Mauritius

For micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), economic viability is a core issue. There is currently little clarity on market opportunities for green products or on the standards, inputs and expertise required for such products; however, the 10-year Master Plan for the SME Sector in Mauritius, currently being implemented, presents an opportunity to identify potential green products and value chains. A lack of innovation, including supply chain innovation, has also been identified as a key weakness across sectors in Mauritius. In addition, the capacity of support institutions and local eco-innovation experts is weak, and targeted support is needed to help enterprises adopt more up-to-date, appropriate technologies.

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), which is the association representing small and medium-sized enterprises in the country, also has capacity gaps. There is a need to streamline and rationalize business support services, such as by grouping experts under a single roof, which would enable SMEDA to provide services more efficiently.

The micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) involved in SWITCH Africa Green projects in Mauritius benefit from technical advice on eco-innovation and aspects of sustainable consumption and production, such as resource efficiency, integrated waste management, energy efficiency and industrial symbiosis, as well as general business advice on management, including financial management.

Projects

Completed Agriculture
Promoting eco-entrepreneurship in Africa

The greatest challenges facing eco-enterprises are a lack of access to knowledge, networks, financing and high-quality business development services and poor enabling conditions, including a shortage of skilled people at the community level.

Completed Agriculture
Promoting sustainable local agriculture through green retail and green hospitality (SUS-AGRI)

Agriculture accounts for 3.4% of gross domestic product and 8.3% of employment in Mauritius. Although Mauritius is considered a net-food-importing country by the World Trade Organization, the small-scale agriculture sector is vital to the production of some 115,000 tons of food crops annually.

Completed Agriculture
Increase capacity-building in the fishing community of Rodrigues through training for organic cultivation of the combava lime plant (C. hystrix) and its chilli paste

The Rodrigues fishing community is largely focused on massive fishing activities, to the detriment of the marine ecosystem.

Completed Agriculture
A model for sustainable production and consumption practices and eco-entrepreneurship development

Centre de Formation Agricole Frère Remi is a training centre catering to young people, aiming to develop their academic and vocational skills. The centre welcomes teenagers aged between 12 and 18 years old who have experienced successive academic failures, mainly at the primary school level.

Completed Manufacturing
Enhancing the resource productivity and environmental performance of MSMEs in 6 African countries through the concept of industrial symbiosis

The problem of the collection, management and disposal of waste continues to feature prominently in major towns and cities across African countries. This has led to contamination of water bodies and to the spread of waterborne diseases and other health hazards.

Completed Manufacturing
Developing capacity amongst Rodriguans to adopt green businesses through training for key stakeholders and through the development of a green business guidebook

Given the low level of development in Rodrigues, this project could be considered an opportunity to do things properly the first time around. Rodrigues has the potential to excel in the preservation of its natural environment. The recent banning of plastic bags is an important first step.

Completed Manufacturing
National Energy Efficiency Program – PNEE

In 2012, the Joint Economic Council, which is the coordinating body for the private sector in Mauritius, and the French Development Agency studied the energy efficiency situation in Mauritius by mapping the potential for energy savings in the industrial and tertiary sectors.

Ongoing Tourism
Sustainable Island Mauritius - (SUS-ISLAND) Greening of tour operators’ value chain

Every year, more than 1.3 million tourists visit the island of Mauritius. In 2017, the tourism industry accounted for more than 12% of total gross domestic product and provided more than 30,000 direct jobs. The Mauritius Tourism Development Plan sets a target of acquiring “Green Destination” status for Mauritius by 2030.

Completed Tourism
Greening the Mauritian tourism industry

Mauritius has developed a tourism industry that is admired throughout the world. The hospitality industry has rapidly emerged as one of the main income-earning sectors, accounting for 12% of gross domestic product. While larger hotels have the required expertise, logistics and facilities to compete at the international level, it is difficult for smaller hotels to do the same.

SWITCH-Africa Green Programme is implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme with the financial support of the European Union. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of the project partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

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