Dubai and Singapore have often been quoted as models which Mauritius aspires to emulate. We have quite some features in common; no natural resources, tiny countries, peace and hospitable populations. We are friendly states, having close knit ties with our neighbors, and share an extensive diplomatic network around the world. Whether we need to follow the routes of Dubai and Singapore is a debatable question, but there’s no hiding that these two have paved their way to economic success, when the lack of resources was evident. Mauritius has its own specifics but nonetheless can solve its equations by inspiring itself from the two others, and improving their models to build a unique story.
We have always boasted of our geographical location, linking Africa and Asia. Standing on the maritime highway, the island could have transformed itself into a logistics center for regional trade exchanges. The Freeport sector was created and acknowledged massive investment, demonstrating the conviction of major actors. Impressive infrastructure, modern handling equipment, trained (bilingual) staff force, safe port, and what not. We still cannot host as much traffic as the Singapore port, with around 2,000 vessels of different sorts a day. We have got Africa next to us, and we can easily deduce that maritime traffic volume is not the issue. I wouldn’t venture myself into proposing solutions or identifying the shortcomings; this is not my playfield. However, there is an obvious frown on my face when I compare the traffic volumes between the port of Singapore and that Mauritius. Clearly there is something wrong, something we can improve. We started with a good idea, put ourselves to work but then, I believe, we lacked foresight and stand at crossroads not really knowing where to head.
In the same line, someone sometimes ago wanted to play on Cruise ship field. We are still waiting for some movements here… no major wave at sight Captain!
Well, the above is an example of good intention, great first steps and then a complete stall. This article is not about maritime traffic nor international trade. It is about the lack of sustainability in our ideas, and probably the major difference between us and countries like Dubai and Singapore. It is true that Covid hit us badly, but then we are no exception. We are at par and shouldn’t use the virus as an excuse. Irrespective of the pandemic, Mauritius faces major issues which require strategic (and long-term) approach. There needs to be people with foresight, capable of panning out roadmaps for the next 25 to 30 years ahead.
Ageing population is now on the table. In the 80s, Government inaugurated the Family Planning Office and started campaigning for less children in homes. Two was perfect, I remember. And now we have lesser birth rates than death rates, unfortunately. Chronic and non-transmissible diseases have crept over the population. Nearly 25% of the population is diabetic and around equally same proportion is subject to hypertension or other chronic complications Ageing through these diseases is a handicap. Reality should be said as it is. Now cancers of various forms are more and more present. I cannot really say that life expectancy has declined, but what is visible is the drop in productivity within a certain age bracket. But over and above this, the renewal of an active (and performing) workforce seems to be a problem we will need to address bravely.
The questions could be embarrassing, the answers even more, but sustainability, and maybe survival, is at stake.
In a recent Human resources event led by a major hotel, the SOS signals were released. Hotel industry can no longer sustain development while relying solely on local workforce. Some would argue that the strength of Mauritian tourism is founded on the Mauritian DNA of its employees. No. I tend to disagree, strongly. It is partly due to the welcoming nature of staff, true, but people do not travel thousands of kilometers simply for smiles. It adds to the charm, but tourists are here for our beaches, and at the earlier times, the relatively cheaper cost of life. The World has evolved. Air travel is no longer limited to the elites, destinations and choices are more and more varied – and smiles are easy anytime you open your wallet.
Bravery, here, would involve changing the whole human resources game. Bet on foreign support, while opening more interesting doors to Mauritians, probably training and fitting the locals into more management and strategic roles. Just sipping and sighing on a Pina Colada won’t do. The Government needs to open the space to foreign workforce, without of course, closing it to Mauritians. There is a definite striking / equilibrium point but again we need proper thinking heads to find the right plotting point on the graph. Sure, that the populist mind would argue that reducing Mauritians from the hotel scenes would affect tourism. I am confident it would not. In any case, without dare, the industry will lose ground to its competitors.
Dubai is a clear example. Recruiting expatriates has uplifted the status of locals by shifting a previously poorly educated population to a more entrepreneurial / strategic one. This has to be the formula. Singapore has done it too. But here, in Mauritius, we want to be like those two countries, without taking the hard steps.
Mauritians need to stop believing that expatriates are taking away their employment opportunities. They should shift their mindset from mere job seekers to better ambition.
True that this is not switchable within years but is a process that requires probably more than one generation to become effective. Education is of prime importance. Our education system is only training people to be future employees while most of us ambition to play higher roles in society, in business, sports and other areas. Not surprising to see (and admire) Mauritians shining everywhere in the world after their tertiary education (usually in a non-Mauritian curriculum and environment). We have a problem here, and it is not our youngsters.
While Government wants to transform Mauritius into a high-income earning country, this part of the formula seems to slip through fingers. This is not a matter of one government, but successive regimes spreading over many years. Is it not since we exist as an independent state? The start is from the bottom, not from the top. Then, this implies a change in our education system; too academically focused (and we all know that). Not only education, but educators need to be shaken too! One would argue that kids have know so many education reforms, but then such reforms should not be engineered to make better learners, but better citizens – and by extension, a better country.
It is good to note that we are a young state, we are teenagers. We learn through examples, role models and mistakes. I honestly believe that we have done well in adapting ourselves to international socio-economic environment. Human, by default, evolves. Mauritius has evolved; from a monocrop agriculture-based economy to a world-class financial services center, our youth has not been that bad. However, as we reach maturity, we start to lose friends and the sympathy of friend-countries which have been so helpful in our construction. We can refer to numerous help (economic, social, etc.) that we have received from our traditional friends: Britain, France, China and more insistently India, with which we share ancestral lineage. I remember a former President stating that we will never be in difficulty as help will always be available. How wrong! How naïve!
To climb the ladder, we need a shift of mindset.
There are many equations that need be tackled, but it all related to the initial mindset. We must believe in ourselves. There is just so much we can achieve. The present may be perceived as difficult and unfair to many as extreme poverty and misery still exist in some areas of the island. It takes courage to get out of our usual thoughts (not really comfort zones) and think differently. That courage has been demonstrated by numerous poor and uneducated parents who have transformed their kids in brilliant lawyers, doctors and high-caliber professionals.
That courage is found in the heart of little kids who were themselves laborers but spared the required effort to learn and educate themselves. That courage is called Mauritius.
Nation building takes time. Being on our own only since 1968 is a relative short time on the civilization scale. We need to grow, we will make mistakes (and made lots of them), but what is most important is to stay focused on the future. There is so much this country can achieve, through our differences which, when put together, is a formidable reservoir of wealth. How many times have I heard that we do not have natural resources and how many times did I say our resources are our people. We usually fail to recognize the wealth when it is in our possession and linger on ambitions. We have what we need to prosper.
Long live Mauritius !
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This post first appeared on Invest, Work And Live In Mauritius, please read the originial post: here
