Govt freezes Highlands project

The project, Small and Medium Enterprise Village, at Highlands has been shelved for the time being due to availability of funds. This was stated by the minister of Finance and Economic Development, Pravind Jugnauth in his reply to a question from Labour MP Raj Hawoldar. The minister explained that the (FULL FORM?) DBM was entrusted with the responsibility of constructing three industrial estates for SMEs at Terre Rouge, La Tour Koenig and Highlands. As of now the construction of the industrial estates at Terre Rouge and La Tour Koenig has been completed and both industrial buildings are fully booked. In order to construct the third industrial estate and rent them at affordable rates to SMEs, the DBM had approached the National Empowerment Foundation in 2007 for funds. However, this endeavour did not succeed. Despite the fact that funds were not available at the DBM, the bank still decided to proceed with the construction of two industrial estates at La Tour Koenig and Terre Rouge. Concerning the Highlands project, he stated that the DBM acquired two plots of land of 3,319.50 m2 and 4,474.10 m2 at Highlands from the State Land Development Co Ltd in October 2008 for the purpose of constructing an SME Village comprising 20 units ranging from 100 m2 to 200 m2 in floor area.