ISSCT XXVI Congress - Post-Congress Tour

This is a unique occasion to combine a stimulating visit to one of the oldest sugar cane industries in the world with some relaxation in a tropical paradise island. Sugar cane was introduced into Mauritius by the Dutch in 1639 and sugar production began in 1696. Apart from its long history the Mauritian sugar industry is also renowned for its quality, expertise and ingenuity in the face of difficult climatic, geographic and economic circumstances.

The post-Congress tour will take place in Mauritius from Saturday 4 August to Monday 6 August. Delegates will have the opportunity to see there, how one of the longer established island-based cane industries is re-engineering itself from a single-based commodity industry (i.e. sugar) into a sugar cane cluster. This is essential to respond positively to the challenges associated with the reduction in the preferential price of sugar which, in the framework of the reform of the sugar regime of the European Union, will impact significantly on the revenues of the Mauritian industry.

Delegates are expected to leave Durban through Johannesburg on Friday 3 August. The factory and agricultural groups will visit various locations across Mauritius on Saturday 4 and Monday 6 August, while on Sunday 5 delegates will be free either to relax on the beach or to visit places of interest. A welcome cocktail will be held on Friday 3 August and a farewell dinner will be arranged for Monday 6 August 2007. Departures can be planned as from Tuesday 7 August but some delegates may wish to prolong their stay, combining the short visit to Réunion, in order to appreciate the beauty and diversity of the exotic setting in the sister islands.

The Factory Tour will include visits to sugar cane factories, an ethanol plant, cogeneration plants, rum distilleries, etc. The Agricultural Tour delegates will visit the research institute and sugar estates to see various agronomic practices with emphasis on total mechanisation of field operations in the particular context of Mauritius.

The overall objective of the post-Congress tour is to show how a small industry, known for its resilience, is coping with the daunting challenges associated with the significant reduction of 36% in the price of sugar in the framework of the reform of the European Union sugar regime. The Mauritian sugar industry is being re-engineered from one based on a single commodity into a sugar cane cluster, which will be exploiting the full potential of the sugar cane biomass.

PROGRAMME

Saturday 4 August
Morning   8:00 Registration in hotel
Field Tour       Site: Mon Désert Alma
                       - Mechanized harvesting and cultural practices in humid conditions
                       - Dual row planting
                       - Farm planning and drainage
Factory Tour   Site: Belle Vue
                       Centrale Thermique de Belle Vue (CTBV)
                       - Electricity co-generation from bagasse
                       Belle Vue mill: Visit

Afternoon
Field Tour      Site: Beau Champ
                      - Burnt cane harvest: manual and mechanized
                      - Land planning in sloping field
Factory Tour Site: Beau Plan
                      - Grays distillery
                      Sugar museum: l’Aventure du Sucre

Evening
Cocktail

Morning
Field Tour       Site: Médine
                       - Rock removal and land preparation for mechanization
                       - Organic cane production
                       - Irrigation systems
                       - Crop diversification
Factory Tour Site: Savannah
                       Centrale Thermique de Savannah (CTSAV)
                       - New co-generation plant
                       Société Usinière du Sud (SUDS)
                       - New state of the art mill

Afternoon
Field Tour      Site: Réduit
                      Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute (MSIRI)
                      Regional Training Centre (RTC)
                      - R&D and human resource development
Factory tour Site: St Aubin
                      - Rum distillery
                      - St Aubin mill
                     - Coal-fired electricity plant
Evening
Farewell dinner

Tuesday 7 August: Transfer to airport
                               Departure from Mauritius

Registration Fee:
The price of the post-Congress tour, excluding air tickets and accommodation will be USD 175 per person. This fee includes transfer from the airport to hotel, transport during trips and ancillary costs.

For further information and arrangements, please contact
STASM
stasm@msiri.intnet.mu

or the Councillor for Mauritius
Mr. Denis PILOT
dpilot@harelfreres.com

VENUE:The Sands Resort
             Wolmar
             Flic en Flac
             MAURITIUS
             Telephone : (230) 403 1200
             Telefax : (230) 453 5300
             E-mail : infosands@intnet.mu
             Web site : www.thesands.info

The coordinator for hotel bookings and transfers is Mr MARIO MARTIN
Rev’Voyages Ltée
Garden Village Complex
Sir Winston Churchill Street
Curepipe
MAURITIUS
Tel. (+230) 670 59 39
Fax (+230) 670 59 41
Cell (+230) 251 59 55
E-mail : mmartin.revvoy@intnet.mu

PROGRAMME

Room