Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698142578424.pdf (Mauritius)
CABINET DECISIONS – 16 JUNE 2017 Page 1 of 5 1.

Cabinet has taken note that the Forum on “Strategies for retention of girls and young women in educational systems”, organised jointly by the African Union, the International Centre for Girls‟ and Women‟s Education in Africa, and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, would be held in Mauritius in July 2017.
The main objectives of the Forum are to address the challenges that impede the retention of girls and young women in the education systems, and find solutions in order to bring about real and sustainable changes.

Some 70 foreign delegates and 50 Mauritian participants are expected to participate in the Forum.

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Cabinet has taken note of the setting up of an Institutional Regime for the Accreditation of Engineering Academic Programmes, benchmarked on the Washington Accord Standard.
The Washington Accord is an international accreditation agreement for the recognition of professional engineering academic degrees by the bodies responsible for accreditation in the signatory countries.

The Programme would help, among others, attract foreign students who are guaranteed a degree programme recognised in their country of origin.

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Cabinet has taken note of the measures taken by the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security to elaborate a Country Programming Framework for the period 2017-2020, and for its eventual endorsement by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The Country Programming Framework is a national document geared towards achieving the strategic objectives of the FAO, which are to - (a) help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; (b) make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable; (c) reduce rural poverty; (d) enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems; and (e) increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises.

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Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Financial Services, Good Governance and Institutional Reforms would make the Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations, under the Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism Act 2003, to include the new offences created under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, as amended.

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Cabinet has taken note that the National Cooperative College of Mauritius would sign a Memorandum of Understanding with to develop programmes for cooperation in training, education and other knowledge-based activities.
The Memorandum of Understanding would cover, among others, the following - the Cooperative College of Malaysia (a) (b) (c) (d) programmes leading to Certificate and Diploma in Cooperative Management, Cooperative Bookkeeping, and Accountancy, as well as the conduct of short customised in-service training courses; research and consultancy in emerging sectors of the economy and to infuse new dynamism in the local cooperative movement; exchange of information, publications and expertise, particularly for operationalising the National Cooperative College; and attachment programmes, study visits and strategic alliances in areas of training and education.
---- Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the 5th Political Dialogue held between Mauritius 6. and the European Union (EU) in accordance with the provision of Article 8 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement.

The Dialogue provided an opportunity to reaffirm the strength of the bilateral ties between Mauritius and the EU whilst identifying new avenues of cooperation.

The Dialogue placed emphasis on issues pertaining to human rights, good governance and democracy.
Discussions focused, among others, on - (a) (b) (c) (d) the socio-economic development of Mauritius, as well as the measures being taken to reach a high-income status framed by the Sustainable Development Goals; the potential of Small and Medium Entreprises (SMEs) as a pillar of the economy; the potential of culture as a basis for enhanced tourism, people-to-people exchanges, and a contributor to the economy; and the vulnerability of Mauritius as a Small Island Developing State which faces challenges, such as the adverse effects of climate change and the degradation of the ecosystems.
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Cabinet has taken note that during the first session of the Permanent Joint Commission between Mauritius and the Union of Comoros, the Commission considered various Agreements relating to cooperation in the fields of Health, Tourism, and Education submitted by both parties, discussed areas of cooperation in the field of ocean economy, and the setting up of a Special Economic Zone.
The following four Agreements were signed - (a) Accord sur le Transfert des Personnes Condamnées à une Peine Privative de Liberté; Page 3 of 5 (b) (c) (d) Accord de Coopération entre le Ministère de la Santé et de la Qualité de la Vie de la République de Maurice et le Ministère de la Santé, de la Solidarité, de la Protection Sociale et de la Promotion du Genre de l’Union des Comores; Avenant - Mémorandum d’Entente entre le Board of Investment (BOI) et l’Agence Nationale pour la Promotion des Investissements de l’Union des Comores; and Accord de Coopération entre la Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Maurice et l’Union des Chambres de Commerce, d’Industrie et d’Agriculture des Comores.
---- Cabinet has taken note that the 12th Edition of the e-Learning Africa Conference would be 8. held in Mauritius in September 2017.

The e-Learning Africa Conference, the most comprehensive knowledge sharing event for technology-enhanced education and training for the African Continent, offers an opportunity to gain invaluable insights into the evolving world of ICT enhanced learning through a thought-provoking conference programme, an exhibition and a together some 700 e-Learning experts, demonstration.
practitioners, researchers and stakeholders from over 65 countries.

The theme for the 12th edition is “Learning in Context.” The Conference would bring In the margins of the Conference, a Ministerial Round Table, with the participation of Ministers and high-level representatives from African Governments, would be held.

---- Cabinet has taken note that the Council of Europe, under the Global Action on Cybercrime 9.
Extended Project (GLACY+), and International Association of Prosecutors Global Prosecutors e-Crime Network (IAP/GPEN) would organise a 3-day Conference for Investigators, Prosecutors and Judges of the East African Countries in Mauritius in July 2017.

The overall objectives of the GLACY+ Project are to prevent and fight organised crime, and enable criminal justice authorities to engage in international cooperation on cybercrime and electronic evidence on the basis of the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.
Some 42 participants from 14 East African countries and 30 local participants would attend the Conference.

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Cabinet has taken note that the first Meeting of the Compliance Committee of the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) and the 4th Meeting of the Parties would be held in Mauritius from 23 to 30 June 2017.
SIOFA is a multilateral agreement adopted in July 2006 at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for the conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources in the waters beyond national jurisdiction in the Southern Indian Ocean.

The Compliance Committee would, inter alia, - (a) monitor, review and assess the implementation of, and compliance with the Agreement; and (b) make recommendations to the Meeting of the Parties on new compliance and management measures.
The 4th Meeting of Parties would, among others, - (a) review the state of fishery resources, promote and coordinate research activities on the fishery resources; Page 4 of 5 (b) (c) evaluate the impact of fishing on the fishery resources and the marine environment, formulate and adopt conservation and management measures; and adopt generally recommended international minimum standards for the responsible conduct of fishing operations.

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Cabinet has taken note that the 23rd United Nations International Day of Cooperative, and the 94th International Cooperative Day would be celebrated on 1 July 2017.

The theme for this year is, „Inclusion’ with the slogan, “Cooperatives ensure no one is left behind”.
On the occasion, the Ministry of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives, would organise, among others, the following activities - (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) a gathering for Cooperators at the Octave Wiehé Auditorium, Réduit where the new Vision, and the Mission Statement for the Cooperatives Division of that Ministry, an Action Plan for strengthening the contribution of cooperatives to sustainable development in Mauritius and Rodrigues, and a Logo and a Tagline for the Cooperatives Division would be launched; an exhibition on the history and evolution of the cooperative movement in Mauritius; the holding of a National Cooperative Market Fair, with the participation of some 150 cooperators; a wreath laying ceremony at the stela of Cooperatives in the Jardin de la Compagnie, Port Louis; and a “Festival de Poisson” at Mahebourg with a view to promoting the potential of cooperatives in the Fish Sector and the ocean economy.
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Cabinet has taken note of the activities that would be organised on the occasion of the World Hydrography Day, commemorated on 21 June, namely - (a) an exhibition of hydrographic assets, nautical products and recent works undertaken by the Hydrography Unit of the Ministry of Housing and Lands; (b) an awareness campaign on the importance of Hydrography; and (c) an exhibition of equipment and visit on board ISV Pathfinder.
The theme for this year is “Mapping our seas, oceans and waterways - more important than ever”.

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Cabinet has taken note of the activities that would be organised in the context of the International Yoga Day, celebrated on 24 June 2017, namely - (a) an exhibition on yoga at Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre (SVICC); (b) Yoga practice at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture; and Page 5 of 5 (c) sensitisation campaigns on yoga and its benefits at Le Caudan Waterfront, La Citadelle, the SSR Botanic Garden, and the Mahebourg Waterfront.

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Cabinet has taken note that the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and Public Utilities who was a member of the delegation led by the Prime Minister to the State Visit to India, had discussions, among others, with – (a) (b) (c) Hon Piyush Goyal, Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines on collaboration in areas, such as solar pump technology, use of electric cars, regulatory matters, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on collaboration in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency, and guidelines for Power Purchase Agreements; the Minister of State for Petroleum and Gas on the conduct of an assessment of the potential of LNG; and the Chairperson of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission on the provision of technical assistance to the Utility Regulatory Authority.
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Cabinet has taken note of the recent mission of the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport to China where he participated in the 8th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum.

The theme of the Forum was „Cooperating for Multi-Innovative, Industry – Promoting and Sustainable Infrastructure’.
The topics discussed included infrastructure construction and industrialisation, financial innovation and industrial investment cooperation, smart city, and sustainable infrastructure development.

In the margins of the Forum, the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport had a working session on the Metro Express Project with Dr Michael A.H. Lam, who is responsible for the implementation of the Macao Light Rail Transit.

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Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent mission of the Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare to New York where she participated in the High Level Women Leaders Forum for Africa‟s Transformation organised by the African Union Commission, UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and the Government of Germany.
The objective of the Forum was to reflect on ways and means of promoting women‟s leadership for transforming Africa, as envisioned in the Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals for peaceful and sustainable societies.

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Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Radiation Protection Council with Dr Ahmud Yousuf Maudarbocus as Chairperson.

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Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Agalega Island Council with Mr Gino Alfred, an Agalean, as Chairperson.

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