Mauritius investors eye textile and agro-processing sectors

Mauritian business people have expressed interest in Rwanda’s textile, bio-fertiliser, construction and agro-processing sectors. The business people are in the country for the second annual business-to-business meeting at the Kigali Serena Hotel. Michael Nehaldas, the chairman of Enterprise Mauritius and head of the delegation, said there are still opportunities in the local textile industry, construction and manufacturing sectors that the two countries could tap-into to grow their economies. Nehaldas advised Rwandan entrepreneurs to embrace business diversification be to meet Mauritius market demand. “You will not be able to fully satisfy international market demand if you don’t diversify your exports sector and work towards attracting direct foreign investments and joint partnerships,” he noted during the opening of the two-day event in Kigali. He said it was time for both countries to put in practice what World Bank Doing Business reports have been telling the world. “Let us show the world how important it is to do business among ourselves. It should not stop at reports, but rather take full advantage of what these reports say,” he said. Mauritian investors are also eying the leather tanning, transport and logistics sectors. Currently, trade between the two countries is worth $500,000 (about Rwf400m), according to the Private Sector Federation. Pierre Yeung, the managing director, Paper Plus, a paper bag making plant, said he was ready to set up shop in Rwanda once he identifies a potential local partner. Diane Sayinzoga, the Rwanda Development Board trade development division manager, urged local entrepreneurs to use the meeting as a platform to market their products and also learn and share experiences with their Mauritian counterparts. She said the government would continue improving the business environment to reduce the cost of doing business and increase the productivity of firms in the country. Mauritius was ranked the best country to do business in Africa by the World Bank Doing Business report 2014, followed by Rwanda.