Alumna breaks new ground on Mauritius’ Public Investment Partnerships for new infrastructure

The gender imbalance in the construction industry in Mauritius is substantial across all levels – from workers to professionals. This means that the road to success in the construction industry was not easy for alumna, Taslimah Codadeen. But, despite the many challenges, Taslimah has been making a huge difference in Port Louis over the last seven years, particularly as a prominent member of Mauritius’s first Public-Private-Project (PPP), the two-year-long construction of the Victoria Urban Terminal (VUT) in Port Louis to the value of 2.1 Billion Mauritian Rupee. She was determined to make the best of all opportunities that opened up for her after she completed her Australia Awards Short Course in Private-Public Investment Partnerships (PPiP) in 2016.

Taslimah has been involved in the VUT from its conceptual stage and as part of the team that drafted the project’s Request for Proposals (RFP), first as Assistant Permanent Secretary and since 2020, as Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Infrastructure and Community Development. The Ministry, on behalf of the Government of Mauritius, selected Victoria Station Ltd (VSL) to design, finance, build, operate, maintain and manage the VUT on a portion of state land for a 60-year lease. The VSL is responsible for all costs involved with the project.

The PPiP Course has been particularly relevant in helping me to contribute effectively in soliciting the private sector to collaborate with the Government in major road projects.  Without the PPIP course, I would have been completely lost in my role.  The course equipped me with first-hand knowledge and skills in project management, communication, negotiation and contract management in the public-private project context, Taslimah says.

When the initial lack of trust between the partners threatened to dampen the PPP’s success, Taslimah used her knowledge from the short course to suggest that a high-level technical committee be set up to regroup all major stakeholders, introduce regular meetings to address teething issues and take effective decisions.

Public sector officials are often wary of the private sector, especially when such close collaboration is required.  It can be very difficult to achieve synergy between two sectors that are fundamentally different. However, the PPIP course expanded my horizons and made me realise that some projects with massive investment and complex technicalities, can only be successfully implemented with close collaboration of all parties, says Taslimah.

The amenities at the Victoria Urban Terminal consist of a modern bus terminal with 20 bays, office space of 2,800 square metres; a market to accommodate 1,000 hawkers; parking facilities for 400 vehicles; an overhead pedestrian bridge which links the terminal with the Metro Express Terminal; green spaces; a taxi stand; and other commercial spaces and amenities.

Effective communication with all stakeholders was another aspect where Taslimah excelled. I have been very vocal about the need to communicate to all stakeholders whose lives are affected by the project. All the operators, buses, taxis, hawkers, and passengers were relocated during the construction period. I have encouraged and ensured that the relevant authorities communicate extensively to all concerned throughout the project, she adds. 

According to Taslimah, the PPIP Short Course also equipped her with the skills to align everyone in a collaborative approach that is mutually beneficial to both government and private sector stakeholders.  I can safely say that I got the chance of a lifetime to put into practice everything I have learned during my PPIP course. It changed my outlook towards private sector involvement in Government projects, she says.

As Deputy Permanent Secretary, Taslimah’s responsibilities cover all major road projects; administrative issues for the Road Development Authority; environmental and climate change issues for the Ministry; and training aspects. She is also the gender focal point on gender issues, chairperson for the Departmental Procurement Bid Committee; desk officer for the Victoria Urban Terminal project and chairperson of the Ministry’s Audit Committee.

Taslimah’s contribution is ongoing as in the Government’s expansive infrastructure projects which started in 2016 with the Metro Express and the VUT. The Express links Port Louis with all other towns on the island while a network of modern integrated urban terminals, comprising parking facilities, food courts, commercial spaces, dedicated hawker spaces and green areas are also in the making. The Government plans to have urban terminals along the Metro Express corridor at Victoria, Port Louis, Immigration Square in Port Louis, Place Margéot, Rose Hill, and a bus terminal at Vacoas and Ian Palach, Curepipe.

Taslimah is still learning every day. I am aware that I still have lots of grounds to cover. I look forward to new avenues to improve my skills and knowledge in PPIP projects, she says.

Mauritius being a small island with no natural resources relies heavily on its services industries such as tourism, ICT and financial services sector. Although the national budget is often limited and major capital projects have to be prioritised, the country is embarking on several major construction projects lately.  The number of operating companies in the construction industry is limited and insufficient for the demand.  There is a significant lack of professionals in specialist fields such as geotechnics, land surveying, land drainage and even in architecture, landscaping and civil engineering and the brain drain from Mauritius contributes to this.