The Economic Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the National Cooperative College (NCC), awarded certificates to 43 cooperative members following their participation in the GO-EXPORT Programme for Cooperatives.
Launched on 31 August 2026, the programme comprised eight targeted training sessions covering export readiness, market research and selection, international trade procedures, costing and pricing, e-commerce, standards and export compliance. Participants gained practical knowledge to identify export opportunities and understand international market requirements.
The closing ceremony was held on 29 October 2026 at the NCC Auditorium in Terre Rouge, in the presence of Mr Rajah Radaursingh, G.O.S.K., Chief Executive Officer of the EDB, and Mr Issopkhan Abdoolakhan, Chairperson of the NCC, along with representatives from both institutions.
Turning Knowledge into Export Opportunities
In his summing-up, Mr Geerish Bucktowonsing, Director, Export Promotion at the EDB, emphasised the importance of translating the knowledge acquired into concrete export opportunities. He highlighted that training is an initial step, with sustained engagement essential to helping cooperatives access international markets.
Mr Sanjeev Coonjobeeharry, Director of the NCC, underscored the role of continuous capacity building in strengthening entrepreneurship, improving competitiveness and encouraging cooperatives to diversify their activities and explore new avenues for growth.
Supporting the Next Steps
The EDB intends to engage with selected cooperatives demonstrating promising export potential to assess production capabilities, identify suitable markets and facilitate participation in relevant export promotion programmes.
This support will also seek to establish linkages with international buyers and address challenges relating to product development, packaging, quality standards and market access.
Through this partnership, the EDB and NCC are helping build a more competitive, export-oriented cooperative sector, turning potential into market opportunities and broadening participation in international trade.
Beyond capacity building, the programme lays the foundation for sustained engagement with promising cooperatives, with the objective of translating export potential into tangible market opportunities, supporting cooperative development and contributing to a more inclusive and resilient Mauritian economy.
