EDB: 70 French Entrepreneurs Join 200 Mauritians for Economic Cooperation

In a momentous gathering held on Friday 25th April in Ébène, over 70 French entrepreneurs and 200 Mauritian business leaders convened to lay the groundwork for a new era of economic cooperation. This historic business forum, orchestrated by the Economic Development Board (EDB), heralds a significant partnership between Mauritius and France, driven by innovation, investment, and sustainability, as both nations seek to fortify their historical ties in order to confront the challenges of tomorrow.

Sanjay Bhunjun, recently appointed as the president of the EDB, underscored the strategic importance of this meeting.

He articulated that the forum epitomises the shared ambition of France and Mauritius to construct robust, enduring bridges that will yield value for their respective economies.

“France is a natural, strategic, and heartfelt partner for Mauritius,” he declared, evoking the deep-rooted cultural and economic connections that bind the two nations.

Mauritius, a bastion of openness and stability, currently enjoys a favourable business environment and a skilled workforce.

In light of this, Bhunjun urged Mauritian enterprises to seize the moment and transform their potential into tangible projects.

He reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing the EDB’s performance and actively supporting the expansion of Mauritian businesses into new markets, particularly across Africa.

A More Integrated Cooperation

Anil Currimjee, president of Business Mauritius, traced the evolution of Franco-Mauritian economic relations through four significant phases.

The first, historical phase, witnessed the establishment of major French enterprises in Mauritius, particularly in aviation, energy, and telecommunications, laying the foundations for the modern Mauritian economy.

The second phase saw a marked increase in Mauritian exports to France, alongside a growing influx of small to medium-sized French enterprises, particularly in the textile sector.

The third phase positioned Mauritius as a crossroads of the Francophone world, strategically located between Africa and Asia.

Now, the fourth phase, still in its infancy, is resolutely focused on innovative entrepreneurship, digitalisation, and artificial intelligence, opening new and ambitious prospects for both partners.

Céline Gouveia, president of the France-East Africa Business Council at Medef International, described the forum as a unique opportunity to forge a “more integrated, more entrepreneurial cooperation, fully attuned to the challenges of tomorrow.”

She called for enhanced synergies in the realms of ecological transition, digitalisation, and the creation of sustainable value, emphasising the imperative for both nations to collaborate in addressing the pressing issues of the future.

Source: l’Express