Enhancing air connectivity

On Monday, September 23, in Port Louis, the government of Mauritius, the World Bank (WB), and the European Union (EU) finalized an agreement for the Rodrigues Airport project.

The agreement provides 200 million USD in funding to improve air transport access and strengthen climate resilience and productivity on Rodrigues Island. Key participants included Dr. Renganaden Padayachy, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, and Development; Oskar Benedikt, EU Ambassador to Mauritius and Seychelles; and Idah Pswarayi-Riddihough, World Bank Country Director for Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros, and Seychelles.

Minister Padayachy highlighted that this historic project reflects the cooperation between Mauritius and its financial partners. He emphasized the various forms of support the EU has provided to Mauritius, particularly over the last decade, as well as the technical assistance from the World Bank.

The strategic goal of the Rodrigues project is to enhance air connectivity and promote the island’s sustainable development. Padayachy stressed the importance of air transport for Rodrigues, both as an essential mode of transportation and as a link to the international community. He also noted that the construction of the new runway and associated facilities will enable larger aircraft to land, thereby increasing the airport’s capacity. Other components of the project will also contribute to the island’s sustainable and integrated development, complementing the improvement of air access.