Mauritius: In the context of pre-budget consultations 2023-2024, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Dr Renganaden Padayachy, met yesterday in Port Louis representatives of the Dealers in Imported Vehicles Association, the Federation of Hotels Taxi Association, and the Motor Vehicles Dealer Association.
In a statement after the meeting, the President of the Dealers in Imported Vehicles Association, Mr Zaid Ameer, indicated that one of the key proposals made to the Minister is to review the age of imported cars, lorries and vans.
He said that removing all restrictions on hybrid vehicles to encourage users to buy hybrid vehicles was also put forward in line with the Government’s vision of a greener Mauritius.
For his part, the Specialist in the second-hand vehicle, Mr Pirbhai Hornali, underlined the necessity to boost activities in Port franc at JinFei. Therefore, he requested the Finance Minister to reconsider measures regarding the re-introduction of minor processing to increase stockage in warehouses at Jinfei.
As for the Vice-President of the Motor Vehicles Dealers Association, Mr Andrew Lui Man Hin, he underlined the need to extend the customs/excise duty rebate scheme for motor vehicles introduced under the Economic Recovery Programme in 2020 until 2024. Discussions also focused on relieving vehicle importers from micro processing and logistics; he pointed out.
Also present in the meeting, the spokesperson of the Federation of Hotels Taxi Association, Mr Yashpal Murrakhun, observed that old regulations are still governing taxi operators. Therefore, he proposed reviewing the existing laws for the sector to progress.
He stated that other proposals include registering all taxi operators under a company to manage taxi operators better, provide solutions to their problems, facilitate succession of business, and increase the capacity of a taxi from six to 11 seaters.