In the wake of the current water level across the main reservoirs, currently standing at 57.1 percent, compared to 87.4 percent in 2025, with Mare aux Vacoas at 35.7 percent, the Cabinet was apprised of the situation, where the Crisis Committee chaired by the Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, Patrick Assirvaden, discussed the urgent measures to be implemented.
The Cabinet on October 9 gave its nod to spearhead new measures such as: nine boreholes will supply the Mare aux Vacoas Water Supply Zone with some additional 30,000m3 of water before end October 2026 to compensate for the deficit at Mare aux Vacoas Reservoir; abstraction of around 4,000m3 of water from Rivière Pétrin and Rivière Papayes to supply La Marie Water Treatment Plant; increase in the capacity of the existing pipeline from Mare Longue Reservoir to La Marie Water Treatment Plant from 15,000 m3 to 30,000m3 per day; operation of 15 containerised pressure filters which have been procured by the Central Water Authority, by end of November 2026; enlistment of private water tanker service providers; assistance from the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Services for provision of water in affected localities; and the installation of water tanks of around 30,000L in different sub-localities.
In line with the prevailing water situation, the Cabinet also agreed that the Water Tank and Water Pump Grant Scheme under the Development Bank of Mauritius will be extended to all households that are not equipped with water tanks.
Among other measures, a nod was also given to the Mauritius Telecom Foundation for a scholarship scheme to be awarded or the best-performing Higher School Certificate student, immediately ranked after the State Scholarship Laureate on the Science Side. The initiative aims to recognise and reward outstanding academic achievement and to provide an additional scholarship opportunity to a high-performing student on the Science Side.
The jurisdiction has been selected as the regional per capita open source champion for Africa by the Global Digital Collaboration Council, where note was taken that it is among 15 countries globally to spearhead this initiative, and it has been invited to be part of the Global Digital Collaboration Council 2027. The event will help allow the country to participate alongside tech giants and international bodies to work on global rules for AI, digital identity, and cross-border payments; accelerate the implementation of the National AI Strategy by plugging local policy-makers directly into cutting-edge international regulatory frameworks; strengthen the island’s reputation as a secure and compliant digital financial centre; and solidify Mauritius’s position as a tech diplomat and digital bridge to mainland Africa, opening up new business pathways for local IT operators.
The Cabinet also noted the outcome of the Mauritius–Seychelles Commission 14th Session on Bilateral Cooperation, which took place September 08-11 on the local shores where it reviewed implementations of decisions during the 13th session across several bilateral issues such as financial services, Maritime Connectivity and Security, the Blue Economy, Fisheries, ICT, Tourism, Air Services, Transport, Ease of Doing Business, Consumer Protection, Pooled Procurement, and Education.
The recent visit of the Minister of Industry, SME and Cooperatives was also noted at the launch of the Trans-Atlantic Cotton Partnership (TACP), considered a new programme initiated by the US-Africa Trade Desk (USATD), held in New York. Under the TACP, traceable cotton grown in the United States is shipped directly to manufacturers across countries such as Mauritius, Lesotho and Kenya, transformed into yarn, fabric and garments, and exported to the United States as finished products, with each garment traceable to the American farm and the African factory.
