Array of manufactured products on display in first Mauritius trade fair |25 April 2014

Manufactured products ranging from food items, handicraft, jewelry, furniture, machinery, clothing and footwear among others are on display in the first Mauritius international trade fair taking place at the NSC hall at Roche Caïman.

It has been organised by the Small Enterprise Promotion Agency (Senpa) in collaboration with the Enterprise Mauritius. And it is being held under the theme ‘Building strong and lasting business relationship’.

The two-day fair which is showcasing products from over 50 Mauritian and Rodriguais businesses was opened by the Minster for Finance, Trade and investment Pierre Laporte yesterday morning.

This was in the presence of the Mauritian Minister for Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection Cader Sayed Hossen. Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Paul Adam, Natural Resources Minister Peter Sinon, members of the Mauritian business delegation attending the first Seychelles-Mauritius business forum, local business representatives, artisans, students from the School of Business Studies & Accounting and the School of Visual Arts among other guests were also present.

Minister Hossen also addressed the guests and thanked the Mauritian businessmen and women and Rodriguais entrepreneurs taking part in the fair.
Mr Hossen invited Minister Laporte to the third Mauritius International Trade Expo to be held from August 21-24 in Port Louis.

The expo brings together some 150 business entrepreneurs from across the African continent to display their products. Mr Hossen has invited Minister Pierre Laporte to bring a business delegation while space will be reserved for Senpa to bring a group of entrepreneurs who will be able to display and sell their products.

Addressing the guests, Senpa chief executive Penny Belmont said the fair is an opportunity for Mauritian businesses to showcase their accomplishments and savoir-faire and she urged Seychellois businessmen to seize the occasion and to make the most of this opportunity to see for themselves what the Mauritians have to offer, exchange ideas, learn, and network for the betterment of business development and economic growth in Seychelles.

“Senpa is committed to promoting economic development and growth of our nation and has engaged in different public-private partnerships to ensure we have the support and guidance necessary to promote our economy,” said Ms Belmont.

She noted that next year Senpa will lead a delegation of entrepreneurs to showcase their products in Mauritius and added that this will be an opportunity for us to show what we too have to offer.

The chief executive of Enterprise Mauritius Dev Chamroo noted that last year Mauritius exported around 1,500 different manufactured products worth two thousand million US dollars and this to 143 countries.

But he pointed out that exports to Seychelles is only 300 million Seychelles rupees but Mauritius’  imports from Seychelles which is mostly fish is above one thousand million Mauritian rupees.
He said the trade fair is an opportunity to show what Mauritius produces and exports.

“But most importantly is for Seychellois people to know the different producers and manufacturers of these products,” Mr Chamroo pointed out.
During the opening ceremony of the fair, ministers Laporte and Hossen exchanged gifts. Minister Laporte handed Minister Hossen a ship maquette made by local artisan Robin Port-Louis.