Polymer science and technology occupy a central position among potential growth areas in the greater African region (Africa and Indian Ocean Island States), and practitioners have an important role to play in fostering its development. The 8th UNESCO SCHOOL & IUPAC CONFERENCE ON MACROMOLECULES was held in Mauritius in June 2005. The meeting was attended by over 100 participants from 17 countries. Five major themes in polymer science, of particular interest to the African region vis-à-vis sustainable development: biopolymers/ polysaccharides/polymers in food and textile, biodegradable polymers, polymers in health and medicine, functional polymers and new emerging materials and characterization techniques were presented. The present volume of Macromolecular Symposia contains 18 papers presented at the meeting and provides an excellent overview of the information exchanged and ideas explored, thus seeding the groundwork for future economic development in these important areas.