![](https://kepsa.or.ke/images/Event-1.jpg" class="post-image img-fluid)
Lorem, ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Consequatur magnam molestias recusandae odit voluptate beatae dignissimos est nesciunt vitae repellendus a aliquid
KEPSA is the private sector apex and umbrella body set up in 2003, to bring together business community in a single voice to engage and influence public policy for an enabling business environment. over 500,000 direct and indirect members..
KEPSA
7th Floor, South Tower, Two Rivers, Limuru Rd, Nairobi.
info@kepsa.or.ke
KEPSA CEO MEETS MAURITIUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD DELEGATION ON PARTNERSHIP
- Published On: 2022-10-12
On 12th October 2022, KEPSA CEO Ms Carole Kariuki hosted a delegation from the Mauritius Economic Development Board (EDB) led by the Chairperson Mr Hemraj Ramnial, CSK and Mr Geerish Bucktowonsing - Director of Industry Sector. The meeting discussed areas of partnerships between Kenyan and Mauritian businesses ahead of the Kenya – Mauritius Business and Investment Forum and how to move forward with the existing MoU between the two organizations. Also present in the meeting were Mr Agayo Ogambi - Economic Counsellor, EDB and Mr Harrison Ngatia - KEPSA Head of SME Development.
KEPSA and EDB agreed on the urgency in working towards ensuring trade flow, reducing trade imbalance, developing new sectors and creating job opportunities for young people in both countries to respond to the shift in global trade, disruption and uncertainties brought about by Covid-19 pandemic and high cost of goods as a result of value chain disruptions by Russia – Ukraine conflict.
The EDB delegation visit was a follow-up to the Presidential delegation to Mauritius in 2019 where the business delegation was led by the KEPSA CEO.
Mr Bucktowonsing apprised the KEPSA CEO of the steps that the EDB is currently taking in ensuring that businesses build alliances and partnerships in the following sectors: manufacturing, textile, wealth management, sugar, Medicare, stationery and construction. He encouraged that it was high time that businesses incorporated beyond the idea of the border. There are a number of opportunities in Kenya and Mauritius where both countries can tap into and promote and sell the safari and the beaches jointly.
Kenya has the advantage of connectivity in both EAC and Africa taking into consideration the location supported by good infrastructure in roads, airlines, ports and railways that can be exploited to its full potential in growing and promoting the intra-trade.
Ms Kariuki informed the EDB Chairman that it was high time businesses traded amongst one another regionally so as to grow the Intra-African trade from the current 15% noting that it will be easier to grow the African market as businesses build their capacity and competitiveness to compete with the rest of the world. She also noted that it's important to ensure that small and medium businesses are taken through the budding stage through to the growing stage to see actual results and identify where the barriers and gaps are most experienced.
In addition, the KEPSA CEO emphasized the potential that Kenyan companies have and the hunger of growing beyond the country. She encouraged that there is a need to match these Kenyan companies, especially starting with those who are export ready with their counterparts from Mauritius.
The meeting agreed on the following as a way forward;
- Promote trade between the two countries to harness opportunities through inbound and outbound trade missions and information sharing
- Embed evaluation mechanisms in trade promotion activities to support identifying opportunities, barriers and identification of key interests for businesses to allow effective matchmaking
- Support common Standards, work on NTBs and allow Mutual recognition
- Joint Commission Council between Kenya and Mauritius to encourage trade between the two counties
- Linkages between the businesses to identify areas of partnerships and joint ventures which will allow scaling to fight for bigger export market share in Africa and beyond.
- Review and activate the previously lapsed Memorandum of Understanding which implementation was slowed down by the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Support cross-listing of Mauritius companies in the Nairobi Stock Exchange
In conclusion, Mr Bucktowonsing expressed excitement about the creation of a virtual platform by EDB that is aimed at boosting regional cooperation between Kenya and Mauritius whereby KEPSA Members will exclusively have an opportunity to register on the platform, free of charge within a period of time, to gain access to all Mauritian companies dealing in different sectors to create partnerships and business deals.
EDB is currently in the country together with 25 Mid-market enterprises involved in manufacturing (water tube), textile, stationery(printing) and construction. Mauritius has a very strong presence in the Island region. These companies are looking for ways to harness opportunities in the SADC AND EAC region. Finally, Mauritius companies are keenly looking at investing in the Nairobi Stock Exchange and Kenyan sugar companies.