Mauritius’ recently appointed minister of finance and economic development, Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo, has shaped the country’s economic growth story like few others. Between 1973 and 1980, Mr Lutchmeenaraidoo worked briefly as an economist for the country's Ministry of Commerce and Industry before assuming the role of commissioner for trade affairs. This was followed by his first foray into political life when he was appointed deputy prime minister and minister of finance in 1983, a post he held for the next seven years.
This experience will be vital if Mr Lutchmeenaraidoo – who returned to the role of finance minister in 2014 – is to successfully execute his vision for the next stage of the country’s development. “The Mauritian economy is at a crossroads. The growth model that has served the country for decades is losing steam, and we have reached the end of an economic cycle. We must revive the system with a view to generating sustained growth and a higher rate of job creation. But we can only achieve this by initiating a paradigm shift in the way we develop and run our economy,” he says.
