Made in Mauritius to Conquer the Big Island

The International Fair of Madagascar, to be held from May 23 to 26, will be an opportunity for the Made in Mauritius going to conquer this vast market estimated at around 21 million in 2012 and could reach to By 2015, about 23 million people. " 44 companies Mauritian various sectorsof activities involved in the International Fair of Madagascar has enabled many local companies, including SMEs, to find business partners in the Big Island , "says an official ofEnterprise Mauritius ( EM).

The International Fair of Madagascar is an annual trade event attended exporters in France, China, South Africa, Belgium and Pakistan, among others. The last edition attracted some 45,000 visitors, with a growing interest identified in Malagasy operators. The amount of orders received by foreign operators or engaged in Madagascar, amounted to some 597,000 euros (Rs 24,357,600).

" Textile, food, jewelry, painting, printing, chemicals ... We are trying to diversify our offerings and bring more businesses or SMEs that have a potential exporter to the fair , "says Will you side EM. Export growth is based, firstly, on the diversification strategy adopted by operators to the crisis on their main market, Europe. And, secondly, the growing capacity of Mauritian SMEs to get a place in the sun on the regional markets, including Reunion and Madagascar.

" EM has supported 547 companies, including 375 SMEs have been able to consolidate trade relations with some 6,568 businessmen abroad, including operators based in Madagascar , "says Dev Chamroo, Chief Executive Officer of EM. A series of structured workshops, training and interventions factory are expected this year to further strengthen the capacity of local SMEs and support to maintain their growth, both locally and abroad..

However, the Malagasy operators complain that trade between Mauritius and Madagascar remains negative for the Malagasy side. If Maurice Madagascar exports take an upward curve, purchasing Malagasy products nosedive from Rs 568 million in 2010 to Rs 451 million in 2011.The figures for last year also show a large deficit, says the Express de Madagascar . While Mauritius exported Rs 2.1 billion to the Big Island, export Madagascar to Mauritius is estimated at Rs 339 million, supports the Malagasy press.