Edits & Curated by
Vishal Bhidu
The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Navin Ramgoolam on July 24, has assented to The Finance Bill 2026 and The Economic and Financial Measures (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 into the National Assembly.
The Finance Bill 2026 and The Economic and Financial Measures (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 aim to amend, between 25 and 58 enactments respectively, related to measures enumerated in the Budget Speech 2026-2027 with Annex to taxation, national financial as well as economic and financial measures.
The implementation of the Island Container Terminal project under a public-private partnership between the Government of India and Mauritius has been agreed upon for the restructuring, redevelopment and modernisation of the port.
A Steering Committee will be chaired by the Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, Suresh Seebaluck, to oversee the project’s implementation in adhering to the highest standards of transparency, accountability and good governance.
On another count, Seychelles and Mauritius will jointly sign the Multi-Client Geotechnical Seismic Survey Agreement with Viridien/Compagnie Générale de Géophysique Services SAS, for the conduct of a multi-client seismic survey within the Joint Management Area (JMA) of the Extended Continental Shelf in the Mascarene Plateau Region.
The agreement assented by the Cabinet provides for the conduct of a multi-client seismic survey which constitutes one of the preliminary stages for petroleum exploration. The survey is expected to generate significant strategic benefits for both island in terms of: Improving the geological and geophysical knowledge base of the JMA; Supporting evidence-based decision making regarding the management of seabed and subsoil resources; Strengthening long-term energy security assessments and economic diversification opportunities; Promoting technology transfer and institutional capacity building; and Providing scientific information to assess whether any future resource development could be undertaken consistently with environmental protection and sustainable development obligations.
An addendum has been signed to the Memorandum of Agreement between Mauritius and the Corporate Council on Africa on the co-organisation of the 18th U.S.-Africa Business Summit, outlining the new dates for the Summit, now postponed to December 6-9 on account of the recently reported Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.
Moreover, the outcome of the recent participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade in the 121st Session of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Council of Ministers, held in Brussels, Belgium, was also noted. The Minister has reaffirmed the island’s commitment to the OACPS and to the implementation of the Malabo Declaration, particularly in the areas of trade, climate change, agri-food systems, sustainability, digitalisation and the sustainable use of ocean and mineral resources.
He also reiterated the need for international financial institutions to better recognise the structural vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States when determining access to concessional financing.
On the sidelines of the Council, the Minister held a bilateral meeting with the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, during which they reviewed key aspects of the Mauritius–European Union partnership and discussed avenues for deepening economic and trade cooperation.
The Cabinet also took note of the official establishment of diplomatic relations between Mauritius and the Principality of Monaco, to be effected through the signing of a Joint Communiqué by the respective Permanent Missions to the United Nations, in New York.
