Republic of Mauritius- Youth urged to open up to the world of entrepreneuriat to reduce unemployment rates

He was addressing some 100 students at the opening ceremony of a one-day workshop organised by the University of Technology Mauritius (UTM) and the SME Mauritius Ltd at La Tour Koenig. It is being held as part of the National Entrepreneurship Campaign (NEC) launched by the Ministry last February with the objective of encouraging entrepreneurial activities among the public.

The Minister pointed out that youngsters need to have a change in their mindset when looking for jobs and should start considering the various opportunities in the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector, which will in turn contribute to decreasing unemployment rates. Small businesses, he added, can lead to greater success in life provided that aspiring entrepreneurs receive proper guidance and continuous support.

He also recalled the commitment of SME Mauritius Ltd in supporting start-ups in their endeavours and help existing businesses to sustain on the market by putting at their disposal a number of schemes and facilities, training as well as mentoring. Moreover, he said, financial institutions such as the MauBank and the Development Bank of Mauritius are facilitating access to finance for new businesses.

Present at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of SME Mauritius, Mr Rabin Rampersad, said that SME Mauritius is fostering a new approach to sustaining entrepreneurship at the national level, hence the NEC. He stated that the NEC is an expansive campaign carried out across the island in a bid to ease the diffusion of information concerning SMEs.

He added that the collective work of various institutions dedicated to support entrepreneurship will highly contribute to improving resilience and growth of the sector as well as add value to its activities.

For his part, the Director General of the UTM, Mr Kiran Bhujun, stated that the SME sector will take a more impactful role in the Mauritian economy in the years to come since the Government has come up with several important measures. He reiterated the determination of the UTM in promoting entrepreneurship as part of the school curriculum and encouraging young people in becoming entrepreneurs.