Pre-budget consultations: Women entrepreneurs outline priorities ahead of 2026–2027 Budget

Representatives of women entrepreneurs and associations met, yesterday in Port Louis, with the Junior Minister of Finance, Mr Dhaneshwar Damry, as part of ongoing pre-budget consultations for 2026–2027, during which they outlined a range of proposals aimed at strengthening women-led enterprises.

In a statement following the meeting, the Chairperson of the National Women Entrepreneur Council, Mrs Rehema Fatuma Koylash, highlighted the need for a more robust legal framework to improve access to finance for women entrepreneurs. She also underscored the importance of making existing funding schemes more user-friendly and better utilised, while urging that the forthcoming budget give priority to women-led businesses in strategic sectors such as food security and safety.

For her part, the Board member of the Shelter for Women and Children in Distress, Mrs Shireen Motala, called for lower interest rates on financial assistance to reduce operational burdens and enhance service delivery. She further advocated for the installation of photovoltaic systems in shelters to cut energy costs and support sustainable practices, alongside increased assistance to expand shelter infrastructure.

As for the Programme Coordinator at the National Women’s Council, Ms Bhavisha Balgobin, she proposed easing banking conditions for women’s associations, including lowering the minimum deposit required to open accounts. She also appealed for the removal of the requirement for a male spouse’s signature on loan applications, stressing the need for women to have independent access to credit.

01 May 2026

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Topics: Gender, Finance