Varanasi/New Delhi, Sep 11 (UNI) Showcasing the depth of ties between India and Mauritius, PM Modi today announced a Special Economic Package according to which India is to provide the Indian Ocean island nation with helicopters, help in redevelopment of the strategic Port of Mauritius, and also assist in the development and surveillance of the Chagos Marine Protected Area, which was ceded by the UK to the Mauritius earlier this year.
A Special Economic Package was announced following “very fruitful” talks between PM Modi and Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam in Varanasi today, “on the basis of requests submitted by the Government of Mauritius, the following projects have been agreed, in principle, to be jointly implemented by India and Mauritius”:
Projects/Assistance to be undertaken on Grant basis
I. New Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital.
II. AYUSH Centre of Excellence.
III. Veterinary School and Animal Hospital.
IV. Provision of helicopters.
It is estimated that the costs of these project and assistance requested would be approximately USD 215 million/MUR 9.80 billion.
Projects/Assistance to be undertaken on Grant-cum-LOC basis
I. Completion of construction work of new ATC tower at SSR International Airport. II. Development of Motorway M4.
III. Development of Ring Road Phase II.
IV. Acquisition of port equipment by CHCL.
Estimated costs of these projects/assistance would be approximately USD 440 million/MUR 20.10 billion.
2. On the strategic side the two sides have also agreed, in-principle, for the following:
I. Redevelopment and restructuring of Port in Mauritius; and
II. Assistance in development and surveillance of Chagos Marine Protected Area.
3. It was also in-principle, agreed that the Government of India will extend budgetary assistance of USD 25 mn in the current Financial Year.
The two sides also announced a long list of outcomes of the state visit of the Mauritius PM:
MoUs/Agreements
1.MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Science and Technology between the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, Republic of Mauritius
2. MoU between Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Institute of Oceanography, and Mauritius Oceanography Institute
3.MoU between Karmayogi Bharat under the Department of Personnel and Training and the Ministry of Public Service and Administrative Reforms, Government of Mauritius
4. MoU on Cooperation in the field of Power Sector
5.MoU regarding Indian grant assistance for Implementation of Phase II of Small Development Projects
6. Renewal of the MoU in the field of Hydrography
7.Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Mauritius on Cooperation for the Establishment of Telemetry, Tracking, and Telecommunications Station for Satellites and Launch Vehicles and for Cooperation in the fields of Space Research, Science and Application
Announcements:
1. MoU between Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and University of Mauritius, Réduit
2. MoU between Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Bengaluru and University of Mauritius
3. To take forward the G2G proposal to set up a 17.5 MW Floating Solar PV Project at Tamarind Falls. A team from NTPC Ltd. will be visiting Mauritius shortly to finalise an agreement with CEB in this regard.
