Republic of Mauritius- Innovations in the delivery of infrastructural projects workshop kicks off

The workshop, organised by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport in collaboration with the CIDB, provides a unique opportunity to the captains of the construction industry, consultants, contractors, financing institutions and other stakeholders in the region to share their experiences, learn from the best practices and establish networks for future collaboration. The three-day event will cover projects in four specific sectors, namely transportation, water, energy and building sectors. It will include two days for the workshop, with the third day meant for a business forum and a schedule of visits to selected project sites, namely the Côte d’Or Multi Sports Complex, the A1-M1 Bridge and the Metro Express Bridge at Grand River.

Its main objectives are as follows: understanding the challenges and opportunities associated with the innovative approaches in the implementation of high value projects in the region; sharing of best practices in the successful implementation of infrastructural projects; and creating an enabling platform for the exchange of knowledge and resources among countries of the region. Some 60 participants are attending the workshop.

In his address, Minister Bodha stated that, as at date, Mauritius has benefited from the knowhow and expertise from several development partners such as Korea Expressway Corporation, Singapore Cooperation Enterprise, EXIM Bank of India, and others from France, Japan, China and South Africa. These partners, he highlighted, have provided assistance to local construction companies/contractors regarding several completed and ongoing projects such as the Côte d’Or Multi Sports Complex, the Metro Express project as well as the construction of grade separated junctions at strategic areas around the island.

The Minister also stated that the workshop will further enable participants to discuss areas such as geotechnical engineering and manufacturing of tunnels, among others, while taking into account climate change as well as environment and social impact. This sharing of knowledge and sharing of best practices among participants can eventually contribute to Mauritius being able to offer consulting services in the construction field and work with international companies on the African continent, he added.