A Women Entrepreneur Week launched

The objectives are to promote women entrepreneurship through open discussions and networking, disseminate information on schemes and facilities, provide opportunities for women entrepreneurs to sell their products at trade fairs, improve networking between suppliers and entrepreneurs, and learn from experiences of established businesswomen.

During the week, women interested in tsetting up a business can visit information desks set up by Mauritius Institute of Training and Development, the Mauritius Employers Federation, the Human Resource and Development Council and the Fashion and Design Institute.

Launching the event, Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare Mrs. Sheila Bappoo stressed that government wants Mauritian women to come to the forefront to help in the transformation of the country.

She also asked women to commit themselves at the political as well as at the societal, legal and economic level and work together to achieve progress. The minister said it is important to also encourage home-based entrepreneurship as it is easier for women to find the right balance between family responsibilities and the enterprise while working from home.

Women, she said, should get involved in new disciplines other than basic foodstuff processing and gave the examples of the BPO, IT and the services sectors.

Minister of Industry and Commerce Showkutally Soodhun emphasised the need for women to be provided with the right kind of support and the necessary information on facilities being put at their disposal.