<B>From saloon cars to luxury coaches</B>

Half of the cars that the government ordered for the Small Island Developing Countries Conference will be of no use. The government ordered some 180 cars from Leal and and Iframac for participants in the conference in July. Then, half of them were supposed to be delivered to their new owners, who would thus benefit from a big discount. However, the conference will not be held as planned as the conference centre will not be ready. It will finally take place in January. As a result, ninety owners will be delivered brand new cars in September as they have already made a 30% deposit on them. The government has not officially informed the car dealers but everything points to the fact that the 90 cars will be delivered to the customers at the said price and time. “Saloon cars will be available for heads of state and other participants will travel in luxury coaches,” the prime minister announced.

<B>Integrated development in Highlands region</B>

As soon as the sugar season ends, the villages of Highlands, Belle Terre, Bagatelle and Hermitage will be completely transformed. It is intended to develop an area of 3,000 acres in the long-term. For the moment however, the first projects will be set up on 1,000 acres involving Bagatelle Dam and a new race-course as a joint venture of the State Investment Corporation and the Mauritius Turf Club. The State Land Development Company (SLDC) also plans to expand and delocalise the campuses of the University of Mauritius and the University of Technology. The SLDC has a plan for integrated development. However,it is out of the question to replace sugar cane or to set up buildings everywhere.

<B>New look for Plaisance airport

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) International Airport will be given a new look. Work on the new infrastructure will start in July 2005 and will aim at better answering tourists’ needs. This decision follows the Master Plan of the Aéroports de Paris (ADP) and recommendations of the Canadian firm, InterVistas. Before 2012, the terminal should be extended, a new fuel storage farm built, airplane maintenance activities extended, the freight area and free-port set up and new infrastructures for staff transport established. The ADP has called for consultants interested in collaborating on the project.