From local production to regional markets, Mauritius’ cooperative movement is being urged to rethink its ambitions as the Economic Development Board and the National Cooperative College launch a new programme designed to prepare cooperatives for export. The Go-Export event was held on Monday 31st August at the EDB building in Ébene.
The programme, built around eight training sessions, is intended to give cooperative societies a practical understanding of what it takes to move from local production to international markets, from standards and certification to packaging, branding, logistics, documentation and market access.
Geerish Bucktowonsing, Director of Export Promotion and Market Access at the EDB, described the programme as “about more than learning the mechanics of exporting”, saying it was about opening “a new chapter in the way we want to look at the future of our cooperatives.”
From producers to value creators
For Geerish Bucktowonsing, the cooperative model and the export agenda are a natural fit. Cooperatives, he noted, are built around collective action: pooling resources, creating livelihoods and enabling producers to achieve collectively what may be difficult to accomplish individually. That same principle, he argued, could become a competitive advantage in export markets. “Alone, an individual cooperative is struggling to supply an international buyer,” he said. “But joined hands, they can potentially aggregate production, share resources, improve standards, invest together in packaging, build a common label and become more competitive.” The challenge, therefore, is not simply to increase production, but to create greater value from what Mauritius already produces.
The transition envisaged is from producer to value creator, and ultimately to exporter. For a country with a limited domestic market, the logic is straightforward. Once cooperatives can produce consistently and meet the requirements of international buyers, surplus production can be directed towards regional markets, potentially creating new revenue streams while strengthening local industries. Geerish pointed out the opportunities within the Indian Ocean region and beyond, urging cooperatives to think collectively rather than individually. “Think beyond production, beyond the boundaries of Mauritius, and beyond working on the individual,” he told participants. “Work collectively, because this is very important if you want to move forward.”
A small island with bigger ambitions
The Director of the National Cooperative College, Sanjeev Coonjoobeeharry, framed the initiative in similarly ambitious terms. “Today we are opening a door,” he said. “A door that can take our cooperatives beyond boundaries of Mauritius into regional and international markets.” His message to cooperative members was direct: “Our cooperatives should not only produce for Mauritius. Our cooperatives must aspire to produce for the world.”
Mauritius may be geographically small, he noted, but that should not limit the ambitions of its cooperative movement.The sector brings together a wide range of capabilities, including agricultural expertise, craftsmanship, traditional knowledge, food processing, textiles and services. The challenge now is to translate those capabilities into products that can withstand the demands of international markets. And that, Sanjeev stressed, requires more than having a good product. “Exporting is not only sending a container overseas,” he said. It means understanding customers, producing consistently, meeting quality standards and getting packaging, labelling, certification, pricing, logistics and documentation right. It also means developing brands that international consumers can trust.
Export readiness before export growth
Sanjay Bhunjun, Chairman of the EDB, placed the initiative within the wider economic transformation taking place in Mauritius. He said the programme was built around three ambitions: empowering cooperatives, expanding horizons and building an export-ready Mauritius.
The case for export growth is equally compelling.Mauritius has long depended on international markets for economic growth, but its domestic market remains inherently limited. Expanding into new markets can provide cooperatives with access to new customers, diversify sources of income and reduce dependence on local demand. “Embracing export opportunities is no longer an option, it is a necessity,” Sanjay said.
Import substitution and the export equation
For Honourable Minister Sayed Muhammad Aadil Ameer Meea, the initiative also sits within a broader government strategy aimed at strengthening local production, reducing unnecessary import dependence and significantly increasing exports.Mauritius currently imports substantially more than it exports, he noted, making both import substitution and export development important components of the country’s economic agenda.“Produce locally where we can. Reduce imports where it makes economic sense. And add more value to what we produce and export wherever we are competitive,” Minister Aadil Ameer Meea said. The objective is not to pursue self-sufficiency at any cost, but to identify areas where Mauritius has the resources, expertise and productive capacity to compete viably. That requires moving cooperatives up the value chain.Agricultural produce can be processed into higher-value products. Handicrafts can be redesigned, branded and professionally packaged. Production systems can be improved so that cooperatives are able to respond consistently to larger orders.
Turning training into results
The government’s approach, Aadil Ameer Meea said, is intended to go beyond announcing programmes and measures.“Helping an entrepreneur become export ready is where the real work begins,” he said, pointing to the need for expertise in standards, certification, pricing, logistics, documentation, branding, packaging and market intelligence. There are already signs that such interventions can produce tangible results. The minister cited Plantation Vanilla Multipurpose Cooperative Society took part in the earlier export initiative and subsequently obtained its export development certificate in 2026.
Eight sessions, one longer journey
The eight-session programme is not designed to turn every participant into an exporter overnight. As Geerish Bucktowonsing explained, the objective is “not to turn every participant into an exporter within eight sessions”, but to provide them with the knowledge, confidence and support necessary to take the first step. The sessions will draw on expertise from across the export ecosystem, including the Mauritius Standards Bureau, the International Trade Division, the Mauritius Revenue Authority, the Custom House Brokers Association and other practitioners. The National Cooperative College will complement the export programme with training focused on areas such as product development, packaging amongst others. Together, the two institutions are attempting to bridge a gap that has often confronted small producers: possessing a potentially marketable product without necessarily having the systems, standards or commercial capacity required to sell it abroad.
A change in mindset
Ultimately, the programme is as much about confidence and ambition as it is about technical knowledge. International markets are demanding. Buyers expect consistency, traceability, quality, competitive pricing and dependable delivery. Cooperatives will have to meet those expectations while adapting to rapidly changing consumer preferences, digitalisation, sustainability requirements and growing competition.
The ambition is therefore larger than simply exporting more products.It is about creating a more productive and resilient cooperative sector, strengthening local production, generating employment and income, supporting communities and positioning Mauritian products for consumers beyond the island. As Geerish Bucktowonsing put it, the journey is about moving cooperatives “from local producers into confident regional exporters.”
