■ TOURISM

<B>Economy?s booster</B>

2007 may well be a great year for Mauritian tourism. After a difficult period last year with the chikungunya, the sector is already taking off again. The first signs of a great revival have been seen in December and there is little chance that the situation will be much different in the coming months. 2006 has been marked by the timid opening of air access with the ar-rival of Corsair.

But the prime minister?s conviction that the future of the industry lies in the opening of air access will most probably pave the way for the landing of other airlines this year. If the hotel industry is rubbing its hands at the idea of an increase in tourist arrivals, it may have difficulty to face the demand. It is expected to add some 343 rooms to its list this year with some major Integrated Resort Scheme projects becoming reality?

■ BUILDING INDUSTRY

<B>Workers wanted</B>

Minister Sithanen was convinced a few months ago that 2007 would be the year of the building industry. With all the major IRS projects in progress, there was no doubt that workers in the sector would not be jobless. The Empowerment Programme also made it clear that there were 2,000 to 3,000 vacancies in the industry. However, all the good forecasts for next year may be proved wrong because of a shortage of labour force. Not many people seem interested in working in the sector. Hence, to achieve their goal, companies might have to resort to imported labour.

■ PRICES

<B>Adopting cheaper ?brands? </B>

Supermarket owners do not appear very confident for 2007. They faced tough times last year with customers who could no longer afford increasing prices in consumer products and they appear convinced that this year might not be a better one.

Prices on the international level are not expected to decrease (on the contrary, chances are high that they will keep rising) and the rupee is not expected to regain value. As a result, no boom is expected in consumption. However last year?s trend may be confirmed with more customers resorting to less renowned brands at cheaper prices. This change in habits has already occurred in many western countries and Mauritius seems to be following the lead.

■ HEALTH

<B>Private hospitals renovate</B>

Major changes are occurring in the private health sector. The arrival of the giant Indian hospital Apollo will be a huge step forward in high-tech medicine in Mauritius. This might be one of the reasons why local private hospitals have been recovering their health since last year. They have indeed started changing their structure but most of it will be felt and visible this year. Many have already invested in modern high-tech material that will allow more appropriate medical care to all patients. They are also working on providing their patients with more comfort.

■ EDUCATION

<B>Hopeful year for schools</B>

2007 is the year of hopes! While 2006 has been disappointing ? with the re-introduction of competition in the Certificate for Primary Education (CPE) to get a seat in a national secondary school ? prospects for 2007 seem better. Whether it is the protest that the counter-reform has caused or more awareness by minister Gokhool, the result is the same: we may be going towards quality-education? finally! The ministry looks determined to allow all children to achieve overall development ? physical, mental, intellectual, artistic and so on. The new reform, introduced by the end of last year, is very promising. All stakeholders seem ready to implement it at their level and make it a success?

■ LANGUAGES

<B>Institute to foster knowledge</B>

The place of each language may have never been more of an issue than last year. The report of the British Council on the (decreasing) level of English standard seems to have been the trigger to change. People are increasingly becoming aware that there is a need to master English and French at a professional level if we want the country to move forward. The project of a language institute in Mauritius could also become a reality as from next year? This is aimed at helping us improve our knowledge of ?basic? languages that are French and English as well as discover new ones.

■ TRANSPORT

<B>The worse is to come </B>

This is one of the sectors where no development is expected? At least no positive one! Traffic jams may be even worse than last year. Road congestion will no longer be limited to Port-Louis but will extend to almost all towns and villages! While the light railway project seems to have been given up, we would have expected the open bus way to be implemented this year? But it seems 2007 will not see its beginning. In fact, none of the 18 measures recommended by Jonathan Richmond to reduce road congestion will be implemented this year!

■ ICT

<B>On the Cyberway</B>

If some dare to talk of a boom, others prefer to speak of a transitional year for the ICT sector. But there is no doubt that it will gain importance this year, according to Jean Suzanne, director of Infinity and senior adviser at the prime minister?s office. If there are still problems to find the labour force needed to boost the sector and, if Mauritius cannot yet boast of the reputation it wants to achieve, the sector is starting to take off. The Board of Investment is confident that we are going in the right direction.