13th World Tamils Economic Conference opens in Mauritius

The 13th World Tamils Economic Conference and Global Economic Summit will open in Mauritius today, Friday 11 September, with an agenda that places the country’s links with India and Africa at the centre of the discussions. The event, which runs until Sunday at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation, is organised by the World Tamils Economic Foundation and the Madras Development Society, in partnership with the Indian Business Council of Mauritius.

Dr V.R.S. Sampath, founder-president of the two organising bodies, said at least 100 overseas delegates were expected. The programme brings together government representatives, entrepreneurs and professionals from Mauritius, India, South Africa, the United States, Seychelles, Singapore, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Among the Mauritian officials and public figures listed for the conference are Darmarajen Nagalingum, Minister of Youth and Sports; Rajen Narsinghen, Junior Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade; H.E. Aparna Ganesan, Deputy High Commissioner of India to Mauritius; and Dr Paramasivum Pillay Vyapoory, former Vice-President of the Republic of Mauritius.

Other participants include A. Rajmohan, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for School Education, Tamil Development, Information and Publicity; J.C.D. Prabhakar, Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly; V.P. Sivakolundhu, Puducherry’s Minister for Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs; M.A. Siddique, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary in the Tamil Nadu Finance Department; Dr Kalanidhi Veeraswamy, Member of the Indian Parliament; and Jayasankar Seshadri, President of the Indian Business Council, Mauritius.

Dr Sampath traces the initiative to the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held in New Delhi in 2003, where the presence of a large diaspora delegation prompted discussions about the absence of a dedicated international business network for the community.

Meetings followed in Chennai with representatives from Malaysia, Australia and the United States. Early gatherings were held in Sydney and Kuala Lumpur before the initiative developed into a conference in Chennai in 2009. Subsequent editions have taken place in several countries, including Malaysia, South Africa and the United States, with the previous conference held in Washington DC.

Dr Sampath said the initiative seeks to encourage entrepreneurs to widen their professional and commercial networks.  “Our aim is networking, raising awareness and bringing people together to develop their businesses,” he said.

The Mauritius edition comprises 13 sessions. The subjects range from the global economic environment and international trade regulations to financial services, risk management, healthcare, higher education, women’s entrepreneurship, start-ups and artificial intelligence.

Mauritius’s role as a global business centre and a gateway to Africa and the Indian Ocean will be the subject of a dedicated session involving representatives of the Economic Development Board and the Indian Business Council.

Another session will examine how financial institutions can support trade between India, Mauritius and Africa. Representatives from banking, insurance, credit ratings and financial consultancy are listed among the speakers.

Dr Sampath said Mauritius was selected because of its financial-services sector, international business framework and location between Asia and Africa. The conference, he argued, could give visiting delegates a clearer understanding of the country’s commercial environment.

The event will conclude on Sunday with an awards ceremony. President Dharambeer Gokhool is listed as presiding over the closing proceedings and presenting the awards.