Several small- and medium-sized Mauritian businesses and entrepreneurs are expected in the country mid this month as they seek to reach out to millions of consumers. They will attend an exhibition organised by the Trade Promotion of Mauritius and the Consulate of Mauritius in Nairobi. The three-day fair to be held on 13 and 15 this month at Hilton Hotel is co-organised by the Retail Trade Association of Kenya (Retrak). Retrak chief executive officer Wambui Mbarire said participants will exhibit textile and apparel, jewellery, alcoholic beverages and other fast-moving consumer goods. Read more. Source | Business Daily

Un atelier visant à familiariser les PME avec l'African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) sera organisé mercredi à Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa à Balaclava. Le ministre du Business, des Entreprises et des Coopératives, Soomildut Bholah, et le chargé d’affaires de l’ambassade des États-Unis, Melanie Zimmerman, seront présents pour l’ouverture. Cette activité réunira une centaine de représentants de la communauté des affaires, des secteurs public et privé, des PME, et des entrepreneuses. L’objectif principal consiste à sensibiliser les participants aux opportunités existantes sous l’AGOA et les informer afin qu’ils puissent mieux comprendre le processus d’exportation et ainsi prendre avantage des possibilités d’affaires. Le but de cette loi, adoptée en mai 2000 par le Congrès américain, est de soutenir l'économie des pays africains en leur facilitant l'accès au marché américain s'ils adhèrent aux principes de l'économie libérale. Read more. Source | Le Mauricien

Comment aller vers le marché américain ? Quels sont les produits à exporter ? Quelles sont les facilités offertes aux entreprises mauriciennes à travers les accords préférentiels ? Autant de questions qui ont été abordées lors d’un « AGOA Preparedness Workshop » pour les Petites et moyennes entreprises. Permettre à nos Petites et moyennes entreprises (PME) de mieux profiter de l’African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). C’est l’objectif que s’est fixé le ministère de l’Activité économique et des Entreprises. Pour  le ministre Sunil Bholah, le marché américain devrait attirer toute notre attention. Read more. Source | Le Defimedia Group

The Government of Mauritius today launched its National Export Strategy (NES) at a ceremony in Port Louis. The strategy aims to help boost the export capacities of the country’s private sector and step up its trade with regional and global markets.The National Export Strategy will serve as a blueprint for the Government, the private sector and Mauritius' development partners to help the country’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) improve their competitiveness and generate higher-value jobs. These will guide Mauritius’ effort to reinvigorate inclusive and sustainable growth through trade.The launch in Port Louis comes after a series of multi-stakeholder consultations led by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection in collaboration with Enterprise Mauritius. Throughout the process, the International Trade Centre (ITC) has provided technical support to the process. Read more. Source | International Trade Centre

Seizing AGOA Opportunities in East Africa is a production of the USAID East Africa Trade and Investment Hub (The Hub). It highlights the work of the Hub’s Component 3 – Trade Promotion and AGOA, and briefly describes the legislation AGOA.  The trifold also outlines the general steps to follow when exporting to the U.S. under AGOA, and provide information on how to engage with the Hub on issues of trade promotion and AGOA.

Mauritian firms have injected more than Sh5 billion into the economy through acquisitions and investments in Kenyan companies, indicating tightening economic links between Nairobi and the Indian Ocean Island country.  The rush to Kenya by Mauritian firms is partly spurred by a double-taxation agreement signed two years ago. Financial services group SBM Holdings’ intended acquisition of Fidelity Bank for an estimated at Sh2.7 billion is so far the single-biggest publicly announced deal. Read more. Source | Business Daily

The sustainable growth opportunities available for businessmen and investors in Africa was the focus of a workshop organised yesterday by Sagittarius Ltd at Hennessy Park Hotel in Ebène. The Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives, Mr Sunil Bholah, was present at the opening.    Targeting businessmen and entrepreneurs, the workshop covered business opportunities in Africa, challenges faced by local businessmen as well as methods of market entry. Participants were given an overview of several countries in Africa. Discussions included a contextual analysis of the continent as well as Africa’s political and economic background. The boosting of intra-regional trade through the creation of a wider market, increased investment flows, enhanced competitiveness and development of cross-regional infrastructure was also highlighted. According to the Minister, the position of Mauritius as part of Africa will improve significantly on the global economic stage when the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) negotiations conclude in 2017. Read more. Source | Republic of Mauritius

The National Women Entrepreneur Council (NWEC) is organising a week-long education tour for some 47 women entrepreneurs from Rodrigues who are presently in Mauritius. The aim is to impart knowledge and skills to enable these women to grow and foster their business so as to emerge as a much stronger economic force.   The visit of women entrepreneurs to Mauritius is part of the annual 'Tournée Rodriguaise', organised by the Deputy Chief Commissioner's Office, in collaboration with the Commission for Tourism of Rodrigues, with a view to promoting Rodrigues through its local products, cuisine and culture. Read more. Source | Republic of Mauritius