Pre-Budget Consultations 2024-2025 kick-started yesterday. The Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr Renganaden Padayachy, convened yesteday afternoon, representatives of Associations of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), in context of the 2024-2025 pre-budget consultations.
Representatives from the following Associations attended the meeting chaired by the Finance Minister: Plastic Products Manufacturers and Users Association; SME Chambers; Manufacturing Jewellers Association; Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Small&Medium Enterprise Federation (SMEF); Association of Small Contractors; Association of Leather&Leather related products; Casting World Ltd; and SME Mauritius Ltd.
In a statement after the meeting, the representative of SMEF, Mr Rudy Tannoo, underlined that during the meeting, he was able to express his concerns regarding the challenges being faced by the local handicraft sector. He recalled that the local handicraft sector is anchored in Mauritius’ history and culture and contributes significantly to the economy of the country.
He further highlighted the need to preserve the country’s asset, which is the Dodo, and tap into it to make the local handicraft sector even more unique. Mr Tannoo indicated that he proposed the banning of imported Dodo souvenirs in order to enable the local handicraft sector to thrive. We have many local talented artisans who with the required equipment can produce Dodo souvenirs, he remarked.
