Business updates

Trade agreements, export strategies, international marketing and financial risk management - those were the themes on the agenda of the Xport Accelerator workshop that began on Monday 14 October 2024 at the Caudan Arts Centre.

This focused training is being held in parallel with business coaching  and mentoring sessions, where a diagnosis will be established for each participant who has been selected for the Xport Accelerator programme.

Subsequently, a roadmap will be presented to each SME, identifying key areas for improvement.

A joint initiative of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the programme aims to help participants in reinforcing their business strategy to better take advantage of the export opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Present at the opening ceremony of this workshop were  Ms. Amanda K. Serumaga, UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Patrice Marie, Vice-President of the MCCI, Dr. Drishtysingh Ramdenee, Secretary General of the MCCI and Mrs. Rooma Narrainen, Head of Advocacy.

Ms. Amanda K. Serumaga, UNDP Resident Representative, highlighted the potential for Mauritius to become a market leader on the African continent: "African markets are growing, consuming and increasingly relying on the digital world and are one of the fastest growing markets. Mauritius therefore has many advantages that facilitate its outreach to African markets, such as the duality of language. The proximity of Mauritius to the African continent will make Africa not only a market but also a partner in global trade."

MCCI Vice-President, Mr. Patrice Marie outlined the potential of SMEs to become pillars of the Mauritian economy: “Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are crucial drivers of innovation and economic growth. There are nearly 120,000 SMEs actively operating in numerous industries including manufacturing services and agriculture and represent a significant potential for expansion into international markets.”

Through a comprehensive approach, the workshop serves a central role in helping the SMEs understand the dynamics of African markets and the mechanisms of exportation.

Three SMEs operating from the Seychelles also attended the first working session which focused on commercial agreements in view of exporting towards African markets.

The SMEs had the opportunity to engage with experts from the MCCI as well as representatives from Customs Department of the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade.

Forthcoming workshops will delve into the following themes: logistics, international trade requirements and standards, brand positioning and digital marketing.

Caption

From left to right: Dr. Drishtysingh Ramdenee, Secretary General of the MCCI, Ms. Amanda K. Serumaga, UNDP Resident Representative and Mr. Patrice Marie, Vice-President of the MCCI.