Page 6 - MPA ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017

DRIVEN BY PASSION AND PRIDE

CHAIRMAN’S

Report

TO MAKE OF THE PORT A CUSTOMER-DRIVEN MODEL OF EXCELLENCE

Growing exigencies of the maritime market

Over the last few years, the upward trend in the growth of the overall cargo traffic is keeping pace and it
is likely to gain further momentum in the year ahead as a result of the positive impact of the huge and
judicious capital investment made in the upgrading of our port Infrastructures. The accumulated positive
performance registered year in and year out is mainly attributable to our constant efforts in responding to
the growing exigencies of the maritime market in terms of efficiency and productivity.

Net surplus of MUR 692.9 million

Exceptionally, the present financial report has been extended to 18 months’ period ending 30 June 2017.
The total cargo traffic reached a figure of 11.1 million tonnes whilst container traffic stood at 567,850 TEUs
during the same period. The MPA posted a net surplus of MUR 692.9 million and the Authority’s operating
revenue has also experienced a positive trend to reach the global figure of MUR 1.962 billion.
The continuous good performance achieved in both financial and operational sectors was due to a faster
than anticipated upturn in the global port trade. Under the stewardship of the Prime Minister, the MPA
is more than ever determined in ensuring that Port Louis Harbour is geared up and ready to tap on new
business opportunities in the present dynamic evolution of world trade.

51,964 cruise passengers at Port Louis Harbour

The cruise sector is emerging at a promising level of growth. Cruise vessel calls increased to 42 for the 18
months’ period ending 30 June 2017 with the arrival of 51,964 cruise passengers at Port Louis Harbour
whilst 51,304 passengers left the port on board cruise vessels within the fly and cruise concept.
The economic importance of cruise tourism is widely acknowledged which has been demonstrated by
the renewed interest of cruise liners to homeport Port Louis. The buoyancy of this business segment has
inspired us to add value to our service by the upgrading of the existing facility with the construction of a
state-of-the-art Cruise Terminal Building, which will be used to service both the inter-island and international
passenger traffic. Though the MPA will not be recouping its total investment in this project, our motivation
is to think of cruises as a contributor to the country’s GDP. The design of this iconic building has been
finalised and the construction is expected to start during mid-2018. The project would be completed in
2019 at an estimated cost of Rs 680 million.

4 MAURITIUS PORTS AUTHORITY | ANNUAL REPORT 2016-17