L’HEBDOMADAIRE ÉLECTRONIQUE GRATUITÉDITION 151 – VENDREDI 23 JUIN 2017

UNITED STATES Four Ways New Technology is Revolutionizing the 2020 Census

ÉDITION 291 – VENDREDI 22 MAI 2020

Over the last 15 years, Gold has been the highest performer

INVESTMENTL’HEBDOMADAIRE DIGITAL GRATUIT

Due to the on-going war against the COVID-19, local and foreign equi-ty markets have fallen significantly

from their peaks and remain highly volatile. Moreover, with the central banks around the world cutting key interest rates to nearly zero, yields have considerably fallen. Fixed income investors are now exposed to the risk of earning negative real interest rates.

According to Aon Hewitt (Mauritius) Special Report entitled ‘Gold as an Invest-ment’, if an individual had invested MUR 100 in 2005 in Gold Futures, the position as at 30 April 2020 would be worth MUR 543.

From the historical data, they note the following: • Over the last 15 years, taking into con-

sideration the financial crisis of 2008 and the recent market downturn, Gold has been the highest performer.

• Over the last 10 years, taking into con-sideration the recent boom in Foreign Equities, MSCI ACWI is the highest performer. Gold comes in second.

• Over the long term, the volatility be-

tween asset classes is very different. • The SEMTRI shows the same trend as

the MSCI ACWI. This shows that in-vesting only in local and foreign equities may not be very effective in terms of di-versification.

History of Gold Price Over the past 40 years, the historical re-

turn on Gold Futures is 4.5% on an annual basis. However, in the recent periods, gold has witnessed flash rallies as well as down-turns. • From 1981 to 2004, the price of Gold

Futures was almost flat with very low volatility (on a year on year basis).

• For the next 10 years ending Decem-ber 2014, the commodity has returned 10.5% annually.

• This is largely explained by the Financial Crisis in 2008 and the negative/low cor-relation of Gold with other asset classes.

• Over the next 6 years, as at time of writ-ing, the commodity has witnessed high

levels of volatility. • Since July 2018, the price of Gold Fu-

tures has been following an upward trend.

Gold Futures are currently trading at USD 1694.20 (as at time of writing – 30 April 2020). This is slightly less than the peak of August 2011 where it was hovering around USD 1828.5.

Not recommended for pension clients

“The above analysis concludes that while entry time is crucial when in investing in Gold, investors should also be willing to hold the asset class on a long-term basis for the sake of diversification”, sug-gests Aon Hewitt’s Special Report.

The Gold Market is considered very liq-uid. Nonetheless, Aon Hewitt does not rec-ommend pension clients to invest in Physi-cal Gold or hold Gold Accounts directly as this will normally involve storage and insur-ance cost and can become administratively difficult to handle.

Over the last 15 years, Gold has been the highest performer

VENDREDI 22 MAI 2020 | BIZWEEK | ÉDITION 291

LA TOUR3

In a Special Report entitled ‘Gold as an Investment’, Aon Hewitt (Mauritius) analyses whether Gold, as an investment, can be used by Pension Funds as a diversifier in the Strategic Asset Allocation. Unlike the recent downfall of the Equity and Fixed Income Markets, the latest performance

of gold has been commendable

INVESTMENT

makes searching simple

O�cial online directory of Mauritius Telecom

Business People

Through the centuries, the de-cennial count progressed from in-person collections of hand-written answers to mass mailings of paper questionnaires in 1970.

Among other changes along the way: creation of an electrical punch card tabulator for the 1890 Census and the first use by a government agency of the world’s first modern computer – IBM’s UNIVAC 1 – for the 1950 Census.

The Census Bureau has been a leader in using, adapting and developing new technol-ogies but the 2020 Census will be the most sophisticated and high tech yet.

America Counts spoke with Robert Colosi, a mathematical statistician in the Census Bu-reau’s Decennial Statistics Studies Division, about ways technology is revolutionizing the census.

He shared four specific changes that have had a major impact on how the Census Bu-reau counts everyone once, only once, and in the right place.

Innovation 1: Using Satellite Imagery to Check Addresses

Before the Census Bureau can count every person in the country, it must first collect ad-dresses for every housing unit. One way the Census Bureau uses this address list is to mail census materials, including invitations to re-spond online, by phone or by mail.

Census Bureau employees used to “canvass” neighborhoods in person, jotting down new addresses and correcting old ones on paper.

This long-running operation, known as Ad-dress Canvassing, is one of the ways the Cen-sus Bureau updates its Master Address File or MAF. The Census Bureau also works with the United States Postal Service (USPS) to con-firm already existing addresses on file.

Address canvassing was costly and time-consuming. Employees traveled a total of 137 million miles to update the MAF be-fore the 2010 Census.

“The number of miles we traveled was astronomi-cal,” Colosi said. “We’re not going to do that for the 2020 Census.”

In 2015, the Census Bureau began using aerial images from a network of satellites.

The Census Bureau developed computer software that allows employees in offices to compare satellite images from 2010 to new ones taken in real time. This helps them identi-fy new houses, apartment buildings and other units to verify in the traditional Address Can-vassing operation.

Thanks to the new In-Office Address Canvassing system, census workers reviewed 100% of all addresses in the United States for the 2020 Census and validated 65% in the of-fice, removing them from the in-field work-load.

That means workers needed to canvas few-er neighborhoods in person, saving time and money.

Address listers or canvassers hit the streets in August 2019 and completed the operation two months later, on track for the 2020 Cen-sus.

Innovation 2: Introducing Online Self-Response

The 2020 Census is the first time everyone has the option to respond to the census online as well as by phone or mail.

The Census Bureau has an Internet Self-Re-sponse tool designed to make it easy to com-plete the questionnaire online and keep re-sponses secure. Directions for responding online will be included in letters, postcards and other mailings sent to most homes beginning in mid-March.

Every response submitted on the internet is encrypted. That means data are changed into a code that only Census Bureau data analysts can read. Responses travel through a secure cloud computer network and the Census Bu-reau locks them in a “digital vault”.

The Internet Self-Response instrument, the website for completing the census online, is available in English and 12 other languages.

Census Bureau employees, called census response representatives will also provide computers and tablets for access to the Inter-net Self-Response tool at places like libraries, community centers, health care centers and places of worship. This is particularly helpful in rural and other areas with limited or no in-ternet access.

Innovation 3: Introducing Mobile Devices to Enumeration

From collecting census responses and job applications to storing questionnaires, the

Census Bureau has used millions of pieces of paper to gather and file information. Now it relies much more on technology – and much less on paper.

In 2020, census takers who go door-to-door to help people respond will collect informa-tion on smartphones using a custom applica-tion created by the Census Bureau.

“The Systems Engineering and Integration Team created 52 systems in our ‘system of systems,’” Co-losi said. “There’s a whole group of systems related to that one contract of enumeration and operations control. All of it was built by Census Bureau staff and contractors.”

To protect privacy, we encrypt all data and devices require two-factor authentication to be unlocked.

When a device connects to the internet, encrypted data immediately transmits to the Census Bureau’s digital vault – and is no longer on the device. Encrypted data are only stored on the devices until they connect to the internet.

Software in the smartphones also provides specific routes for census takers to follow to visit homes. Optimizing routes in this way helps census takers do their jobs more effi-ciently.

If a device is lost or stolen, the Census Bu-reau will remotely wipe it clean of all applica-tions and information.

Innovation 4: New Ways to Protect Data

The Census Bureau is the leading source of quality data about the nation’s people and economy in its many surveys and programs, including the 2020 Census.

Opportunities to share and protect its data continue to grow with technology and innova-tion, particularly through data mashups.

Data mashups are algorithms that combine different data sources to expand graphical un-derstanding of the data but can also find the origin of a particular set of data.

To protect against that, the Census Bureau has developed processes to protect its data from people who might try to make such mashups. Its Disclosure Avoidance System helps prevent improper disclosure of data. This addition is one of several advances the Census Bureau has made to safeguard an in-dividual’s data.

“When we produced products in the old days, we didn’t have super high-tech and savvy users,” Colosi said. “The idea of computing data mashups to try and combine different data sources to find individual responses was not common. Now it is.”

All responses to the 2020 Census are con-fidential and protected by law. Title 13 of the Federal Code prohibits the Census Bureau from publishing or disclosing any private in-formation, including names, addresses and telephone numbers.

“Our cybersecurity meets the latest, highest stand-ards for protecting your information,” Census Bu-reau Chief Information Officer Kevin Smith said. “We work with industry experts to continually review and refine our approach to make sure we are staying ahead of threats and ensuring quick response. From the moment we collect your responses, our goal — and legal obligation — is to keep them safe.”

Census Bureau employees take an oath to keep your answers confidential. Violators face up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

[Source: United States Census Bureau - 19 May 2020]

Four Ways New Technology is Revolutionizing the 2020 Census

VENDREDI 22 MAI 2020 | BIZWEEK | ÉDITION 291

ACTA PUBLICA4

The census began in 1790 with collected information handwritten by U.S. Marshals visiting outposts in every corner of the new nation. Every dec-ade since, the ways the U.S. Census Bureau has tried to meet its goal of counting every person living in the United States have undergone changes

as dramatic as the growth of the nation itself

UNITED STATES

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System made public its ‘Financial Stability Re-port’ wherein the Federal Reserve Board pro-vides a current assessment of the resilience of the United States’ financial system. The course

of the pandemic and the size and duration of the resulting economic fallout remain, according to the report, the most significant risks to the economy and financial system. The re-alization of these risks depends largely on the success of pub-lic health measures and other government actions to contain the spread of COVID-19. In addition, the steps households and businesses take to resume economic activity, supported by government efforts and policy actions, may ameliorate the most adverse potential outcomes.

Other sets of risks are also inherent.

The pandemic could persist for a prolonged period or re-emerge, further delaying the recovery of U.S. eco-nomic activity and leading to strains on the financial sys-tem that worsen the downturn . . .

Most forecasters expect a sharp contraction in econom-ic output in the United States, for at least the first half of 2020, and a global recession. The expected slowdown could affect the financial system by further weakening the balance sheets of businesses and households, especially those that are already vulnerable. Furthermore, monetary and fiscal policy tools have limited ability to moderate some dimensions of what is fundamentally a public health shock.

If the outbreak persists or if there is a second wave of the pandemic, downward pressure on the U.S economy would be sustained, as businesses would remain shuttered and workers that have been laid off would be without normal income for a longer period. A number of the vulnerabilities identified in this report could grow, making them more likely to fur-ther amplify negative shocks to the economy. Investor risk appetite and asset prices have declined, as would be expected with such an extreme shock. With a protracted pandemic, risk aversion could increase further. Disturbances from COV-ID-19 have substantially weakened the outlook for profits of nonfinancial businesses. Given the generally high level of lev-erage in the nonfinancial business sector, financial stress and defaults could become more widespread in a more sustained economic downturn.

In addition, a prolonged slowdown could further deterio-rate the finances of even high-credit-score households, which could lead to defaults and place financial pressure on banks and other lenders. Broader solvency issues could impair the ability of some financial institutions to lend or induce more selling of assets and redemptions of withdrawable liabilities.

. . . and financial institutions are at greater risk for ad-verse operational events in the meantime

The pandemic has had significant effects on the operations of a variety of financial firms, leading to an increase in oper-ational risk in the financial system. Financial institutions have been operating based on their business continuity plans while often intermediating very high transaction volumes. Banks’ relative success thus far demonstrates the benefits of both having those plans and actively testing them. Nonetheless, banks have been following these plans for longer than antici-pated and should continue developing new longer-term plans.

Many operational challenges make it harder to operate ef-ficiently or effectively. Absenteeism has increased because of

social distancing or illness and also because of competing re-sponsibilities such as childcare. Some large banks have selec-tively closed branches or opted to alternate branch operating times. Smaller banks and those that operate in rural markets may have less flexibility and could be significantly impaired if a staff member were infected. Many financial infrastructures have switched to operating completely remotely at a time when transaction volumes have often been extremely high.

During periods when financial institutions operate remote-ly or with limited staff, the possibility of operational miscues or other mistakes may increase. For example, remote arrange-ments have slowed decision-making or approval channels which can result in processing delays and create backlogs due to employees who experience difficulties with internet or oth-er infrastructure issues at home. And financial firms are also more vulnerable to security risks, as more employees work from home.

Stresses emanating from Europe pose risks to the United States because of strong transmission channels . . .

European banks play an important role in global financial intermediation and have notable financial and economic link-ages with the United States. Over the past few months, many countries in Europe forced nationwide lockdowns to mitigate COVID-19’s spread; many businesses were ordered to shut down, and residents were required to stay at home for pro-longed periods, damping economic activity, which could lead to sizable loan losses in the banking system.

In response to these developments, European govern-ments have implemented fiscal policies that have resulted in increased government spending and tax relief. These fiscal policy actions will likely reduce financial stability risks, on bal-ance, in the short run. However, further expansionary policies, possibly due to large-scale reinfections of COVID-19, could have the potential to result in a sizable increase in government debt and a further increase in sovereign risk in the long run.

In Italy, for example, additional fiscal measures could have implications for the sustainability of Italian sovereign debt, which is already elevated as a share of output.

If debt sustainability were to materially worsen in Italy and in other highly indebted countries, it also could stress Euro-pean financial institutions and lead to political tensions within the euro area. Such a development could, in turn, affect the U.S economy and the financial system through dollar funding markets, credit exposures, a further deterioration in risk appe-tite, and trade channels.

In addition to the COVID-19-related risks, a no-trade-deal Brexit still poses risks to the European and U.S financial sys-tems. Although the United Kingdom formally left the Euro-pean Union (EU) in January, it remains under the EU’s trade rules until the end of this year. The failure to reach a final trade agreement could lead to supply chain disruptions in Eu-rope and also could result in losses for European financial institutions. Accordingly, although financial institutions will have had ample time to prepare for Brexit, an unsuccessful trade agreement could lead to strains in global financial mar-kets, resulting in a tightening of U.S financial conditions.

. . .and adverse developments in China and other emerging market economies with vulnerable financial systems and strained public finances could also spill over to the United States

Because of the size of the economy, prolonged or recur-rent periods of markedly depressed economic activity in Chi-na due to reinfections of COVID-19 could spill over to U.S and global markets through disruptions in supply chains, a further reduction of risk appetite, more U.S dollar apprecia-tion, and additional declines in commodity prices. In China, the spread of the virus has slowed significantly and, therefore, restrictions on domestic travel and economic activity have in large part been lifted.

That said, a sluggish recovery of Chinese domestic de-mand, a deeper slump in demand from abroad, or renewed efforts to curtail another virus outbreak could put additional pressure on Chinese firms, which are already highly indebted, and could put stress on the vulnerable financial sector. This situation could further strain global financial markets and dis-rupt regional value chains and exports to China, which could ultimately affect the U.S financial system.

Broader stresses in EMEs, in which health-care systems, political institutions, and financial infrastructures are more fragile, could also have repercussions for the United States. In particular, Latin American economies, which have had per-sistent current account deficits, have already seen significant capital outflows due to a drop in global risk appetite. If the spread of COVID-19 is not mitigated in these countries and authorities find they have limited fiscal capacity to deal with the macroeconomic shock and the health crisis, further dete-rioration in credit risk or risk appetite could lead to balance of payment crises. For oil exporters, these dynamics could be exacerbated if oil prices remain depressed or fall even further because of either weak demand or a resumption of disputes within OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries).

Further dollar appreciation due to widespread stresses in EMEs could potentially put additional strains on U.S firms that rely on exports and supply chains for their business op-erations. Some U.S financial institutions may be directly af-fected by their exposures to these U.S firms, in addition to the stressed EME firms and sovereigns themselves.

The Federal Reserve Board explains the near-term risks

to its financial system

VENDREDI 22 MAI 2020 | BIZWEEK | ÉDITION 291

ACTA PUBLICA5

The following analysis of the Federal Reserve Board of the United States of America considers possible interactions of existing vulnerabilities with three broad categories of risk that were raised in discussions with domestic and international policy-makers, academics, community groups, and others: a prolonged slowdown in U.S economic growth, risks emanating from Europe, and risks originating in China and other Emerging Market

Economies (EMEs)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Monetary and fiscal policy tools have limited ability to moderate some

dimensions of what is fundamentally a public

health shock

Fiscal Policies for the Recovery from COVID-19

OPINION

When the Great Lockdown finally ends, a strong economic recovery that benefits everyone will depend on improved social safety nets and broad-based fiscal support. This includes public investment in health care, infrastructure, and climate change. Countries with high debt levels will have to carefully balance short-term fiscal support for the recovery stage with long-term debt sustainability.

The new Fiscal Monitor helps policymak-ers choose how to invest for the future in a fiscally prudent way, adopt well-planned discretionary policies to stimulate demand, and enhance social safety nets and unem-ployment benefits.

Enhance social safety nets for people

The pandemic has shown how vulnerable people are and served as a wakeup call for action.

In response, countries have temporarily extended unemployment benefits and ex-panded social safety nets to varying degrees. For example, the United States has legislat-ed larger temporary lifelines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic than Europe partly because its social safety net has traditional-ly been smaller.

While some of these temporary lifelines will expire over time, making parts of these provisions permanent and upgrading the tax-benefits systems can also automatically stabilize people’s incomes in future epidem-ics and crises.

But what are the attributes of a good social safety net? Three matter the most:• First, provide broad coverage and ade-

quate benefits to vulnerable groups in a progressive way—that is, more generous benefits to the poorest.

• Second, preserve work incentives and help beneficiaries find jobs, obtain health care, and attend education and training.

• Third, strive to avoid a fragmented, com-plex web of social protection programs that ends up being more costly to run and not benefiting people in a fair and consistent way.

Against these yardsticks, governments in advanced economies can improve social safety nets by covering more people within existing programs and by improving the impact the benefits have on people’s lives.

In emerging market and developing countries, governments can fill gaps in coverage by expanding existing programs and using other delivery instruments. These include mobile phone networks and in-kind provision of goods and services—especially health, food, and transportation—to reach people most in need or currently left out.

Social safety nets could result in a better redistribution if a larger share of the poorest 20 percent of the population receive

more benefits relative to the richest 20 per-cent of the population.

Plan discretionary policies

To help businesses rehire workers after the pandemic, governments could plan tem-porary payroll tax cuts to encourage firms to hire. To get people to spend, they can use time-bound value-added-tax reductions or consumption vouchers. Smaller investment projects can be accelerated. More broadly, countries can legislate in advance measures that would automatically activate in down-turns, for example some social benefits and tax relief. This would get much needed fiscal support to people faster. At the same time, the scope of support depends on a country’s ability to finance these measures.

Invest for the futureQuality public investment is necessary in

health care systems to protect people and minimize the risks from future epidemics. Other priorities include infrastructure, green technologies like wind and solar energy, and progress toward other Sustainable Devel-opment Goals such as education and access to clean water and sanitation. Additional investment needs are likely to exceed $20 trillion, globally at current prices, over the next two decades.

Considering the long lead time of capital projects like roads, bridges, and clean energy, governments should start now to review the investment pipeline. This will give them time to resolve bottlenecks and prepare a set of ready-to-implement projects they can deploy once the Great Lockdown ends.

Decisions, including whether and how much to scale up quality public investment, will depend on the needs in specific sectors and their economic and social benefits,

financing capacity, and the efficiency of public investment. This last point is critical for all countries because one-third of funds for public infrastructure is lost worldwide to inefficiency and corruption.

For advanced economies with ample room in the budget such as Germany and the Neth-erlands, spending more on public investment is worthwhile because the value of the result-ing assets will likely exceed the liabilities incurred given how low interest rates are. This in turn improves the public sector’s net worth. For countries with less room to manoeuvre when it comes to spending, such as Italy and Spain, they can redirect revenues and expenditures to increase investment.

In emerging markets and developing economies such as Brazil and South Africa, high debt levels and rising interest payments call for financing development in a prudent and sustainable way. These countries should try to achieve more with less. Raising tax revenues over the long term would be crucial for low-income developing countries such as Nigeria.

Managing higher government debt loads

Supporting the recovery with fiscal tools while managing higher government debt levels is a delicate balancing act. The pandemic and its economic fallout, along with policy responses, have contributed to a major increase in fiscal deficits and govern-ment debt ratios. As the pandemic abates and the economy recovers, government debt ratios are expected to stabilize, albeit at new—higher—levels. If the recovery takes longer than expected, debt dynamics could be more unfavourable.

As the pandemic subsides, countries can support their economic rebound with an eye on advancing credible medium-term reform plans.

VENDREDI 22 MAI 2020 | BIZWEEK | ÉDITION 291

POST SCRIPTUM6

Fiscal policies have provided large emergency lifelines to people and firms during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are also invaluable to increase a country’s readiness to respond to a crisis and to help with the recovery and beyond

Authors:

Vitor GAspAr (Director of the iMf’s fiscAl AffAirs De-pArtMent), W. rAphAel lAM AnD MehDi rAissi (senior econoMists in the iMf’s fis-cAl AffAirs DepArtMent)

DEBRIEF7

L’objectif de ce rapport a été de mesurer l’impact de la pandémie de Covid-19

sur l’ensemble de l’industrie, mais aussi et surtout de tirer la sonnette d’alarme quant à sa survie tenant en ligne de compte que la com-munication est le lien entre les entreprises et les consommateurs. Des consultations ont ainsi eu lieu auprès de la MCCI et d’autres in-stances.

Avec un chiffre d’affaires an-nuel de Rs 5 milliards, cette indus-trie contribue, en effet, activement à l’économie du pays, et pourvoit quelque 3 500 emplois. Elle en-globe les agences de communi-cation globale, digitales, événe-mentielles, médias, imprimeurs, sociétés d’affichage, prestataires techniques et autres métiers an-nexes incluant les photographes, studio multimédia et agences artis-tiques, entre autres. Selon l’étude de Kantar TNS Analysis, les médi-as, les agences de communication, les imprimeurs et les agences événementielles représentent 76% de ce chiffre d’affaires annuel et 73% des emplois de l’industrie.

81% des entreprises sont des PME : la moitié déclarent moins de Rs 10 m annuellement et 31% entre Rs 10 m et Rs 50 m. Le rap-port fait aussi ressortir une perte de revenus de mars à décembre

2020, évaluée à 74%, pour l’en-semble de l’industrie. Il est aussi mentionné que près de 60% des entreprises ont de fortes incerti-tudes sur leur capacité à maintenir l’emploi et 35% envisagent déjà des réductions d’effectifs malgré le soutien reçu de l’état.

Les pertes de revenus, malgré les supports reçus, auront un im-

pact direct sur les emplois : 35% des entreprises envisagent déjà à court terme des réductions d’ef-fectifs et 26% d’incertains. Les entreprises recherchent surtout une souplesse dans les politiques salariales, notamment la possibilité être soutenus pour appliquer des baisses de salaires et permettre que l’entreprise survive.

L’ACA prévoit une baisse de 74% du chiffres

d’affaire pour l’année

SECTEUR DE LA COMMUNICATION

MC Vision renforce les mesures sanitaires au sein des huit CANAL+ STORES opérationnels

Depuis l’annonce du lever partiel du confinement, MC Vision a mis les bouchées doubles pour la mise en place d’un protocole sanitaire et sécuritaire strict visant à protéger ses abonnés, ses collaborateurs ainsi que leurs familles. Depuis le vendredi 15 mai, huit CANAL+ STORES sont opérationnels et tous les visi-teurs doivent suivre à la lettre les consignes de sécurité sanitaire, établies par le leader de la télévision à péage à Maurice et en ligne avec les recommandations de l’État et de l’OMS. Les succursales opérationnelles sont celles du Complexe Quay 11 à Port-Louis, Grand-Bay Cœur de Ville, Bagatelle Mall à Moka, City Trianon, rue Chasteauneuf à Curepipe, rue Cent Gaulettes à Mahébourg, Flacq Cœur de Ville et Place Cap Tamarin.

Domino’s Pizza met la main à la pâte

Donner le sourire à ceux qui en ont besoin : c’était le souhait des équipes de Domino’s Pizza Maurice le vendredi 15 mai, à travers l’opération ‘Giving a slice of happiness’. Organisée dans le cadre de la Journée internationale des familles, cette opéra-tion visait à réunir les enfants des shelters des associations Etoile du Berger et World Light autour d’un repas composé de pizzas. C’est ainsi qu’une livraison spéciale a été effectuée par les équipes de l’enseigne de restauration rapide.

L’Or Espresso désormais disponible à Maurice

Le site de distribution en ligne de Grays ( www.grayshomede-liveries.com ) propose dès cette semaine, et pour la première fois à Maurice, une véritable exclusivité à ses clients : L’Or Espresso Aluminium Capsules, première capsule de café compatible avec les machines à café Nespresso®. Créé en France en 1992, L’Or a toujours eu pour ambition de proposer le meilleur café au monde. La qualité inégalable du café L’OR continue de séduire les aficio-nados avec sa nouvelle déclinaison en capsules aluminium, grâce à des arômes sublimés par le savoir-faire de son équipe et par la qualité extraordinaire des grains de café utilisés.

Parmi les arômes proposés, les clients ont le choix entre cinq cafés classiques aux arômes d’intensités différentes : Forza, Splendente, Lungo Profundo, Ristretto, Decaf, mais également une gamme de cafés spéciaux dont les grains proviennent de pays producteurs de renom : The L’Or Origins Collection.

81% des entreprises sont des PME et la perte de revenus de mars à décembre 2020 est évaluée à 74% pour l’année. C’est ce qui ressort d’une étude réalisée par Kantar TNS Analysis sur l’ensemble des métiers de la communication, et commanditée par

Association of Communication Agencies of Mauritius (ACA)

VENDREDI 22 MAI 2020 | BIZWEEK | ÉDITION 291

Dans le cadre du déconfine-ment partiel et de la réouverture de certaines chaînes de restaura-tion, le ministère du Commerce sous les recommandations de la Mauritius Chamber of Commerce

and Industry (MCCI), a mis en place un protocole pour régle-menter l’accès aux services drive-thru et take-away. Conformément à ce protocole, le public pourra bénéficier de ces services par or-

dre alphabétique, comme c’est le cas actuellement pour les super-marchés. Ceux ayant un Work Access Permit (WAP) pourront, pour leur part, y accéder tous les jours.

Le ministère du Commerce réglemente l’accès aux services drive-thru et take-away

Fidèle à son habitude, la popula-tion mauricienne se montre des plus solidaires depuis le début de la crise sanitaire. C’est la raison pour laquelle, Moka’mwad, le collectif citoyen de la Smart City de Moka, a organisé du 12 au 15 mai dernier, plusieurs col-lectes de sang au sein de la ville, avec la collaboration de la Blood Donors Association, des associations, volon-

taires et entreprises de la région, de la police de Moka, ENL Foundation, des sponsors, entre autres. Au total, 169 pintes de sang ont été collectées durant ces quatre jours, notamment au Mount Ory Social Welfare Center, au Centre Commercial Kendra, au poste de police de Moka et au Cen-tre Communautaire ZNK à Cité Ste Catherine.

Collectes de sang à Moka : Les donneurs fidèles au rendez-vous

DEBRIEF8

Les associations du secteur des TIC que sont l’OTAM, la MITIA et la CCIFM, à

travers la FINAM, se sont asso-ciées à l’Union internationale des télécommunications (UIT) pour célébrer la Journée mondiale des télécommunications et de la so-ciété de l’information, le 17 mai. Le thème retenu cette année est ‘Connect 2030 : Les TIC au service des Objectifs de développement durable’.

S’alignant sur cette perspective, Mme Jenny Chan, présidente de la FINAM et vice-présidente de l’OTAM, souligne que « l’innovation et la transformation digitale constituent un socle capital du fonctionnement de nos sociétés civiles et de nos entreprises. » Dans un monde qui se digitalise plus rapidement que jamais, elle in-vite toute personne à en saisir les atouts afin d’accroitre ses capacités d’apprentissage, de développer ses compétences dans le numérique ou dans d’autres domaines au travers, par exemple, des nombreuses plate-

formes accessibles à tous. Elle note les efforts menés par les autorités à Maurice pour tendre vers une ‘Dig-ital Mauritius’, même s’il reste en-core beaucoup à faire compte tenu des évolutions technologiques.

Dans le Programme de dévelop-pement durable à l’horizon 2030, il est reconnu que l’expansion de l’in-formatique et des communications et l’interdépendance mondiale des

activités ont le potentiel d’accélérer les progrès de l’humanité. Le ‘Pro-gramme Connect 2030’ pour le développement des télécommuni-cations/TIC dans le monde, im-pulsé par l’UIT, met l’accent sur la contribution des avancées tech-niques à atteindre plus rapidement les Objectifs de développement durable (ODD) des Nations Unies dans les dix prochaines années.

Les TIC au service des Objectifs de

développement durable

CONNECT 2030

Cascavelle Shopping Village reprend vie en douceur

Après presque deux mois durant lesquels seuls le supermarché Win-ner’s et la pharmacie MedActiv étaient opérationnels, d’autres ensei-gnes du Cascavelle Shopping Village ont enfin pu reprendre graduel-lement leurs activités, le vendredi 15 mai. Si les restaurants et cafés proposent uniquement les services de livraisons à domicile et de com-mandes à emporter (take away), les autres locataires, à l’instar du salon de coiffure Katbalou et le cabinet optique Farouk Hossen entre autres, redoublent de vigilance quant aux consignes sanitaires pour accueillir les clients.

Cim Finance met sept succursales au service de ses clients

Suite au feu vert des autorités, Cim Finance a rouvert sept de ses suc-cursales au public depuis le vendredi 15 mai. Ainsi, les bureaux de sept localités névralgiques sont ouverts du lundi au samedi entre 9h et 16h, et ce, jusqu’à nouvel ordre. L’institut financière a, par ailleurs, renforcé les mesures préventives visant à protéger ses équipes et ses clients, et un service minimum dédié principalement aux paiements des mensu-alités sera proposé. Les succursales opérationnelles sont : Port-Louis, Curepipe, Vacoas, Rose-Hill, Flacq, Goodlands et Mahébourg.

MCB : Extension des heures d’ouverture en semaine

Il est à noter que 34 agences de la MCB sont désormais ouvertes de 9h à 15h30 du lundi au vendredi. La visite des agences se fera uniquement par ordre alphabétique. Seules les agences de Stanley, Plaine-des-Papa-yes et Montagne-Blanche n’ouvriront pas leurs portes, jusqu’à nouvel ordre. La MCB continuera à appliquer strictement son protocole de sécurité sanitaire dans toutes les agences concernées.

Huit showrooms d’Emtel ouverts depu-is le 15 mai

Emtel a rouvert huit de ses showrooms depuis le vendredi 15 mai. Les succursales de Curepipe, Mahébourg, Port-Louis, Quatre Bornes, Bel Air, Bagatelle, Grand Baie Super U et Cascavelle sont désormais opérationnelles du lundi au samedi, entre 9 h et 17 h. Les clients, qui devront impérativement porter un masque, seront accueillis par ordre alphabétique. Pour cette réouverture, l’opérateur de téléphonie mobile a mis en place plusieurs mesures sanitaires pour garantir la sécurité de sa clientèle et de son personnel.

Red Bull Street Style 2020 en mode online et ouvert aux Mauriciens

Vous savez faire des « tricks » avec un ballon de football, avec les pieds, la tête, la poitrine ? Vous pouvez le faire et danser en même temps en étant créatif ? Inscrivez-vous à l’édition 2020 de la compétition in-ternationale Red Bull Street Style, ouverte pour la première fois aux Mauriciens. Cette édition 2020 se déroule en mode online, crise sanitaire de Covid-19 oblige. Les inscriptions pour la première phase éliminatoire sont ouvertes à partir du 18 mai, jusqu’au 21 juin. Une visite sur le site www.redbullstreetstyle.com suffit pour tout comprendre et pour s’inscrire. Red Bull Street Style a été lancé en 2008, afin de trouver le meilleur « freestyler » avec un ballon de football au monde. Le meilleur homme et la meilleure femme du concours doivent passer toutes les étapes et démontrer leur maîtrise du ballon, de leurs mouvements, et de la créativité pour réaliser des « tricks » époustouflants et réussis.

La Journée mondiale des télécommunications et de la société de l’information a pour but de contribuer à sensibiliser l’opinion aux perspectives qu’ouvre l’utilisation de l’Internet et des

autres technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC) dans les domaines économ-ique et social. Le thème de cette année 2020 s’intitule « Connect 2030 : Les TIC au service des

Objectifs de développement durable (ODD) »

VENDREDI 22 MAI 2020 | BIZWEEK | ÉDITION 291

Pour les neufs mois de l’année fi-nancière 2019-2020, ABC Banking Corporation réalise un résultat d’ex-ploitation hors coût du risque (profit before impairment) de Rs 309 mil-lions. Ces résultats représentent une amélioration de 21.5% par rapport à la même période l’année dernière (Rs 254 millions). De plus, la ban-que enregistre une croissance de 7.7% de ses revenus nets d’intérêts grâce notamment à une augmenta-tion de son portefeuille de prêts et investissements alors que les frais autres que d’intérêts ont diminué et se chiffrent à Rs 228 millions.

« En cette période d’incertitude et en

total adhérence aux normes comptables et régulatrices, la banque a dû faire des provisions de Rs 113 millions sur les sec-teurs affectés par le Covid-19 ainsi que sur des actifs non performants, » explique Yashod Umanee, General Manager

d’ABC Banking Corporation Ltd. Les bénéfices après impôts, se chif-frant à Rs 164 millions, connaissent donc une baisse par rapport aux Rs 211 millions enregistrés au 31 mars 2019.

Résultats financiers : ABC Banking démontre sa résilience dans un contexte d’incertitude