Latest news with #Mauritius
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
UK signs deal with Mauritius to seal future of US-UK air base
Britain signed a deal on Thursday to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, after a London judge overturned a last-minute injunction and cleared the way for an agreement the government says is vital to protect the nation's security. Sean Hogan has more.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
China hails Keir Starmer's surrender of the Chagos Islands to leave PM facing furious demands to apologise for 'peddling lies' over his deal
Sir Keir Starmer is facing furious demands to apologise for 'peddling lies' over his Chagos Islands deal - after China hailed the PM's surrender of the territory. After he signed the agreement to hand over sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius last week, Sir Keir claimed that Russia, China, Iran were opposed to the deal. By comparison, the PM said the UK's allies - such as the US - were in favour of the agreement as, he argued, it boosted Britain's national security. The Tories and Reform UK, who are both opposed to the deal, reacted with fury to Sir Keir's claims as the PM bracketed them together with Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran. He is now facing calls to retract his remarks after China was revealed to have offered its 'massive congratulations' to Mauritius for securing the sovereignty agreement. According to the Guido Fawkes blog, Mauritius newspaper Le Mauricien reported on comments by the Chinese ambassador to the African country. Huang Shifang is said to have offered 'massive congratulations' to Mauritian ministers, adding that China 'fully supports' Mauritius in its 'quest to safeguard national sovereignty'. After the Chinese diplomat's words were revealed, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and her senior shadow ministers tore into the PM. 'Keir Starmer claimed those who opposed his £30billion taxpayer-funded Chagos surrender were siding with hostile states,' Mrs Badenoch posted on X/Twitter. 'But China has now welcomed his deal. He should retract his comments and apologise.' Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said: 'Once again, Keir Starmer has been caught peddling a lie. 'He claimed that those who opposed his mad plan to surrender the Chagos Islands were in league with hostile powers – whilst himself handing over control of our own sovereign territory to a nation firmly in China's grasp. 'And now China itself has welcomed the deal, knowing that Labour weakening our national security is at their benefit. 'Keir Starmer must apologise, and retract his baseless slander.' James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, penned a letter to the PM to demand a formal apology over his 'deeply offensive and ill-judged claim'. 'Your suggestion that His Majesty's Opposition is somehow siding with China has now been proven to be factually inaccurate as they support your deal,' he wrote. 'But when we have supported you so strongly on Ukraine, and backed your military action against Iranian-backed Houthis, to be accused effectively of siding with China, Russia and Iran is totally unacceptable.' Under the terms of Sir Keir's deal, Britain is paying Mauritius to lease back the joint UK-UK military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the Indian Ocean islands, for 99 years. In a press conference last week, the PM said the total cost of the agreement would be just £3.4billion. But official documents showed the UK will actually pay Mauritius £165million a year for the first three years to lease Diego Garcia. It falls to £120million a year for the following decade and then £120million adjusted for inflation for the rest of the 99-year lease. The documents showed Britain will also pay £45million a year for 25 years - more than £1.1 billion in total - into a fund for 'projects that promote the ongoing economic development and welfare of Mauritius and its people'. There is also a one-off fund of £40million to help Chagossians displaced by the creation of the Diego Garcia base in the 1970s. Some reports suggested the true cost of the handover will be closer to £30billion in cash terms, assuming an average of 2 per cent inflation. That figure is around three times the annual GDP of Mauritius. In the same press conference, Sir Keir said of his deal: 'In favour are all of our allies, the US, Nato, Five Eyes, India.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
What Mauritius can learn from Saudi Arabia's revolutionary transformation
Saudi Arabia, once defined by its oil wealth, is undergoing a dramatic and deliberate transformation through Vision 2030, a bold national strategy spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This plan is not cosmetic, it is systemic. It reimagines the Kingdom as a global leader in technology, innovation, and tourism, moving beyond oil dependency to a diversified, future-ready economy. Inayat Ramjean, a Mauritian with over 35 years of experience in Saudi Arabia, including leadership roles in international hospitality, has witnessed this transformation first-hand. Now back in Mauritius, he urges his homeland to draw inspiration from the Kingdom's progress. Reinvigorating tourism with vision and investment — Saudi Arabia's pivot toward tourism has been nothing short of revolutionary. From streamlined e-visas to mega-projects like NEOM, Red Sea and AlUla, the Kingdom aims to host 150 million tourists annually by 2030. This has transformed the Kingdom into one of the top 10 most visited countries globally. Mauritius, once a premier destination, is now losing momentum. To reverse this trend, the country must reimagine its tourism model, focus on eco-luxury, and leverage its direct flight connections with Saudi Arabia to tap into new markets. Leveraging technology and innovation — Saudi Arabia has moved from being a technology consumer to a global innovator, with initiatives in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and smart infrastructure. Flagship projects like NEOM are powered by AI, renewables, and automation, setting global standards in urban planning and sustainability. Mauritius, with its youthful population and strong ICT foundation, should invest more strategically in digital skills, smart city development, and tech entrepreneurship to future-proof its economy. Ensuring safety and stability — Saudi Arabia is now ranked the safest country among G20 nations, thanks to a renewed emphasis on public order and national security. In contrast, rising crime and social instability in Mauritius threaten both tourism and investment. Addressing these issues is not just about law enforcement, it's about creating an environment where citizens and investors feel secure. Strengthening bilateral and regional partnerships — Inayat played a key role in establishing ties between Saudi Arabia and Mauritius, including the opening of a Saudi embassy and flight connectivity. Mauritius must now position itself as a gateway for Saudi investment into Africa. Aligning with Vision 2030 can unlock partnerships in tourism, health, trade, and broader regional cooperation. Mauritius stands at a turning point. The Saudi model proves what is possible when vision, governance, and ambition converge. If Mauritius embraces reform and bold leadership, it too can become a global example of reinvention and resilience. The time for action is now.
CNN
4 days ago
- Business
- CNN
How a small sugar company in Mauritius grew into an international conglomerate
Founded in Mauritius in 1912, the Ciel Group has since grown to a multinational company with a portfolio spanning several continents. CNN's Larry Madowo spoke to Group CEO, Guillaume Dalais, about the company's strategy for growth across the textile, agriculture, finance and healthcare industries.
CNN
5 days ago
- Business
- CNN
How a small sugar company in Mauritius grew into an international conglomerate
Founded in Mauritius in 1912, the Ciel Group has since grown to a multinational company with a portfolio spanning several continents. CNN's Larry Madowo spoke to Group CEO, Guillaume Dalais, about the company's strategy for growth across the textile, agriculture, finance and healthcare industries.
