With a view to improve the sales of handicrafts manufactured by local entrepreneurs, Association des Hôteliers et Restaurateurs de l‘île Maurice (AHRIM) and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Le Labourdonnais hotel on Wednesday.
This was in the presence of the minister of Business, Enterprise, Commerce and Consumer Protection, Michael Sik Yuen and minister of Tourism and Sports, Nando Bodha.
This MoU will formally regulate the agreement between SMEDA and AHRIM enabling tourists to exhibit their products in hotels.
Among the objectives of the project is to enhance the visibility of the pro-ducts manufactured by local entrepreneurs and boost the sale of locally-manufactured handicraft products.
Sik Yuen stated that at first though the pilot project to sell locally made products started in only four hotels, including Sun Resorts and Sofitel.
This has now extended to 28 hotels, hence widening the scope for the production of handicrafts.
He added that this project will create more employment. On the other hand, Bodha emphasised that in the near future, SMEDA must have its own label. He also added that there must be innovation in products as tourists visit repeatedly and must get variety.
On this occasion, a mini-exhibition was organised at the signature of the MoU to allow representatives of hotels to discover handicrafts and appreciate the Mauritian savoir-faire.