International Women’s Day Event
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Mauritius, host agency of the SheTrades Mauritius Hub, organised a workshop entitled “She Exports: Unlocking Global Markets for Mauritian Entrepreneurs” at its headquarters in Ebene. The event brought together policymakers, international partners, private sector stakeholders and women entrepreneurs with the objective of strengthening the capacity of women-led enterprises to access regional and global markets.
The workshop was graced by the presence of Honourable Dhaneshwar Damry, Junior Minister of Finance, alongside members of the diplomatic corps, development partners and representatives of the private sector. The programme also featured interventions from Dr Judith Fessehaie, Head of SheTrades at the International Trade Centre (ITC), and Ms Kate Thomson, Head of the Political Section at the British High Commission, highlighting the importance of international partnerships in supporting women entrepreneurs.
In his welcome remarks, Mr Mahen Abhimanu Kundasamy, CEO of the Economic Development Board, highlighted the growing contribution of women entrepreneurs to Mauritius’ economic diversification, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, agribusiness, services and the creative industries. He noted that while women-led businesses are increasingly making their mark locally, accessing international markets remains a complex step for many entrepreneurs. The SheTrades Mauritius Hub, launched in 2023 in partnership with the International Trade Centre and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), aims to support this transition through capacity building, mentorship and enhanced market access opportunities.
A major highlight of the event was the official launch of the Export House initiative, operating under the name “The Passage Export Group.” The platform aims to support Mauritian entrepreneurs, particularly women-led enterprises, in becoming export-ready and accessing international buyers. It will provide practical support in areas such as international compliance, logistics, branding and market entry strategies.
In his address, Honourable Dhaneshwar Damry, Junior Minister of Finance, emphasised that empowering women entrepreneurs is central to Mauritius’ economic transformation and inclusive growth agenda. He highlighted that women’s participation in the economy must increase significantly to drive stronger growth and innovation, noting that women remain underrepresented in leadership positions in both business and politics. He encouraged women entrepreneurs to pursue global opportunities and stressed the importance of leveraging the Mauritian diaspora as a strategic bridge to international markets. The Junior Minister also reaffirmed Government’s commitment to strengthening the business ecosystem through improved infrastructure, enhanced digital connectivity and policies designed to support entrepreneurship and export growth.
In her remarks delivered on behalf of the British High Commissioner, Ms Kate Thomson, Head of the Political Section at the British High Commission, highlighted the strong partnership between the United Kingdom and Mauritius in promoting inclusive economic development and women’s economic empowerment. Ms Thomson emphasised that initiatives such as the Export House will further strengthen pathways for women-led enterprises to scale sustainably and connect with regional and global markets, reaffirming the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting gender equality and entrepreneurship in Mauritius.
In her remarks, Dr Judith Fessehaie, Head of SheTrades at the International Trade Centre (ITC), recalled the theme of International Women’s Day this year — “Rights, Justice and Action for All Women and Girls.” She emphasised that progress in women’s economic empowerment is measured by women’s access to real opportunities, services, networks, and tools to grow their businesses. Dr Fessehaie emphasised that through the SheTrades Mauritius Hub, implemented by the EDB with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, more than 320 women-led businesses have already benefited from training, capacity-building and market development activities, strengthening their readiness to engage in regional and global trade.
The event also featured a panel discussion on exporting Mauritian food products to diaspora and international markets, bringing together representatives from the Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, the Mauritius Standards Bureau, Velogic Ltd, and Conserverie Sarjua International Ltée. The discussion was moderated by Mrs Nirmala Jeetah, Director, Healthcare & Life Sciences, ITC SheTrades Mauritius Hub at the Economic Development Board.
In addition, DHL, a partner of the SheTrades Mauritius Hub, introduced a promotional code offering discounted logistics services to participating entrepreneurs accessing the company’s online platform, further facilitating their entry into international markets.
Through initiatives such as the SheTrades Mauritius Hub and the Export House programme, the EDB reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs and enabling them to scale their businesses globally, thereby contributing to inclusive economic growth and the diversification of Mauritian exports.
