By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JAN 21, 2022: PRIME Minister Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Mr. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, yesterday jointly inaugurated the Social Housing Units Project in Mauritius. This project has been implemented as part of the vibrant development partnership between India and Mauritius. On this occasion, the two Prime Ministers also took part in a virtual foundation stone laying ceremony for two other projects - construction of a state-of-the-art Civil Service College and a 8 MW Solar PV Farm- also undertaken as part of India’s development support. The event was held via video-conference.  The event in Mauritius was held in the Mauritian PMO premises in presence of dignitaries including Cabinet Ministers and senior officials of the Government of Mauritius.

Speaking at the occasion, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the vision powering India’s development assistance - defined by the needs and priorities of our friends and respectful of sovereignty, and at the same time enhancing the well-being of the people and bolstering the capacities of the country. Prime Minister acknowledged the importance of Civil Service College project in nation building and offered to share learnings of Mission Karmayogi . Prime Minister recalled the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative that he put forth at the First Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in October 2018 and said that the 8 MW Solar PV Farm project will help mitigate the climate challenges that Mauritius faces through avoidance of 13,000 tons of CO2 emissions. 

In his remarks, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth thanked India for wide ranging assistance including financial assistance to Mauritius. He noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi the relations between India and Mauritius have attained newer heights.

The Government of India in May 2016 had extended a grant of US$ 353 mn to the Government of Mauritius as Special Economic Package (SEP) to execute five priority projects identified by Government of Mauritius, among others.  These were: the Metro Express Project, Supreme Court Building, New ENT Hospital, Supply of Digital Tablets to Primary School Children, and the Social Housing Project.  With the inauguration of the Social Housing Project today, all the high profile projects under the SEP have been implemented.