On Wednesday the 23rd May 2018, the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, officially inaugurated the Cap Tamarin Smart and Happy Village project and La Maison Cap Tamarin. More than simply champagne and cocktail snacks, the event truly captured the cosy ambience of what this smart village envisions.

Partly held under the stars and partially covered by three large tipi marquees, the event featured chic, yet rustic decor. Warm lighting and the moon elegantly irradiated the occasion, while the scattered wooden crates and comfy beanbags provided seating for guests with a down-to-earth touch.

At the launch party, the food essentially helped in reinforcing the feeling of the event. Apart from the canapé snacks, typical Mauritian street food was served as well. Traditionally prepared on site, the live-cooking stands dished out roti, boulettes¹, and a range of traditional snacks from roasted peanuts to gram². Drink wise, in addition to the open-bar and champagne, the welcome cocktail served was made with, what else, tamarind juice!

Entertainment for the night included performances from Eric Triton and Rafiki as well as a choir performance from children of the region orchestrated by Linzy Bacbotte.

The inauguration ceremony started off with a speech from Kian Jhuboo, the Director of Trimetys, who then unveiled Cap Tamarin’s new brand image – the logo and video capturing the essence of the project in approximately 2 minutes. Followed by a speech on the role of smart cities in the advancement of the island’s economy from Pravind Jugnauth, “Smart cities will play a vital role as an economic driver; they will be places of connectivity, creativity and innovation.”

And finally, with a tap of a gong from the Prime Minister, in the presence of Kian Jhuboo and Georges Talbotier – Director & CEO, La Maison Cap Tamarin gracefully lit up and was officially opened to the public for the first time.

*1 – boulettes: steamed Chinese dumplings very similar to dim sum.
*2 – gram: roasted peas.