In the margin of the National Day Celebration, the EDB in Collaboration with the Ministry of Industrial Development, SMEs, and Cooperatives, organized a series of Trade & Investment promotion events at the EXPO 2020 Dubai from 14-16 March 2022. The objective of the conference organized on 16 March 2022 was to showcase the shift of the Mauritian industry towards a sustainable journey.
In his welcoming address, Mr. Hemraj Ramnial, CSK, Chairman of EDB stated that Mauritius is in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals number 12, related to developing Industries that support Sustainable production and Consumption Patterns. In this regard, the Mauritian Industry is giving due importance to sustainable and high-tech transformation, circular economy, as well as green and blue economy.
The Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, Hon. Soomilduth Bholah, in his keynote address emphasised how Mauritius succeeded in diversifying from a monocrop economy to a diversified one where industry has been an important engine of growth. “Today, Mauritius is not only manufacturing a wide range of products in different subsectors like textile and apparel, light engineering and agro-processing but more important, through constant efforts from all stakeholders, the country has earned a good name as a quality sourcing destination. The challenge we have today is to move our industry to another level where sustainability is central in the new orientation”, said the minister.
Mr. Geerish Bucktowonsing, Director of the department of Industry at EDB made a detailed presentation of the success of the Mauritian Industry and its engagement to position itself as a strategic hub for more complex manufacturing to serve regional markets in both Africa and Middle East. He highlighted that all partners of the Industry are working together to construct a new ecosystem post-covid 19 that goes in line with Industrial policy and Strategic plan 2020-2025.
Mrs. Edith Keller, President of Carlin International Trend Bureau, congratulated Mauritius for its approach to support the Industry. It is to be noted that Carlin International was recruited by EDB Mauritius to develop a range of sustainable apparel collections for 10 enterprises in Mauritius that were showcased in the Fashion Show on 16 March 2022 in the margin of National Day celebrations in Dubai.
Mr Devesh Dhukira, CEO of Mauritius Sugar Syndicate made an exposé of the sugar cane cultivation in Mauritius since it was introduced by the Dutch. Today, the Industry is laying emphasis on innovation in manufacturing a wide range of special sugar and the latest being the low GI sugar which it wants to position strongly in the Middle East.
The last speaker, Mr. Sylvain Oxenham, Director of Finance at Oxenham Ltd expressed his gratitude for being part of this event especially that Oxenham Group of companies is celebrating its 90th anniversary. This coincides with their latest success where the company’s new product namely the Bougainville Vieux Domaine Spice Rum has received the gold award at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London.
