The message of the Compagnie Mauricienne de Textile (CMT) for its 18th anniversary is clear and simple: “Life is a journey.” No doubt the company’s path has proved it. From a small enterprise with 30 employees to the third place in the top 100 company list of Mauritius, CMT is a success. But it has invested a lot, taken high risks, the latest being the opening of one of the most modern world spinning plants.

The company has undoubtedly achieved many of its targets and can be proud of its success, which lies largely in the commitment of its employees and the family spirit that can be felt through the staff. “CMT still has 53 among the 70 employees, which constituted its staff 18 years ago. They are the pioneers,” François Woo, general manager, told l’express on the eve of the great celebration. In his speech, he added, addressing these same pioneers, “You are the giants on whom we stood to build our vision.” François Woo is at the same time proud and grateful to these employees, who helped him reach the top.

Because CMT is at the top. It should reach the Rs 1 billion profit mark by the end of the year. But the company managers do not want to stop there. CMT intends to become the world leader of the textile industry. “It will be naïve and irresponsible on my part to state that, with the opening of our new plant and having turned 18 years old, we have achieved our goal and objective and that it is the end of a chapter in our life cycle. As it is often said in the business world, the goal post is never reached, it keeps on being displaced further and further…”

This determination to always be at the top but never be satisfied with what they have achieved is also another key of CMT’s success. And it may well be one of the reasons it is looked upon as a model for the whole textile industry.

It is no secret that the sector has been going through tough times lately with factories closing down and employees being laid off. However, CMT has never abandoned the fight. On the contrary, it has always done its best to remain competitive.

The minister of Industry, Financial services and Corporate affairs, Sushil Khushiram, acknowledged it in his speech on the opening of the new spinning mill: “CMT’s consistent performance in expanding its exports and profits year after year offers a shining example of management excellence to other Mauritian enterprises that need to confront the harsh realities of global market liberalisation.”

The company’s management seized the opportunity of both minister Kushiram and the prime minister’s presence to thank the government for its constant support. Addressing Paul Bérenger, François Woo said, “Your presence tonight for the inauguration of our spinning mill is a vivid testimony of your commitment and determination to the cause of our textile industry.”

The two other company managers, Louis Lai Fat Fur and Marie Claire Woo, also paid tribute to their employees. They insisted on the fact that they started from a small enterprise to become the structured company they are today with 5,500 employees.

Marie-Claire Woo, the marketing manager, made it clear that “change is the only constant (…) We have learnt a lot and have rethought our organisation in the face of unpredictable episodes. Despite the fact that the going got tough, we learnt how to rise from a fall and become stronger, yet humble from each fall.”

The solid achievements of the CMT truly testify of one criterion that seems to have never changed within the company: an unfailing team spirit.

<B>Worthwhile investment </B>

The first textile company in terms of profitability (Rs 700 million in 2003) has invested Rs 1.4 billion in its new spinning mill in La Tour Koenig. It seems that the investment is worth it since CMT can now be proud to have the latest technology in the field: an entirely automatic spinning mill, one of the first in the world. The new factory is the biggest industrial building in Mauritius and employees will move around on roller skates. Its production capacity should be of 8,500 tons every year thus increasing the country’s capacity to 18,500 tons (a third of the local needs). Moreover, the new factory should provide some 1,500 more jobs.

<I>It is no secret that the sector has been going through tough times lately. However, CMT has never abandoned the fight but has done its best to be competitive.</I>