Three memoranda of understanding for SMEs and cooperatives were signed during Sunil Bholah’s official visit to India from 21 to 27 August 2022.
The Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives led a delegation composed of the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the SME Division of his Ministry, the CEO of SME Mauritius and the Director of the National Cooperative College. At the 3rd edition of the Joint Committee Meeting in New Delhi to further explore avenues of collaboration in favour of SMEs and cooperatives, the Indian side was led by the Indian Minister of SMEs, the Hon. Narayan Tatu Rane, in the presence of Minister of State Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma.
National Cooperative College (NCC) and Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focusing on capacity building of cooperatives. VAMNICOM has a rich 80-year experience in training cooperatives in India. The agreement with NCC will help Mauritius in the development of courses and training programmes provided by NCC. Exchange programmes for both parties are also included. The agreement also makes provision for the training of trainers in the vocational and cooperative field.
In the area of SMEs, SME Mauritius has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII). This collaboration, which aims to promote entrepreneurship, will facilitate exchange missions, and help to better equip SME Mauritius officers and executives through various training courses. EDII has also expressed interest in setting up a branch in Mauritius as part of its plan to establish five branches in Africa. This project is still under discussion.
Another agreement signed by SME Mauritius is with the National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NI-MSME). The role of this institution in India is to advise the Indian government on policies and strategies to support SMEs. Through the agreement signed with MHE Mauritius, NI-MSME will offer its expertise to Mauritius for capacity building and institutional support by deepening the knowledge and skills of the of MHE Mauritius.
The Hon. Bholah said that “India is a reference for its various projects and measures in favour of SMEs and Mauritius will benefit from this expertise to better support the business climate”. According to the Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, the conclusion of agreements and discussions to better support SMEs is in line with the Government’s vision to promote entrepreneurship to further consolidate the Mauritian economy.
During his visit to India, Minister Bholah and his delegation also held discussions with the African-Asian Rural Development Organisation (AARDO). Discussions on current projects such as food processing. The possibility of sending consultants in the field of Smart Agriculture for cooperatives was also discussed. The possibility of setting up a Centre of Excellence in Mauritius was discussed. At the same time, the assistance of AARDO was also sought to establish 3D studios and demonstration studios of MHE Mauritius.
During this official visit, Hon. Sunil Bholah also visited the following institutions:
-National Cooperative Union of India
-National Institute of Cooperative Management
-National Small Industries Corporation
-National Forensic Scientific University
-Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd
-Escorts Agri Machinery
-National Institute of Post Harvest Technology
-Centre of Excellence for Floriculture
-COSMOS Co-op Bank Ltd
