APA | 30 August 2011

Port Louis (Mauritius) Mauritius-based company, La Compagnie des Trois Amis Ltd (CDTA), has partnered with two Indian entities, Supreme Agro Projects Ltd and Prama Consulting Services Ltd, for the successful execution of a rice plantation project in Mozambique, CDTA chairman Varma Aubeeluck averred on Tuesday in Port Louis.

According to the CDTA chairman Aubeeluck, an initial 300 million rupees (about US$107.450) will be invested in the rice plantation project.

He added that this amount will increase depending on the infrastructures required and the surface of land allocated to CDTA by Mauritius's Regional Development Company which manages lands allocated by Mozambican authorities in the wake of initiatives taken in the context of food security.

Varma Aubeeluck will fly shortly to Mozambique to officially present details of his projet to the Mozambican authorities.

The CDTA chair will be informed on the surface of land it will obtain i.e. not be less than 2000 hectares.

CDTA will need to rapidly finalize legal procedures for land leasing contract as it is planning to make a first rice harvest within 18 to 24 months.

Mozambique offered to lease to Mauritius some 23,500ha of land subject to Mauritius coming up with viable and sustainable projects.

For this purpose, the Regional Development Co. Ltd (RDC) has been incorporated as a private company with the Government of Mauritius as shareholder. Its goals include the promotion of regional food security and other regional development projects.