Faculty of Agriculture at the International SME Innovation and Technology Fair 2017

The Faculty of  Agriculture participated at the International SME fair on 11 to 14 May at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre in Pailles. It was an opportunity to show case the technical expertise especially in novel technologies of agriculture, Bio-farming and other value added agri-business activities that the Faculty can leverage to support entrepreneurs in developing their capacities. For more info contact the Dean office at deanfoa@uom.ac.mu

Source GIS - 08 May, 2017: Government wants to endorse innovation and technology for local entrepreneurs and foster new technological strategies to boost up the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector in Mauritius. This was stated by the Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives, Mr Soomilduth Bholah, during a press conference today and he announced the holding of the International SME Innovation and Technology Fair 2017 on 11 to 14 May at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre in Pailles.

The Minister outlined four major constraints faced by local entrepreneurs to sustain competition and innovation on international frontiers namely a lack of funding; restricted market access; lack of skilled labour; and deficiency in technological resources. He pointed out that the fair will help promote cooperation and partnership with other countries, thus allowing exchange of knowledge, skills, creativity and expertise.

He appealed to entrepreneurs and the public to attend the fair and benefit from this technology transfer and technical know-how sharing activity to facilitate joint ventures and induce innovation for SMEs.

Minister Bholah highlighted that the visit of the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) of the Republic of India, Mr Kalraj Mishra, will coincide with the International SME Innovation and Technology Fair. Mr Mishra will be on an official visit to Mauritius for five days to attend the Second Joint Committee Meeting on Cooperation in the field of MSME.
Issues that will be addressed during the Joint Committee Meeting are: capacity building for the development of micro and medium enterprises; industrial potential feasibility studies, partnership and cooperation in priority sectors, and handicraft; possibility of technical and managerial training; and organisations of exhibitions and fairs with India.

The International SME Innovation and Technology Fair 2017, aiming to promote innovative and technological strategies for SMEs, is being organised by the Ministry of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority and the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The fair is expected to gather around 40 local and 50 international exhibitors from countries like India, China, South of Africa, Italy, and Malaysia, amongst others. A huge variety of products will be displayed mainly in the sectors of medical, renewable energy, manufacturing, innovation, bio-farming, aqua-culture, handicraft and ICT. Seminars will also be held by resource persons from India.