Enterprise Mauritius has finally taken off. The launching of this new institution was done last Friday at Domaine les Pailles by the minister of Industry and Financial Services, Sushil Kushiram. The newly formed organisation is actually a merger between three parapublic institutions – the Mauritius Industrial Development Authority (MIDA), the Export Processing Zone Development Authority (EPZDA) and Subex-M.

The merger aims to offer the experience and skills of three oragnisations in the same institution to all Mauritian companies. It will take both internal capacities and possible openings on the international market into consideration. The final target is to allow the Mauritian manufacturing sector to achieve long-term growth.

The shares of this uncommon institution are presently divided between the government and the private sector. Enterprise Mauritius remains above all a private company.

Mauritian firms – especially in the textile field – have been faced with several challenges during the last few years. Globalisation and the end of the Multifibre agreement are some of the reasons why the Mauritian economy can’t rest on its laurels.

<B>Special support to textile companies</B>

Enterprise Mauritius is one of the counter-attacks the authorities have found to deal with this tough situation. With the New Zealander Lance Wickman acting as Chief Operations Officer (COO) for one year, the institution will have to find new strategies to boost the industrial sector of the country.

Thanks to the experience gained in the different sectors so far covered by the three organisations separately, Enterprise Mauritius will be able to better meet the expectations of local comapnies to make them more competitive on the international market.

In view of the difficulties in the textile sector, the organisation may give priority to the support of companies involved in the textile and garment field. However, it is intended to help all companies which would need consultancy services for instance. The follow-up of technological developments, the tracking of local talent and the development of these competencies are also among the services provided by Enterprise Mauritius.

The institution’s COO gives assurance that Enterprise Mauritius will have the required autonomy and flexibility to see these services through. The new organisation may also call upon specialists from the private and public sectors. It could even call upon foreign experts if the COO finds it necessary. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between this institution and the National Productivity and Competitiveness Council (NPCC) is an example of possible future partnerships.