Republic of Mauritius- Some 369 trainees receive certificates in Cooperative entrepreneurship

The objective of the training was to facilitate the promotion of diversified, emerging and innovative cooperatives, and involve more young persons and women in the development of the cooperative movement.

Present on the occasion, the Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives, Mr Soomilduth Bholah, encouraged the trainees to develop a culture of cooperatives and to actively participate in the field of cooperatives and entrepreneurship with the help of his Ministry.

The Minister recalled that cooperatives act as vital agents that contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of a country. Cooperatives help in integrating the poor and the unemployed in the mainstream of the economy, improve the standard of living, provide access to markets that individually people cannot access on their own, and combat social exclusion, he added.

Furthermore, Minister Bholah stated that his Ministry reckons the importance of the cooperative sector and is therefore encouraging the development of the cooperative movement through the creation and provision of favourable environment. He highlighted several incentives and schemes put in place to facilitate the creation of a cooperative society. They are: new co-operative law; encouraging new cooperative societies; Cooperative Development Fund Schemes; National Awards for Cooperatives; and trainings.

The Mauritian Cooperative Movement incorporates 90 000 members in over 1 100 cooperative societies operating in economic sectors like agriculture, fishing, retail trade, financial services, and ready-made garments, amongst others.  The sector generates an annual turnover exceeding Rs 5.5 billion and accounts for 15% of small sugar cane planters, 10% of national sugar production, 75% of onion production, 40% of potatoes production and 70% of fresh green vegetable.