauritius was in need such kind of investment as there is a lack of Indian companies here.”

The project, though, is currently at a standstill. “We were about to finalise everything. Unfortunately there was an environmental appeal. The law allows this. We have to wait,” said Mr Bagri, adding that the environmental factor should not be a contentious issue as the Binani group has received many “green? awards.

Mr Juneja explained that the Binani group is an international company which already operates cement plants in other countries. “These countries have laws that are as good as those in your country. We follow all norms.”

Being a global player, he said, the Binani cement plant in Mauritius will supply high quality cement to the local market. However, the Braj Binani Group’s cement will not only cater for the local market. 

“We will produce one million tons of cement or more yearly, which is more than the requirements of the local market. The rest will be channelled to the African market,” he added. 

Stepping stone 

According to Mr Juneja, Mauritius is the perfect stepping stone to Africa. “I have heard some people here saying that Mauritius is not suited to be an exportoriented economy. I totally disagree.

Mauritius is the right place of distribution to Africa. It can become an industrial hub.” Further, the Braj Binani Group is not afraid of the other players already in the cement market in Mauritius.

“We live in competition. We are an Indian company. We belong to India. India has been open to all other companies. “We have been able to sustain with the presence of foreign companies in our country. We do not see why we cannot do it here.”

The Braj Binani Group is one of the leading cement companies in India and has diversified its activities into zinc, glass fibre and downstream composite products.

It has a cement plant in Rajasthan and was the first Indian company to have production set-ups in China and Dubai. It is present in the UK, Singapore, Dubai, China and Indonesia as well as in some African countries. 


Indian business leader: Hands off the tax pact

Mr Navin Raheja, head of the business delegation which accompanied the Indian President, has appealed to the Government of India to uphold the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement that exists between the two countries.

“If there are three or four accounts which are not clear, this does not mean that we should abandon it,” said Mr Raheja during the India-Business Business Meet at the Grand Bay Conference Centre yesterday.

The President of India, Mrs Pratibha Patil, was also present as well as the Mauritian Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Jugnauth.

Mrs Patil stressed the fact that India and Mauritius have to work together. “It is the only way to move ahead and to surmount the challenges. Let us therefore come together, work together and grow together,” she told the gathering.

Business leader Mr Raheja said there are many opportunities if India and Mauritius work together. But he expects the local authorities to create a level playing field.

“It is important that we get a parallel playing field, a hassle-free environment and work on a free and fair and efficient set-up.” Mr Raheja, who is the managing director of Raheja Developers Limited, also said that Indian immigrants came to Mauritius two centuries ago to make a home-away-fromhome.

'Today also Indians are coming but the agenda has changed. Let us reunite. It is not difficult as it is practically impossible for me to differentiate who is a Mauritian and who is an Indian in the gathering.”

Mr Jugnauth called for stronger ties of friendship between India and Mauritius, adding that the business-friendly environment encourages Indian investments in all sectors.

“Mauritius has top business opportunities to Africa. We have a safe and trusted jurisdiction of international repute. Mauritius is a small window that offers an ocean of opportunities,” he said.