The Government of Mauritius has been a strong supporter and participant of the Global Forum on Migration and Development since 2007. A product of migration, the island of Mauritius was uninhabited before it was constructed by shiploads of migrants. Over the course of its history, Mauritius has become not only a host country for migrants but also a source of migrants, especially around the time of its independence in 1968 and during the economic downturn in the 1980s.

Recognizing the huge developmental impacts that migration can have, both through remittances and skills acquisition abroad, the Mauritian Government has integrated migration into its national development strategy. It is promoting circular labour mobility through bilateral agreements with labour-receiving countries such as France and Canada, and by linking such schemes to its longer-term structural adjustment programs, has set in place the appropriate structures and incentives for Mauritian emigrants to return home and invest, develop small and medium enterprises, and use their newly acquired skills from abroad.

Mauritius has a strong interest both in the concept and the process of the GFMD. Since the first GFMD meeting in Brussels in 2007, Mauritius has played a prominent role in shaping and conducting the GFMD Roundtable discussions – as a co-chair, panelist and a member of the government roundtable teams. Mauritius has also supported the GFMD Platform for Partnerships and actively participated in some thematic meetings of GFMD 2011.

In assuming the chairmanship of the GFMD 2012, Mauritius has taken a decision to raise its level of engagement and commitment to the GFMD process. Mauritius is mindful of the advantages and disadvantages of chairing such a global process. As a small island state, it has more limited resources and funding than previous GFMD Chairs-in-Office. But Mauritius brings a wealth of experience and lessons about the interconnections between migration and development, and some African perspectives for the first time in the history of the process.

To prepare the GFMD 2012 meetings, the Government of Mauritius embarked on a consensual and collective thinking process with other governments and partners to set the thematic program for 2012, in part built on the outcomes and achievements of previous meetings. This consultation process included a survey of Friends of the Forum in December 2011, two brainstorming meetings in Mauritius in January 2012, and the opportunity for all Friends to comment on the draft concept paper via the dedicated GFMD email address This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Mauritius’ aim in 2012 is that the Forum can help enhance the contribution of migration to the development of migrants, communities and states.

To further ensure broad government ownership and inclusion in the process, the Chair’s preparatory work will be assisted by the existing GFMD supporting structures and offices, namely: the Special Representative of the Secretary General on International Migration and Development, The Troika, The Steering Group, The Friends of the Forum, and the GFMD Support Unit.

The GFMD 2012 is chaired by Mr. Ali Mansoor, Financial Secretary of the Government of Mauritius. To prepare for the summit meeting to be held in Port Louis in November 2012, Mr. Mansoor leads an inter-agency Taskforce comprising officials from relevant Mauritian Government agencies, including the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment. The Taskforce also includes a small team of international advisers to support the Chair on substantive and strategic issues, and help prepare the thematic Roundtables.

28 January 2012

Government of Mauritius
http://www.gov.mu

Ministry of Finance and Economic Development
http://www.gov.mu/portal/site/MOFSite