“We need to be relentless about meritocracy”

Anil Currimjee

• “Business Mauritius and the private sector are not against higher salaries, but they cannot be imposed for political reasons.”

• “Mauritius is only just developing its first national strategy on AI, while Singapore is already on its second deployment.”

• “We cannot deny any child their right to opportunities.”

• “Meritocracy opens up opportunities to all Mauritians and helps to retain our young people, reducing brain drain.”

• “We have no choice but to put in every possible means and effort to eradicate drugs from our society and communities.”

As Business Mauritius marked its tenth anniversary, Anil Currimjee reflected on the organisation’s legacy of unity and the challenges of his two-year mandate, from wage disputes with government to calls for bold reforms in education, governance and competitiveness.

The outgoing president of Business Mauritius, Anil Currimjee, used his address at the 2025 Annual General Meeting to reflect on the organisation’s achievements, confront recent challenges in industrial relations, and outline a series of reforms he considers vital for Mauritius’s social and economic resilience. The event also marked the tenth anniversary of the business confederation, formed from the 2015 merger of the Mauritius Employers’ Federation and the Joint Economic Council.

Ten years of unity

Anil Currimjee opened by recognising the institution’s legacy of unity. “We stand on the shoulders of those who believed in coherence, and in the value of speaking with one voice — a voice that reflects the strength, diversity, and commitment of our private sector,” he said. Paying tribute to past presidents and the founding chief executive, Raj Makoond, he underlined that Business Mauritius has been “instrumental in transforming our country.”

He noted that during his two-year mandate, the organisation faced difficulties but remained committed to its principles. “Regardless, we still weathered the storm, maintaining our values and standing our ground for what we believe in,” he told members.

The salary relativity battle

The most contentious episode of his presidency, the President admitted, was the breakdown of discussions with the former government over salary relativity. What began as “structured discussions with the Ministry of Labour and the PMO” in late 2023 “broke down during the middle of 2024.”

He observed that the wage measures had been introduced “without sufficient regard for existing institutions, laws and practices,” and suggested that they were driven more by short-term political considerations than by long-term economic planning.

“Let me be clear,” Anil Currimjee said, “Business Mauritius and the private sector are not against higher salaries. We and our members have demonstrated this often. Salaries and remunerations are one of the cornerstones of labour relations, the very foundation of our competitiveness, and higher salaries must be an objective. But they should be decided in line with the development of our human capital, through greater value creation, a stronger labour market framework, and within laws and practices. They cannot be imposed for political reasons.”

While acknowledging defeat in the immediate outcome, he stressed that a judicial review had vindicated Business Mauritius’s position that the government’s actions exceeded its authority.

Social priorities: Education, drugs and gender equality

Anil Currimjee emphasised that economic reform must be anchored in stronger social foundations. “Education is the first and most important investment,” he argued, warning that Mauritius risks falling behind global peers in areas such as artificial intelligence. “Mauritius is only just developing its first national strategy on AI, while Singapore is already on its second deployment. We cannot deny any child their right to opportunities.”

On the issue of drugs, he was unequivocal: “We have no choice but to put in every possible means and effort to eradicate drugs from our society and communities. The rise of drug use poses a serious threat to our education system, the prevalence of law, and to the future of our country.”

Gender equality, he said, must also be advanced with urgency: “We need to put in the required efforts to increase the participation of women in all fields and across all levels. We must continue to give undivided attention to gender-based violence, and ensure safe workplaces for women, thus optimising their impact on the journey forward.”

Competitiveness and governance

In his economic analysis, Anil Currimjee pointed to faltering competitiveness. “Our infrastructure is not what it used to be. Facing major challenges at the port and with electricity generation – the bedrock of economic development – we are losing national and industry competitiveness compared to our peers,” he explained.

To reverse this decline, he called for “enhancing connectivity, whether through air routes to maximise business connectivity or tourist arrivals, by addressing port transformation and port efficiency, or through digital ecosystems linking us to the world.” He also stressed the importance of “managing climate adaptation, particularly addressing coastal erosion, energy and water resources,” and keeping Mauritius “open to investors, skills, talents and labour.”

Yet for Anil Currimjee, the more decisive changes lie in governance. “We need to be relentless about meritocracy,” he said. “Hiring the right candidates based entirely on talent and skills sends a powerful signal of a just society. It opens up opportunities to all Mauritians and helps to retain our young people, reducing brain drain.”

On corruption, he was blunt: “We must win the fight against corruption. Leading by example is essential, because corruption has the power to destroy a society. I believe we should be drastic.”

Anil Currimjee added that Mauritius must “be less ideological, and focus more on values – civic values, stewardship of the environment, discipline, fairness and openness. We must focus on the values of leadership at all levels.”

Passing the torch

As he passes the torch to Arnaud Lagesse as President of Business Mauritius, Anil Currimjee expressed confidence in the next leadership team. “I have no doubt that this team, supported by the next president, vice president and the council, led by Kevin (Ramkaloan), will grow, evolve and transform our country, override the challenges and embrace the opportunities.”

He then closed with gratitude: “To Kevin (Ramkaloan), our CEO, I am deeply grateful for the partnership we forged, built on professional and personal respect, which allowed us to carry out this mandate with success. Finally, to the team at Business Mauritius – thank you for your support, commitment and dedication, and your belief in our shared mission. You should be very proud of yourselves.”