The twelve existing Regional Cooperative Centres (RCC) will be restructured and converted into five Cooperative Business Centres (CBC), as part of the first phase of the reengineering of the Cooperatives’ Division.
The Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, Mr Soomilduth Bholah, made this announcement, on Monday, during a press conference held in Port-Louis.
The CBC, he said, will be set up in five strategic zones and will serve as a one-stop shop for cooperatives societies as follows: Zone 1, Rivière du Rempart, to cater for 200 cooperatives societies; Zone 2, Port-Louis, 250 cooperatives societies; Zone 3, St Pierre, 230 cooperatives societies; Zone 4, Henrietta, 180 cooperatives societies; and Zone 5, Rose-Belle, 190 cooperatives societies.
Minister Bholah highlighted that with the aim of maintaining dynamism, promoting optimum utilisation of resources, and introducing efficiency and innovation in the sector, the Ministry solicited the help of the Office of Public Sector Governance to review the services being offered.
He informed that a report was submitted in July 2020 and the reengineering of the cooperatives sector which will be conducted in three phases, is aligned with its key recommendations that include: the restructuration of the RCC, the restructuration of the Cooperatives Development Unit to be converted into the Cooperatives Development and Research Unit, the consolidation of the Cooperatives Division eRegistration project, the setting up of an Enforcement Unit, and the professionalising of the sector through training initiatives.
The Minister pointed out that the restructuration of the RCC and the setting up of the CBC did not result in the reduction of existing employees.
The CBC, he indicated, will provide better infrastructure, logistics and environment for the employees, and promote the utilisation of technology, and eliminate bureaucracy.
Furthermore, Mr Bholah added that cooperative societies will be able to hold their meetings at the CBC.
He stressed that it was crucial to revamp and bring forth a new dynamism in the cooperatives sector so that it is well equipped and prepared to respond to challenges.
