An award of certificate ceremony for some 50 participants having successfully completed training in textile waste recycling, was held, yesterday, at the National Cooperative College (NCC) in Bois Marchand.
The Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, Mr Soomilduth Bholah, the Chairperson of National Women’s Council, Mrs Sooma Devi Vencatagadoo, the Director of National Cooperative College, Mr Sanjeev Coonjoobeeharry, and other personalities were present on this occasion.
In his address, Minister Bholah underscored the pivotal role of training in entrepreneurship, facilitated by NCC and SME Mauritius Ltd, covering crucial areas like administration, marketing, law and human resources. He, moreover, spoke of the importance of fabric recycling to repurpose textile waste and promote circular economy, addressing the substantial textile waste, with 30 000 tons annually disposed of at Mare-Chicose landfill out of a total of 500 000 tons of waste.
Furthermore, Minister Bholah commended the female participants for their commitment and emphasised the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare’s aim to empower women across various domains. He stressed the provision of financial aid by Development Bank of Mauritius Ltd (DBM), MauBank Ltd, and other institutions, including grants of up to Rs 200 000 for entrepreneurs. Additionally, he highlighted opportunities like the SME Graduate Scheme, aimed at developing entrepreneurial skills among graduates and enhancing their employability, thus contributing to economic growth and innovation in Mauritius.
For her part, Mrs Vencatagadoo dwelt on the National Women Council’s vision to empower women through knowledge and skills in textile waste recycling, with the support and expertise received from the NCC. This initiative, she stated, aims to encourage women to manufacture products, especially for tourists, using textile waste, promoting sustainability and economic empowerment.
