Pre-Budget Consultations: Representatives of SMES and Cooperatives share their views

The Junior Minister of Finance, Mr Dhaneshwar Damry, chaired a pre-budget consultative meeting, this afternoon in Port Louis, with representatives of cooperative societies, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and start-ups in line with the Budget 2026-2027 exercise.

The meeting served as a platform for the stakeholders to share their views and put forward their recommendations aimed at fostering the socio-economic development of the country while addressing emerging challenges.

In a statement after the meeting, the representatives of cooperative societies expressed their concerns regarding prevailing uncertainties, particularly in the wake of the Middle East crisis. They highlighted several challenges affecting agricultural cooperatives, including high fertiliser costs, labour shortages, limited water supply, and the adverse impacts of climate change.

They emphasised on the need to boost local production and promote organic farming as a means to reduce dependence on imported goods. The importance of encouraging more youth to launch themselves in the cooperative and agricultural sectors was also underscored.

Additionally, proposals such as the setting up of a cooperative house and the establishment of a cooperative bank to facilitate their operations were also discussed.

For their part, the representatives of SMEs and start-ups advocated for the continuation of the National SME Incubator Scheme, which supports innovative enterprises through accredited private incubators by providing mentoring, coaching, and financial assistance.

They further highlighted the necessity of strengthening public-private partnerships to create an enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, with a view to positioning Mauritius as a leading hub for technology and innovation in the African region.

29 April 2026

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Topics: Agriculture, Commerce, Finance