Mauritius Minister Sik Yuen Fires Entire STC Board of Directors

Mauritius Trade Minister Arvin Sik Yuen has confirmed that he has dismissed the entire board of directors of the State Trading Corporation (STC), in a significant intervention into one of the country's most powerful state-owned enterprises. The announcement was made by Sik Yuen during an interview on Le Defi Media's *Au Cœur de l'Info* programme, where he stated plainly: "I have revoked the board of directors of the STC." **What is the STC?** The State Trading Corporation is a Mauritian parastatal body — a government-owned commercial entity — responsible for the importation and distribution of essential commodities. These include petroleum products such as fuel and gas, as well as rice, flour, and other basic foodstuffs. Because the STC controls fuel imports, it plays a central role in determining energy costs across the island and directly affects the price Mauritians pay at the pump. Given this role, who sits on the STC board — and how that board is managed — has major implications for public finances and the cost of living. **Why does this matter?** The dismissal of an entire board is an unusual and forceful move. It signals that the new government — which came to power following the November 2024 general election — is moving quickly to reshape leadership at key state institutions. Sik Yuen did not elaborate publicly on the full reasons for the revocation during the interview, but the decision places control of the STC's governance back in the hands of the minister, pending the appointment of a new board. This follows a broader pattern seen in Mauritius after changes of government, where incoming administrations review the leadership of parastatals and state-owned bodies. However, revoking an entire board in one move is a notably decisive step. **What this means** For consumers and businesses, the immediate day-to-day operations of the STC are not expected to be disrupted — management staff remain in place. However, the board is responsible for strategic decisions, including pricing recommendations and procurement contracts worth hundreds of millions of rupees. The new board, once appointed, will set the direction of an institution that touches nearly every household in Mauritius — through fuel, cooking gas, and staple food imports. Observers will be watching closely to see who is appointed to replace the outgoing directors, and whether the new board signals any shift in policy on fuel pricing or import strategy — particularly relevant given recent volatility in global heavy fuel oil prices. Source: Le Defi Media