Réduit, August 27: The National Productivity and Competitiveness Council (NPCC), in collaboration with the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), hosted a Half-Day Masterclass on “Kaizen for Resilient Growth in Mauritius: Building Productivity, Competitiveness and Innovation” at the Auditorium of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation.
The Masterclass was hosted on August 27, set against the backdrop of different challenges facing local enterprises, including labour shortages, rising operating costs, supply chain disruptions and intensifying global competition. It was designed to equip participants with practical Kaizen tools and methodologies to address such challenges head-on and build long-term organisational resilience.
The programme comprised two substantive themes: Kaizen and Mauritius’ Challenges, which explored how continuous improvement principles can be applied to overcome the pressing realities facing local enterprises; and Innovation and Digital Transformation, which examined the powerful convergence of Kaizen with Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies as accelerators of productivity.
A highlight of the Masterclass was the presentation by Kakiuchi Yasunobu, a distinguished Japanese expert in Productivity and Kaizen. Yasunobu’s presentation offered participants direct insight into world-class Japanese Kaizen practices — their foundational principles, real-world applications, and relevance to the local economic context.
Executive Director of the NPCC, Dr Vinaye Ancharaz has urged enterprises in Mauritius to seize the moment and translate the learning into concrete action. Speaking at the opening of the Masterclass, he said: “Today is not merely an awareness session — it is a call to action. Kaizen offers a proven, cost-effective pathway to lasting productivity gains. Whether you are a small entrepreneur, a mid-market enterprise, a public-sector institution, or a large corporation, the principles shared today can be applied immediately and effectively within your own organisation. Mauritius cannot afford to stand still — and the NPCC stands ready to accompany every enterprise on this continuous improvement journey.”
Dr Ancharaz also highlighted the NPCC’s status as a certified Centre of Excellence in Kaizen under the Africa Kaizen Initiative, noting that this recognition positions the Council to lead, train and serve as a bridge between international best practice and local enterprise realities.
The Chairman of the NPCC, Mr Arshad Duymun underscored the universality and urgency of Kaizen for the local economy.
“Kaizen is not a methodology reserved for large manufacturers or multinational corporations. It can be applied in a small family-run enterprise, in a government department, in a hospital ward, in a classroom, or on a fishing vessel. Wherever there are processes, people and a desire to do things better, Kaizen has a role to play. The culture of continuous improvement that we are here to discuss is one that our entire economy must embrace, together,” he commented.
Duymun also paid tribute to the NPCC’s partnership with the HRDC, noting that institutions that pool their expertise in service of a shared national goal multiply their impact. “The HRDC has demonstrated exactly that spirit of collaboration, and on behalf of the NPCC Board and our entire team, I extend our most sincere and heartfelt gratitude,” he added.
