René Leclézio : “The revival of Port Louis starts with the will of the Municipality, which is not there yet”

Managing Director of Promotion and Development Limited, René Leclézio is the initiator of the Caudan Arts Centre project. Holder of a BSc (Chemical Engineering) from Imperial College, London, and an MBA from the London Business School, René Leclézio was appointed director of Tropical Paradise Co. Ltd on 12th December 1994. Before being appointed CEO of Promotion and Development Ltd in 1987, he worked in London as consultant engineer in the oil and gas industry and with Lloyds Merchant Bank as Assistant Manager in Project Finance. He is the Director of several private and public companies including Caudan Development Limited, Medine Limited, Excelsior United Development Co. Ltd (EUDCOS), Mauritius Freeport Development Co Ltd, Swan Life Ltd and Swan General. He shares with us, in this interview, the objective behind the building of the Caudan Arts Centre and the revival of the Capital through creative projects.

Why did the Caudan choose to invest Rs 1 bn in the Caudan Arts Centre (CAC)?
First of all, we felt that a complete Caudan required an element of “live.” Once we had identified the different components, the architects designed it, and it came out at Rs 1 billion.

Tell us about this Centre and what makes it unique in Mauritius & the region?
I cannot say it is unique in the region, because Reunion Island has some very good infrastructure, but it is unique in Mauritius in that it is a purpose-built theatre, with state-of-the-art sound, light and stage technology.

What are you expecting as return on your investment?
The building cannot be seen in isolation, but as what it contributes to the whole of the Caudan space.

What was the objective of opening the CAC with the final of Caudan Live? How does Caudan Live align with the CAC's philosophy & concept. 
Caudan Live was a celebration of popular Mauritian talent – the finalists were chosen by popular vote, and the show was totally aligned with our philosophy of seeking out and nurturing Mauritian creativity.

I strongly believe in Mauritian creativity but artists lack guidance and support. Hopefully, the Caudan Arts Centre will fill a gap, as our theatre director, Ashish Beesoondial, is dedicated to the development of local creative talent."

Most major economic players are investing in real estate. Aren't you taking a risk in investing in arts?
 This IS real estate, with a different twist. It may be more risky, but I believe that it is more sustainable in time, and more beneficial to society as a whole.

Do you believe in the emergence of a creative industry in Mauritius?
I strongly believe in Mauritian creativity but artists lack guidance and support. Hopefully, the Caudan Arts Centre will fill a gap, as our theatre director, Ashish Beesoondial, is dedicated to the development of local creative talent.

Why is there a decline towards arts and culture in Mauritius? How to revive this in our youth? 
On the contrary, you have to look around you, arts and culture is a growing industry, although still in its youth.

Do you believe that the restoration of the Port Louis theatre can help in the reviving of theatre culture? 
No, it would be too costly to refurbish the Port Louis theatre to state-of-the-art. In my opinion, it should be made into a museum, and a tourist attraction, hosting tourist-related events.

Caudan Live was a celebration of popular Mauritian talent – the finalists were chosen by popular vote, and the show was totally aligned with our philosophy of seeking out and nurturing Mauritian creativity."

There are many projects for the revival Port Louis. How does the Caudan & its new Arts Centre fit in?
The revival of Port Louis starts with the will of the Municipality, which is not there yet. They need to fix some pavements, improve street lighting, install security cameras, and ensure a night-time police presence. This will then allow Port Louis residents to walk freely in the city, say, to the Waterfront, and bars and restaurants will automatically open along the way to try to capture their business. More retailers will then open in the evening; the place will become incredibly vibrant. Instead, for the moment, we will have the tale of two cities, one on the Waterfront, and one in town.

Have you been impacted by the growing numbers of commercial centres & shopping malls?
Yes, because the market is small, but we see ourselves more as a multi-faceted destination than a shopping mall. Soon there will be the light railway, a world class aquarium, and many other exciting things in and around the Caudan. Watch this space!

You are opening a state-of-the art theatre, giving an unprecedented support to budding artists, shouldn't this be the role of the Government?
Government clearly does not do enough, so we are stepping in to help.

How do you see the future of the Caudan Arts Centre? 
Caudan Live was a hit, and our first show, Ashish Beesoondial’s fantastic interpretation of the Gershwins’ “Porgy and Bess” is a great success, so the CAC is living up to our expectations. Go tocaudanartscentre.com to find out more and book tickets.