Government of Republic of Mauritius : Mauritius Duty Free Paradise and Mauritius Network Services team up with SMEDA

In his address this morning at the signature ceremony of two Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Port Louis between the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) with Mauritius Network Services (MNS) and the Mauritius Duty Free Paradise Co. Ltd (MDFP), the Minister called on small and medium entrepreneurs to make good use of technology to boost up productivity.

Minister Bholah outlined that the MoU between MDFP and SMEDA relates to the implementation of Government decision to revamp the handicraft sector in Mauritius. The SMEDA is confident that the local craft products will be effectively marketed at the outlets of MDFP and that this will boost visibility of the operators and facilitate their access to a wider tourism market. By virtue of the agreement MDFP will purchase local handicraft products exclusively from SMEDA on an agreed list of products.

He recalled that SMEDA had previously signed three MoU with the Association of Chartered Certificated Accounts, Microsoft Indian Ocean Islands Limited and the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry so as to boost the entrepreneurship sector.

According to Mr Bholah the MoU with MNS will further assist in the organisation of interactive workshops for Small and Medium Enterprises to enable entrepreneurs to understand the importance of Information technology in their day to day operations. It will also facilitate access to cloud business solutions and promote the delivery of training courses to SMEs.

SMEs have been identified as major role players in the economic growth and transformational development of Mauritius and it is very important to develop the capacity, knowledge and skills of local entrepreneurs, he said.

The Minister further listed out measures adopted by SMEDA to boost the handicraft sector, highlighting that a Craft Academy has been created at Coromandel to enable craftsmen develop new products with added value.