The official launch was announced on Thursday by the Minister of Information Technology and Communications, Mr. E. Sinatambou, at the Ebène Cyber Tower.

The 48 additional eServices will facilitate links and interaction between the population and the public sector. It will allow citizens to carry out a number of online applications, and will provide a wide spectrum of services relating to applications for retirement pensions; development permits, applications for training courses, and other activities offered by various Ministries.

Other services such as reporting cases of alleged domestic violence; applications for environmental complaints, and online submission of yearly returns to the Mauritius Revenue Authority are also available. Applicants will be able to track their applications.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, the Minister expressed the hope that the availability of e-services would start instilling the benefits of the IT culture into the mind of the average citizen.

He pointed out that the eServices, coupled with the IC3 training for an IT literate and proficient population, decreases in the tariffs of International Private Leased Circuits, and a 25% growth each year for private sector companies involved in the ICT sector, have equipped Mauritius 'to get moving' and embrace fully the concept of becoming a 'Cyber-island'.

Mr Sinatambou appealed to all those involved in the field of ICT to work with discipline and solidarity to get the country "on the rails of development".

He added that despite a number of indices on ICT-related figures showing Mauritius ranked among the best nations on the African continent, there is still room for improvement.