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(Date Posted:18/06/2008 10:22:48)
Rodrigues will participate actively in the new initiatives for MID (Maurice Ile Durable), food security, education, housing, SMEs and the eradication of poverty. The island will be encouraged to expand its agricultural production as part of the national efforts for food security. The Government is working closely with the Rodrigues Regional Assembly (RRA) to invest heavily in infrastructure. The 2008-09 Budget provides Rs 300 million for capital projects. Main measures - The Government is mobilizing assistance from the Agence Française de Développement to look into the various alternatives for addressing the acute problem of water shortage in Rodrigues, including the Pistache Dam.
- Providing the same digital television service to Rodrigues as is available in Mauritius.
- A committee comprising the RRA and relevant ministries will look at means of maximizing tourism to Rodrigues, including the feasibility and financing for extending the runway for bigger aircrafts to land. Meanwhile, The Government is injecting Rs 75 million in the share capital of Airport of Rodrigues Limited to enable it to meet international safety standards.
- Investment will be also made for upgrading skills. The Empowerment Programme is encouraging small farmers and former fishers in Rodrigues to expand production of goats and pigs.
- As in Mauritius, DBM is introducing a one off, time bound for one year, special scheme to facilitate settlement of arrears by the farming community and other micro business owners. The scheme is limited to those who have contracted loans of up to Rs 200,000 before April 2003 and whose accounts have been in arrears for at least five years.
- Strengthening the institutional and legal frameworks relating to the energy sector.
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