The Cabinet met today under the chairmanship of the Acting Prime Minister, the Hon. Louis Steven Obeegadoo. The highlights of the deliberations are as follows:
- Cabinet has agreed to the holding of a Regional Field Training Exercise from 25 to 29 September 2023 in the context of the operationalisation of a regional mechanism to fight marine pollution. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade is collaborating with the Indian Ocean Commission Secretariat to develop that regional mechanism.
The Field Training Exercise would help in the formulation and establishment of a regional mechanism to ensure better preparedness for and response to marine pollution including the formulation of tasks for the regional coordination centres.
Participants from relevant authorities from Comoros, Djibouti, France/Réunion, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Yemen, and partner countries such as Australia, India, Italy, Japan, the United States of America would attend the Field Training Exercise. In addition, representatives of the European Union, the European Union Naval Force as well as regional and international institutions including the Indian Ocean Rim Association, the International Maritime Organization, the Djibouti Code of Conduct Secretariat and the Nairobi Convention Secretariat, the South African Maritime Safety Agency, the Information Fusion Centre of India, the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre, among others would participate in the Field Training Exercise.
- Cabinet has taken note of the modalities for the implementation of the measure announced in Budget Speech 2023-24 regarding the application, by the Central Electricity Board, of a 50 percent waiver on the increase in electricity prices, over two years, to companies in the industrial sector moving towards renewable energy with a view to further enabling the decarbonisation of the industrial sector.
- Cabinet has agreed to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Mauritius Ports Authority and the Radiation Safety and Nuclear Security Authority.
The objective of the Memorandum of Understanding is to set out the roles and responsibilities of the Mauritius Ports Authority and the Radiation Safety and Nuclear Security Authority in relation to the transport, transit and transhipment of nuclear or other radioactive material as well as to establish clear working guidelines on actions to be taken by the respective authorities for an effective control of the transport, transit, and/or transhipment of nuclear and other radioactive material at the Port.
- Cabinet has taken note of the activities being organised by the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security in the context of World Food Day 2023 celebrated on 16 October every year to mark the foundation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United The theme chosen for this year’s celebration is “Water is life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind”.
To mark World Food Day, the second edition of the Agricultural Science Exchange Forum would be organised in collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute on 12 and 13 October 2023 at the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority, Réduit on the theme “Transforming Agrifood Systems through Research and Innovation for Resilience”. The Forum aims at providing a dynamic platform for researchers, practitioners and industry experts to engage in robust discussions, exchange innovative ideas and foster collaborations that will shape the future of agrifood systems. An Open Day at the Agricultural Services of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security would also be held to mark the 130 years of the creation of the Agricultural Services in Mauritius and to take cognisance of the services provided to support local production and ensure food security.
- Cabinet has taken note of the activities being organised by the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security to mark World Animal Day which is an annual event held on 04 It aims at celebrating the rights and welfare of animals and in bringing people together to increase awareness and to educate on the fair treatment of animals for the latter to live the lives they deserve. The theme for this year is “Great or Small, Love Them All.”
The Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security would, in collaboration with the Mauritius Society for Animal Welfare, organise, inter alia, the following activities:
- free sterilisation of dogs;
- official launching of the sterilisation of cats;
- free microchipping and registration of dogs;
- on-site adoption of dogs; and
- demonstration on importance of responsible pet ownership.
A mass media campaign would be organised to sensitise on the sterilisation of dogs and cats as well as adoption of pet dogs.
- Cabinet has taken note that in the context of World Post Day celebrated on 09 October, various activities would be organised by the Mauritius Post Ltd, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation. The theme would be “Together for Trust – Collaborating towards a safe and connected future”. The purpose of celebrating World Post Day is to create awareness on the role of the postal sector in people’s and businesses’ everyday lives and its contribution to the social and economic development of countries.
The following activities would be, inter alia, organised during the month of October:
- launching of three stamps for a definitive series and a First Day Cover on the theme “Extinct Species”;
- opening of newly renovated Black River Post Office;
- holding of blood donations activities at the Postal Museum and Black River Post Office; and
- holding of an Award Ceremony for officers of the Mauritius Post Ltd who have successfully completed training courses in Managerial/Supervisory Skills and Customer Care Excellence/Communication offered by the Civil Service College, Mauritius.
- Cabinet has taken note of the launching of the third edition of the National Innovation Challenge, organised by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council, in October 2023 with the following objectives:
- pooling of innovative ideas for solving problem of national importance;
- identification of viable ideas through a panel of experts;
- development/refinement of identified ideas through an idea acceleration phase;
- incubation of ideas with commercial potential; and
- showcasing of local innovation through the production of a series of TV programme and live broadcast of the eventual award ceremony.
- Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent participation of the Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change to the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. The Africa Climate Summit brought together global leaders, intergovernmental organisations, Regional Economic Communities, United Nations agencies, private sector, civil society organisations, indigenous peoples, local communities, farmer organisations, children, youth, women and academia to discuss Africa’s climate change challenges and formulate sustainable solutions.
The African Leaders’ Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change which sets out the continent’s position on climate finance and green growth was adopted during the Summit. A call was made for the establishment of a global carbon tax system as a path to expand climate finance and incentivise countries to cut down emissions. In parallel to the Africa Climate Summit, the Africa Climate Week was also held to build momentum ahead of the COP28.
