Mauritius: A first batch of 40 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has been selected to undergo intensive training from March to June 2024 so as to build their capacity to obtain the ‘Made in Moris’ label.
It is recalled that the ‘Made in Moris’ certification was launched in 2013 by the Association of Mauritian Manufacturers (AMM) as a golden standard for the quality, freshness, traceability and adaptability of products manufactured in Mauritius. The certification not only gives more value to local products but also allows for their easy identification.
As announced in the Budget 2023-2024, the ‘En route vers le Made in Moris’ programme has been introduced with a view to motivate some 120 SMEs to obtain local certification over a period of three years. Under this initiative, selected SMEs will benefit from 65 hours of training, four hours of business diagnosis, 18 hours of personalised coaching, and eight hours of master classes and networking events.
The presentation of the 40 chosen SMEs was held on 31st January 2024 at the seat of the ‘Made in Moris’, in St Pierre, in the presence of the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr Renganaden Padayachy; the Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, Mr Soomilduth Bholah; the Chief Executive Officer of the AMM and ‘Made in Moris’, Ms Shirin Gunny; and other personalities.
In their speeches, both Ministers Padayachy and Bholah highlighted the crucial role of local enterprises as a significant contributor to economic growth and as a proud heritage to the country, putting forward their industrial know-how, principles and innovation.
They reiterated continuous Government support to SMEs and the manufacturing sector.
Ministers Padayachy and Bholah also commended the AMM for its insights in creating the ‘Made in Moris’ platform to give prominence to local companies and their products, as well as for its collaboration with the Government to uphold the sector. They lauded the ‘Made in Moris’ platform, which, after ten years of existence, regrouped 150 companies representing 350 brands and 3,800 products.
The Finance Minister also pointed out that some Rs 18 million have been earmarked for the ‘En route vers le Made in Moris’ project over the next three years.
Dr Padayachy listed other steps taken by the Government to boost the ‘Made in Moris’ initiative, including, among others, a financial grant for certification under the ‘Made in Moris’ label and a 40% margin of preference on public procurement for companies having the ‘Made in Moris’ label.
For his part, Minister Bholah dwelt on the competitive advantage of the ‘Made in Moris’ label which, he deemed, a symbol of prestige and marketing asset with compliance with health and environmental standards, quality and creativity. He, thus, called on enterprises seeking the certification to follow the training and to focus on excellence and product quality so as to meet consumer expectations.