Setting up of SheTrades Hub to bolster new trade opportunities for women-led businesses in Mauritius
6 Nov 2021
The Women in Trade Forum organised by the Economic Development Board (EDB) in London on Thursday 4th November was a unique initiative to connect Mauritian women entrepreneurs through the SheTrades platform to the global value chain. The overwhelming response of UK’s associations of women entrepreneurs to this event demonstrates the progressive spirit of women entrepreneurs to connect, do business, get inspired and forge lasting business partnerships.
The EDB and the International Trade Centre (ITC) signed a letter of intent at the event to pave the way for the launch of the upcoming SheTrades Hub in Mauritius early next year.
SheTrades is a global initiative of ITC, a joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations, that has the goal of connecting three million women entrepreneurs to markets and a global network of international buyers. Mauritius will join a network of SheTrades Hubs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Speaking at the event, the ambassador of this initiative, the wife of the Prime Minister, Mrs. Kobita Jugnauth, a fervent activist committed to promote and foster women entrepreneurship, underlined that this platform will aim at increasing the market access and competitiveness of businesses run by Mauritian women.
Highlighting the importance of the upcoming SheTrades Hub, Ms. Jugnauth also praised ITC for providing a unique opportunity for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and called for more collaboration in three areas, namely: diversification of our markets, entrepreneurial development and digital technology.
She added that “Mauritius is developing the capabilities required for the demands of a post-COVID-19 world and what women entrepreneurs need is access to training, networking and access to new markets and customers. And this is where SheTrades will be of help to them”. EDB’s collaboration with ITC/SheTrades will help increase women-owned businesses’ participation in trade through market linkages and trade intelligence. Women in Mauritius have always been at the entrepreneurial forefront and play a key role in our economic growth and development.
In his speech, Dr Padayachy highlighted that “the initiative with the International Trade Centre is a perfect occasion; and an excellent partner for EDB to team up with in order to grow our trade, to extend support measures to thousands of Mauritian women entrepreneurs to find a global market for their goods and services and to build an ambitious plan for women-owned businesses to expand and invest in new technologies and innovation. It is a chance for our business owners to connect, share ideas, and start new partnerships”.
The opening remarks of the Minister of Finance were followed with a video highlighting and showcasing the inspiring women who started business activities during the pandemic in Mauritius, and who found their support in Government support programmes and SME schemes.
The Minister of Finance seized the opportunity to encourage British companies to use Mauritius as a platform for their expansion plans and trade in Africa.
He added that the stable and conducive business environment, eco-system of foreign and local companies, coupled with our strong connections at the government and business level makes Mauritius a good base from which UK companies can explore and access markets in Africa under the Eastern and Southern Africa States-UK Economic Partnership Agreement and also benefit from African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Free Trade Agreements.
As per Ms Dorothy Ng'ambi Tembo, Deputy Executive Director of International Trade Centre, shaping a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable world has become a crucial issue, which can only be solved with women’s essential participation. ITC, with partner organisations like the EDB, is seeking to create new opportunities and really empower women globally and is keen to help our local entrepreneurs promote learning, innovation, partnerships and alliances, and to educate women on becoming new entrepreneurs.
The launch event was also attended by Baroness Sandip Verma who commended Mauritius for its policies and international programmes for supporting women’s empowerment.
The EDB is looking forward to work with ITC and UK entrepreneurs to expand our global markets, diversify and upgrade our supply chains, grow the economy, and use the SheTrade platform as a powerful vehicle to promote women's entrepreneurship and empowerment.
