RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/STR/Q1/MUS/1
10July1996
ORGANIZATION(96-2697)
Original: English Working Party onState Trading Enterprises
REPLIES TOQUESTIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES1
ONTHE ARTICLE XVII NOTIFICATION OFMAURITIUS2
Thefollowing communication, dated 27June1996, hasbeenreceived from thePermanent
Mission ofMauritius.
_______________
1. Could Mauritius specify theReason orPurpose fortheState Trading Enterprise engaging in
trade ofwheat flour, asrequested under part2ofthe1960 Questionnaire?
TheState Trading Corporation 'sengagement inthetrade ofwheat flour hasbeenguided by
theGovernment'spolicytomakeavailabletotheMauritianpublic,especiallytotheeconomicallyweaker
section ofthecommunity thisstaple foodatthelowest possible price while ensuring regular supplies
andmaintaining acceptable quality standards. Given thatwheat flourissoldatasubsidized price the
main concern oftheGovernment hasbeentoobtain thebestpossible prices from suppliers through
international tenders bypurchasing inbulkforawhole year.
2. Could Mauritius provide statistical breakdowns oftrade bystatetrading enterprises andby
private entities?
(a) Statistical breakdown oftrade bytheState Trading Corporation
Year Ration
RiceLuxury
RiceFlour Petroleum
ProductsCement Fruits Others Total
Metric
Tons
1993 68,580 8,700 69,767*553,882 302,752 78 - 1,003,759
1994 38,800 27,745 70,745 624,611 210,767 - - 972,665
*Thisfigure includes 7,455 metric tonsofimported flour.
(b) Agricultural Marketing Board
(i) Thefollowing products areunder thecontrol oftheAgricultural Marketing Board:
1G/STR/W/10.
2G/STR/N/1/MUS.
./.G/STR/Q1/MUS/1
Page2
- Potatoes (table andseeds); onions (table andseeds); garlic (table andseeds)
Maize andmaize seeds; spices; lemons; limes; grapefruits; tangerines, rice:rice;turmeric;
groundnut; beans andmilk.
(ii) TheBoard isthesoleimporter anddistributor ofthefollowing products:
- Potatoes; potato seeds; onions; garlic; maize; turmeric andcardamons.
(iii) Imports andlocalproduction oftheproducts mentioned at(ii)above fortheyear1995
were asfollows:
Commodity Production
(Tons)Imports
(Tons)
1. Potatoes -table 15,718 6,551
2. Potatoes -seeds 1,626 1,473
3. Onions 5,974 4,948
4. Garlic 212 416
5. Maize 291 60,241
6. Turmeric -chips/finger
powder13
1186
36
7. Cardamons - 7,480
8. Bean seeds 3,947 5,750
9. Onion seeds 578 500
10. Garlic seeds 4,968 -
11. Milk (fresh) -litres 1,505,841 -
Purchase from Rodrigues
1. Onions 290
2. Garlic 30
(c) TheTobacco Board
Statistical information Crop Year 1995/1996
Quantity produced locally 1,065,392 kg
Value oflocalproductions Rs69,591,220
Quantity imported (inJanuary andJune1996) 62,800 kg