Visiting Rodrigues, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth laid the foundation stone for the construction of the new Rodrigues Duty Free warehouse on Sunday 28 August 2022. The Prime Minister also proceeded to the official inauguration of the new duty-free shop at Plaine-Corail Airport in Rodrigues.
The ceremony was held in the presence of the Chief Commissioner of Rodrigues, Mr. Johnson Roussety, members of the Regional Assembly of Rodrigues and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Airport of Rodrigues Ltd and Rodrigues Duty Free Paradise Company Ltd.
The project is being implemented following a request from the Prime Minister. The new shop is expected to meet the needs of the airport, which is receiving an increasing number of passengers. The sales revenue of Rodrigues Duty Free attests to this trend, rising from Rs 95 million in 2015/2016 to Rs 265 million in 2020/2021.
In his speech, the Prime Minister said that Plaine-Corail Airport recorded more than 28,000 arrivals between January and June this year, compared to 22,000 arrivals in the same period in 2020.
The total number of passengers (arrivals and departures) has increased from 66,196 in 2014, to 98,355 in 2019. Even if this dynamic was slowed down with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Head of Government affirms that the signs of a recovery of the tourist activity in Rodrigues are obvious.
For the Prime Minister, Plaine-Corail airport remains the lung of the island’s tourism development. To further boost this industry, the government has extended the subsidies on air tickets for passengers from Mauritius and Rodrigues until September 2023.
Mr Pravind Jugnauth also said that his government is determined to build a new airstrip. The runway will be 2,100 metres long and 45 metres wide to accommodate Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
The Prime Minister gave the assurance that the Plaine Corail airport will have a new runway even though the French Development Agency has decided not to participate in the financing of the project. Moreover, the government is already working to find other sources of funding for the project.
The Prime Minister’s vision for the sustained development of Rodrigues also involves the modernisation of the port. This development involves the construction of a new 300-metre-long quay at Port Mathurin.
CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE AT ANSE ALLY
In the afternoon, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth visited Anse Ally. A tourist village located in the east of the island which will have a new bridge. This is an investment of over Rs 66 million which will greatly benefit the region.
The existing bridge was often submerged during heavy rains, affecting traffic in this part of the island. The new bridge should put an end to this situation. Rodrigues is currently undergoing several infrastructure developments, including the construction of new drains.
The Prime Minister also announced that Rodrigues’ Sustainable and Integrated Development Plan of 2009 will be updated. EU assistance has been sought to prepare a new development plan for the next ten years.
Improving water supply in Rodrigues also remains a priority. The construction of five desalination units in recent years has increased the volume of drinking water from 4,500 cubic meters to 9,000 cubic meters.
Three reservoirs with a capacity of 1,000 cubic meters each have also been built. The Prime Minister assured that the investment for the modernisation of the water sector in Rodrigues will continue with resources in the order of Rs 1 billion which will be injected in the construction of new desalination units.
The digital revolution in Rodrigues is expected to continue with the construction of a Technopark at Baladirou, Rs, 260 million will be invested for this purpose. This development opens new opportunities for young Rodriguans, the Prime Minister said.
The Head of Government reiterated his vision of a Republic where every citizen is proud to belong to the Mauritian nation. Mr Pravind Jugnauth stressed that the development will not be limited to Mauritius, but will also affect the whole of our territory, including Rodrigues, Agalega, St Brandon, Tromelin and Chagos.
