RCCI’s Foundational Brief
Rodrigues has reached a moment of truth: traditional sources of income are drying up, and public finances are becoming increasingly constrained. The 2025–26 national budget marks a significant drop in allocations to Rodrigues, signalling the end of an era of easy transfers. This turning point is reinforced by a new legal framework: the Rodrigues Regional Assembly (Amendment) Bill introduces performance-based budgeting, linking funds to outcomes and subjecting local economic decision-making to greater oversight. In plain terms, Rodrigues must now do more with less. And more than ever, it must do so on its own.
In this context, the creation of the Rodrigues Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) marks a decisive push towards private-sector-led growth. This article outlines why this moment is critical for Rodrigues and what RCCI brings to the table. It is structured in eight parts.
I. The Mirage of the Rodriguan Private Sector
For decades, the economic governance of Rodrigues has operated with a striking omission: the private sector has been left out of the equation. While government budgets, strategic plans, and public policies have multiplied, they remain largely blind to the fundamental role of private enterprise in creating jobs, generating income, and ensuring long-term economic resilience.
The 2024–25 budget speech mentions the private sector in just a few vague lines, including a poorly translated announcement of a “network business” that raises more concern than hope. The 2025–26 budget amplifies the misguided policy of non-refundable grants—a deadly poison for any private sector, as they unbalance level playing fields and distort competition.
The recent launch of the Rodrigues Labour Tripartite Consultative Committee is another example: while the Mauritian side was represented by Business Mauritius and major trade unions, no Rodriguan employers were invited. Worse, when commissioners speak of “the private sector”, they often refer exclusively to Mauritian conglomerates—not to local entrepreneurs.