Republic of Mauritius- Minister Bholah reassures Government’s commitment to taking the SME sector to new heights

With regard to the cooperatives, he recalled that as at date, some 1 200 Cooperative Societies are operating in 40 business sectors of the country regrouping some 120 000 members which generate a business turnover of around Rs 5.8 billion in the economy. On this score, he added that his Ministry has provided assistance to cooperatives under the Cooperative Development Fund’s schemes and at date, some 53 cooperatives have benefitted from schemes under the Fund.

Access to market for cooperatives, he stated, is primordial for the survival of SMEs for they need a platform for the sale of their products and services. Since January 2015 to date, 266 Cooperative Fairs have been organised by his Ministry to provide free marketing outlets to cooperators. He also spoke on green projects which are being encouraged among the entrepreneurs in line with Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr Bholah also dwelt on other measures to strengthen and further boost the sector and capacity building of cooperatives in line with a 10-Year Master Plan for the SME Sector launched in March 2017. The 10-Year Master Plan, a roadmap for SMEs with realistic targets for a quantum leap of entrepreneurial vibrancy, said the Minister, has implemented around 50% of the recommendations of which 23% have been completed.

According to the Minister, some 385 cooperatives have so far benefitted from technical support and assistance for project write-up in connection with applications for registration of cooperatives, loans and state land. He also recalled that Budget 2019/2020 allocates a sum of Rs 12 million for the setting up of a Cooperative Seafood Processing Unit at Tamarin to allow fishermen cooperatives to produce higher value added products and added that the grant allocated to fishermen cooperatives has increased from Rs 60 000 to Rs 80 000 for the purchase of outboard engines and fishing nets.

The role of information and communication technology has also been covered by Mr Bholah and on that note, he stated that the Cooperatives Division e-Registration Project has been implemented for online submission of application for registration of cooperative, payment of application fees and submission of Financial Statements.