On April 5, 2024, the inaugural Green Tech Summit took place at the French Insititute in Rose-Hill, hosted by French Tech Mauritius. This pivotal event spotlighted the significant strides in green technology, drawing inspiration from ten French startups’ success stories. Aimed at promoting innovative projects across the Indian Ocean and Africa, the summit connected Mauritian entrepreneurs and companies with leading French figures in sustainable development. A diverse lineup of speakers and experts provided insights into energy efficiency, urban greening, and other sustainable practices, setting a benchmark for future initiatives.
Platform Africa had the opportunity to speak with Johanne Rannoojee, the Communication Manager at the Green Tech Summit – French Tech Mauritius. During the interview, Johanne detailed the summit’s core objectives and the collaborative atmosphere that pervaded the event. “The Green Tech Summit was an initiative by French Tech Mauritius to showcase sustainable solutions from our network. We focused on several themes, including urban greening, water accessibility in arid zones, eco-responsible habitats, and green energy, which align with global sustainability goals,” explained Johanne.
The summit not only highlighted various startups such as Jellyfishhh, Kumulus Water, Habit’Âme, and Island Cosmetics but also featured keynotes from industry leaders like Jean-Luc Wilain, who discussed sustainable development challenges and opportunities. “Our speakers and the panel discussions, including experts from the SME Equity Fund and Impact Way, provided invaluable perspectives on financing and advancing green tech innovations in Mauritius,” Johanne added.
Workshops formed a crucial part of the summit, with topics ranging from financing green innovation to the journey of green startups and research in Green Tech. “These sessions were designed to offer tangible, actionable ideas that can drive the sector forward in Mauritius and beyond,” Johanne noted. Moreover, the event facilitated networking among attendees, fostering partnerships that could help propel Mauritius towards its ambitious renewable energy goals of achieving 60% by 2030.
Reflecting on the summit’s outcomes, Johanne emphasised the broad spectrum of participants and the collaborative exchanges that took place. “We had a significant presence of regional stakeholders, including a delegation from La Réunion. The insights shared by the Technopole de La Réunion and French Tech Réunion highlighted the dynamic, innovative potential of our neighboring ecosystems,” she stated.
The Green Tech Summit served as a critical platform for sharing knowledge and fostering regional collaborations, essential for addressing the unique challenges faced by island states like Mauritius in the era of climate change. Through such gatherings, the vision for a sustainable future becomes clearer, emphasising the importance of collective efforts in the global push for environmental stewardship and green technology advancements.
About La French Tech Maurice
La French Tech Maurice represents a vibrant ecosystem of economic innovators linked to France, comprising startup founders, investors, employees, and other stakeholders. Officially recognised in March 2019, the community began informally in 2017 with a successful accreditation submission. It is led by co-presidents Nicolas Goldstein and Sandra Leblé and is governed by a board of 12 members. The organisation is dedicated to energising the existing entrepreneurial landscape in Mauritius, aiming to boost the growth of startups and innovative projects. The label strengthens the historic partnership between the French and Mauritian republics, supporting the nation’s transition towards a high-income country status by fostering high-value activities. La French Tech Maurice also focuses on regional cooperation with counterparts in Réunion and Madagascar, projecting its presence internationally. For more information, visit https://frenchtechmaurice.com.
