This institution is ready to help companies to deal with their marketing and training problems. Moreover, it will help the entrepreneurs go towards foreign markets, as the success of a SME lies in its capacity to export in view of the small size of the local market.

The chairman of Enterprise Mauritius, Amédée Darga, has made it clear that all those involved in the textile sector should turn towards South Africa, which has just decided to impose a quota on textiles coming from China. Mauritius could play a growing role in this country and entrepreneurs should be quick to seize this opportunity, the more so as the local authorities are looking for ways of facilitating maritime transport in the region. The government is looking for funding to buy five new cargo ships at the moment.

The minister also drew attention to the new counter for SMEs at the Development Bank of Mauritius (DBM) to “facilitate their access to funding”.

<B>An incentive to launch one’s own business</B>

Any company (except for those in regulated sectors like banking) will now be able to start its operations within three days after having registered with the Registrar of Companies. There is no doubt that the business facilitation bill, in force since yesterday, will change the lives of new entrepreneurs and encorage many others to start their business. The implementation of this act puts an end to the long years of procedures to obtain a permit and the running between dozens of institutions before obtaining the right paper. As from now, all procedures will be centred at the Registrar of companies which will be responsible for passing on the information to ministries and other institutions. The managing director of the SEHDA, Vijay Ramgoolam, is well aware of the difficulties the authorities might face at the beginning but he guarantees, “We will take corrective measures when appropriate.” The minister of Local government, James Burty-David, promised his support to the project, as his ministry “wants to encourage a new generation of entrepreneurs in Mauritius”. The business facilitation act does not only aim at facilitation business launching; it also aims at developing a lighter and more transparent investment platform so that Mauritius can attract more foreign investors to come and work here.