Four major projects costing hundreds of millions of dollars would not have been possible without India’s unwavering support. The joint inauguration by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Mauritian Prime Minister, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth via video conference involved four projects in the sectors of Transport, Housing, Education and Green Energy.
Speaking at the E-Inauguration at the Sir Harilall Vaghjee Memorial Hall in Port Louis, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi said that “India will continue to support Mauritius in its development“. These projects have benefited from some ‘Grants’, funding, but mostly, extensions of credit lines from Indian banks in the name of inter-nation partnership.
India-assisted projects
In sum, the India-assisted projects are 956 social housing units of 60 m2 each, of which 300 in Mare-Tabac and 656 in Dagotière, at a cost of USD 44.9 M. This project also includes green spaces, common areas and recreational areas with the aim of creating a social life for the inhabitants. These homes will be offered to families at average prices. There is also the construction of the Civil Service College in Réduit, Moka, financed by a grant of USD 4.74 million, which is committed to the continuous training of civil servants. The third project inaugurated was the 8 MW solar photovoltaic farm in Henrietta. It was financed by a USD 500 million line of credit from the EXIM Bank of India through the SBM Infrastructure Development Company Ltd and the State Investment Corporation (SIC) Development Company. This project will help Mauritius meet its commitments made in Cop 26 last year, this farm is estimated to reduce the carbon footprint by 13, 000 tonnes and provide Green Energy to 10,000 homes. And as stated by PM Narendra Modi, “it is in line with the 1 Sun 1 World 1 Green Initiative slogan inaugurated at the Glasgow summit. It will also develop the Mauritius Green Exchange with other countries.”
Finally, it was announced that Mauritius will benefit from an extension of its USD 190 million loan for infrastructure projects, including the financing of small-scale developments for an amount of about USD 10 million, but especially the completion of the Metro Express, i.e. phases II and III, the Curepipe/Port Louis line, which is scheduled for the end of 2022, where Pravind Jugnauth took the opportunity to officially invite Narendra Modi for the grand opening and at the same time, commemorate the 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Mauritius The head of the Mauritian government, Pravind Jugnauth acknowledges that these progresses have been made possible, thanks to India and thus, announced that as a token of gratitude, he will have a metro station named “Mahatma Gandhi Station“. He also announced that work on Phase IV has already begun. It was also announced that India will provide MUR 400 million for projects in the Health and Education sectors.
Modi to the Mauritian nation
Narendra Modi did not fail to pay his respects to the nation for the loss of Sir Aneerood Jugnauth and to remind them that “India and Mauritius are united by history, ancestry, culture, language but above all, by the same ocean. Mauritius is the perfect example to illustrate India’s positioning in the partnership for development.” He hoped that the friendship and partnership between Mauritius and India would become stronger and the relationship closer.
He also outlined the sectors of partnership with India such as health and the maritime sector in terms of economy, security and disasters. He did not fail to point out India’s helping hand in the Wakashio black series as well as Mauritius being the first country to benefit from Covid vaccines from the Maitri Vaccination Programme. He also hinted that Mauritius and India will soon be working on several important projects such as a Kidney Transplant Unit, a Forensic Medicine Laboratory, a National Library and Archives and a Mauritius Police Academy.
