Speech of
Dr. the Hon. Rajesh Jeetah
Minister of
Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises, Commerce and Cooperatives
on the occasion of the
Courts 21st Birthday
And
The Award Ceremony
on
Swami Vivekanand
International Conference Centre
Mr Saleem Beebeejaun, CEO of Courts
Mr David Issacs, Managing Director
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As Minister
of Industry, Small & Medium Enterprises, Commerce & Cooperatives and
also as a consumer, it gives me immense pleasure to be here this evening for
the 21st birthday of one of the most visible, dynamic, creative and
enterprising trading firms in the Mauritian commercial landscape. There is no citizen in this country who is
not conscious of this company’s perpetual efforts in making consumer goods
available to all at attractive prices.
2.
The performance of
Courts Mauritius has indeed been remarkable, the more so on the social
plane. It has been the first commercial
firm to bring about revolutionary credit facilities for the purchase of
furniture, electrical appliances and other household items. This has not only immensely helped to
democratize ownership of such items but has also brought happiness and
convenience to tens of thousands of households in the country. In fact, the company has been innovative and
creative, leading the way in offering ever imaginative facilities to buyers and
promotion sales that are attractive to suit the needs of customers. Courts
3.
The social
responsibility assumed by the company is laudable, something which the
Government would like to see more and more companies embrace. For year 2006, the company has budgeted some
Rs 1.1 million towards helping various associations and groups in need of
financial contributions and other types of support. As such, it is but commendable that this
year, the company will provide assistance to organisations such as Terre de
Paix, one ZEP school, APEIM and various homes for the elderly.
4.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
the Government is poised on creating a business friendly environment to ensure
employment generation, wealth creation and sustainable growth. The Business Facilitation Act will make it
very easy for start-ups to get the administrative clearances. The Empowerment Fund will provide financial
support while the Small Enterprise and Handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA)
will act as a facilitator. In fact, the
objective is to create a new generation of entrepreneurs since the engine of
development remains a vibrant private sector.
Talking of vibrancy, what comes to the mind is competition.
5.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
the Government is in favour of fair business practices and competition among
firms to ensure efficiency as well as consumers’ welfare. In that regard, a Competition Commission
would be created to ensure that monopolistic tendencies, cartelling,
bid-rigging, restrictive trade practices and the like are kept under
check. The complex nature of the
framework that is required necessitates some time for the preparation of the
appropriate legal instrument but hopefully a bill in that regard will be
introduced in the National Assembly this year.
6.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
it is known that what matters most for consumers is the price level. In that regard, the Government does not
intend to control prices of most products.
Rather, it will intervene as and when necessary for strategic goods and
for necessities. Government intervention
becomes necessary by default. The
conducive environment is one where firms do realise profits but also assume a
social responsibility whereby consumers do not become the subject of
exploitation. Shortly, my Ministry will
come up with a White Paper on price that will define the orientation of
government on price control. In this age
of information technology, consumers are more and more informed and
knowledgeable. Unfair business practices
soon come to the surface and the long term survival of firms are at threats. As firms operate within an interactive larger
environment, they need to have recourse to behaviours that are in line not only
with the legal framework but also the aspirations of the society.
7.
I am pleased that
Courts Mauritius has espoused the philosophy of Social responsibility by
constantly designing innovative facilities for customers. It has also given valuable support to the
local furniture industry. Most of the
furniture that Courts sell is made locally and I am sure that its success is
due not only to the dedication and hard work of the staff but also due to the
trust and close collaboration with its local suppliers. Here, I would like to make a plea to other
furniture selling firms to give the necessary market opportunities to local producers
as has Courts been doing. This will help
the small and medium enterprises as well as the economy as a whole.
8.
As a firm which
believes in its human capital, Courts Mauritius has also engaged in giving its
employees due recognition for all its achievements. As a token, it will, on this auspicious
occasion, honour some thirty members of its staff who have been working for the
company since its first implant. I seize
this opportunity to congratulate these employees as well as the others who are
putting in efforts to live up to the expectations of the organization for the
delivery of quality service. My special
appreciation goes to the Managing team and owners of Courts Mauritius in making
of it one of the most popular firms in the local commercial landscape. I wish it best wishes for its future
endeavours.
Thank you.