SheTrades Mauritius Hub: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Rodrigues

A round table discussion was held on August 26, 2024, bringing together key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. In his opening remarks, Mr. Johnson Roussety, GOSK, Deputy Chief Commissioner and Commissioner for Industrial Development, Trade, and Commerce of Rodrigues, emphasized the significant role that women play in shaping the economic landscape of Rodrigues. He noted that “more than 50% of the population of Rodrigues are women, and they thrive in a culture of entrepreneurship.” Mr. Roussety also highlighted the various schemes designed to further promote entrepreneurship, as well as the flagship project centred around the ‘Made in Rodrig’ label.

The session saw the participation of over 25 stakeholders from key institutions, where valuable insights were shared. The discussions laid the groundwork for future initiatives aimed at enhancing the business environment for women entrepreneurs in Rodrigues, ensuring their continued contribution to the region’s economic growth.

In her closing remarks, Miss Marie Christiane Agathe, the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Handicraft in Rodrigues, encouraged women-led businesses in Rodrigues to fully embrace the opportunities available to them. She emphasized the uniqueness of the products from Rodrigues, noting that this distinctiveness, coupled with the strong entrepreneurial spirit of the local women, positions them well to succeed and thrive in both local and international markets.

A full-day workshop was held on 27th August 2024, at Les Cocotiers Hotel, bringing together around 50 women entrepreneurs from Rodrigues across various sectors, including agriculture, handicrafts, cosmetics, and food processing. In her address, Mrs. Nirmala Jeetah, Director of the SheTrades Mauritius Hub, highlighted the benefits of joining the SheTrades Mauritius Hub, stating, “The focus of this workshop is to better understand the business climate in Rodrigues, identify the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, and collaborate with the Commission for Industrial Development and the Commission for Women’s Affairs to develop strategies that would further empower women towards accessing global markets’.

Mrs. Renooka Beejan, Head of the Socio-Economic Development Unit at the UNDP, highlighted the critical role of empowering women, noting, “A successful woman entrepreneur leads to societal success, and this is why UNDP is committed to this sustainable goal of empowering women.”. The UNDP is a strategic partner having at heart the development of the women entrepreneurs in Rodrigues and has sponsored the workshop for the women entrepreneurs.

Participants were introduced to the Export Readiness module and learned about the opportunities for participation in International Trade Fairs. The interactive session provided a valuable platform for entrepreneurs to conduct their own SWOT analysis and assess their export readiness. The feedback gathered during this session will be instrumental in shaping future capacity-building programs tailored to the unique needs of women-led businesses in Rodrigues.

During the workshop, local women entrepreneurs had the opportunity to engage in discussions about the current business landscape in which they operate. They explored ways to export their products to international and regional markets, with a particular focus on leveraging opportunities such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This exchange of ideas and knowledge aimed to equip the entrepreneurs with the insights and strategies needed to expand their businesses beyond local borders and tap into new markets across Africa and beyond

The program aimed to offer practical solutions and resources, encouraging these entrepreneurs to scale up their operations and make meaningful contributions to the local economy.

The Event was covered by the National Television and can be viewed on the following link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1JdCevBTnc