The Cabinet met today under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, the Hon. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. The highlights of the deliberations are as follows:

Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the visit effected by HE Mr Mokgweetsi Eric
Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana to Mauritius on 3 May 2018. The
President headed a delegation comprising the Minister of International Affairs and
Cooperation, the Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security,
the Minister of Health and Wellness, the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry along
with a Member of Parliament and other officials. The President paid a courtesy call on Hon
Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister and had a working session with him in the
presence of various Ministers and senior officials. Several issues were discussed, including
the Chagos issue. Avenues of cooperation on trade and investment were explored and it was
agreed that the Economic Development Board and the Botswana Investment Trade Centre
would develop a strong synergy and sign a Memorandum of Understanding. Discussions
were also held regarding:
(a) the proposal of the Mauritius Africa Fund to set up a Special Economic Zone in
Botswana;
(b) collaboration for dual listing on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius and the Botswana
Stock Exchange;
(c) cooperation in the fields of education and health; and
(d) assistance to Mauritian companies importing rough diamonds by facilitating the
acquisition of Precious Stones Dealer’s Licences.

2. Cabinet has taken note that two Memoranda of Understanding have been signed with the
Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt with a view to enhancing cooperation in the
field of media. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Government
Information Service of Mauritius and the State Information Service of the Government of
the Arab Republic of Egypt and would provide the necessary framework for cooperation in
the following main areas:
(a) provision of facilities to media officials and press correspondents on official duty in
both countries;
(b) exchange visits of media officers of both institutions;

(c) exchange of publications and information on the active role of both countries in
enforcing the Agenda of the African Union; and
(d) holding of informational exhibitions, inter alia, for the promotion of touristic,
cultural and artistic propagation and investment in both countries.
Another Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Egyptian Radio and
Television Union of the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt to enable the Mauritius
Broadcasting Corporation to, inter alia:
(a) exchange radio and television programmes in the social, artistic, cultural, scientific
and sports fields;
(b) enter into commercial arrangements for the exchange of radio and television
programmes;
(c) benefit from training, visits, experiences on radio and television
co-production; and
(d) receive radio programmes from Egypt for re-broadcast in Mauritius.
3. Cabinet has agreed to the new package of measures to be implemented to boost the
development of the local film industry, includingthe setting up of a Film Promotion Fund at
the Economic Development Board.
4. Cabinet has agreed to pilgrims proceeding on Hadj 2018 pilgrimage being exempted from
payment of the Terminal Expansion Fee and Passenger Solidarity Fee in addition to the
Passenger Service Charge and Passenger Fee.
5. Cabinet has agreed to the Genetically Modified Organisms Act 2004 which regulates the
planning, application, development, production, use and commercialisation of the
Genetically Modified Organisms in Mauritius, being repealed and replaced by a new
legislation. Drafting instructions would be given to the Attorney General’s Office.
6. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the Ministerial Conference on Maritime Security
held recently in Mauritius. The Conference was attended by some 180 delegates
representing 22 countries including the five UN Security Council members and 15 regional
and international organisations. During the Ministerial Conference, the Declaration of
Ministers of Eastern and Southern Africa and Indian Ocean States and Conclusions and
Recommendations of the four Round Tables were adopted and four agreements were signed.

7. Cabinet has taken note that on the occasion of the International Day of Families 2018,
observed on 15 May, the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family
Welfare would organise the following activities:
(a) launching of the Religious and Socio-Cultural Organisations (RESO)-Impact
Programme, followed by a consultative workshop, on 10 May 2018;
(b) a Family Evening on 12 May 2018 at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam
(ex Desforges) Street, Port Louis;
(c) launching of the Observatory for Parenthood in the Republic of Mauritius on 15 May
2018; and
(d) a Colloquium on ‘La Parentalité-50 ans à venir’ on 16 and 17 May2018.
The theme chosen by the United Nations is ‘Families and inclusive societies’.
8. Cabinet has taken note that the Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary
Education and Scientific Research would organise a Workshop on the Development of a
Drug Use Prevention Curriculum, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs
and Crime on 10 and 11 May 2018. The objective of the Workshop is primarily to revisit
and update the materials on drug prevention available in the curriculum so that the contents
are aligned with the recent developments in the combat against substance abuse. The
Workshop would empower the participants to deal with the drug issue at school level
including the prevention aspect, as well as to strengthen the collaboration with stakeholders.
9. Cabinet has agreed to Mauritius hosting the 16 th Conference of the Southern Africa and
Islands Hydrographic Commission in 2019. The main aim of the Commission is to
coordinate hydrographic activity and cooperation at the regional level. During the
Conference, issues such as hydrographic surveys and charting status, electronic navigational
charts production status, bilateral and regional cooperation agreements, projects and
capacity building management plans are discussed.
10. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Minister of Tourism to
Dubai where he attended the 2018 edition of the Arabian Travel Market, a leading event for
the tourism industry in the Middle East. The Minister of Tourism headed a delegation
comprising the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority and tourism stakeholders. Meetings
were organized with Middle Eastern travel agents and tour operators to further promote
Mauritius as an ideal holiday destination. The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority
organised a branded stand for Mauritius, that depicted the 50 years of the Independence.

The Minister also had meetings with the Minister of Tourism Development and Christian
Religious Affairs of Sri Lanka, the Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism of Bangladesh
and the Minister of Tourism of the Seychelles.

Note: Cabinet decisions are available on the internet. The address is https://pmo.govmu.org

Posted by Minority Voice on May 5 2018. Filed under Featured, Politique. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry