The Findings on the State of Entrepreneurship in the Indian Ocean Were Presented to Indian Ocean Organization Officials by the “Entrepreneurship and Business Facilitation in the Indian Ocean” Program Team, a Project Led by the Indian Ocean Commission and the European Union.
The restitution workshop on the state of entrepreneurship in the Indian Ocean took place at the headquarters of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). These studies shed light on the real needs of stakeholders in the field of entrepreneurship. This assessment focused on the sectors of medicinal and cosmetic plants, seafood products, and tourism.
The study covered support organizations and training centers, as well as startups and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), with a focus on businesses led by women and young entrepreneurs in Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles.
The findings highlight various needs for entrepreneurs in the region, including:
- Easier access to financing, training, and market-related information.
- Comprehensive support (mentorship) for launching and sustainably managing a business, particularly for women and young entrepreneurs, who are often disadvantaged in the business world.
- Raising awareness of blue, green, and circular economy concepts in connection with the program’s priority sectors (medicinal and cosmetic plants, seafood products, and tourism).
- Strengthening public-private dialogue.
- Improving regional economic competitiveness.
“The ENFA-OI program reflects our commitment to developing new drivers of economic growth by strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in our member states. This initiative primarily targets women and young people in our islands, who play a key role in the economic fabric of our territories,” emphasized Vêlayoudom Marimoutou, Secretary General of the IOC.
“As a regional project, ENFA-OI can also provide specific added value in terms of commercial synergies, the sharing of technological innovations, and the exchange of best practices between sectors in the four IOC member states concerned,” stated Florence Van Houtte, Head of the Cooperation Team of the European Union Delegation.
According to a press release issued at the end of the workshop, this initial assessment has laid the groundwork for future actions under the ENFA-OI program, in alignment with the real needs expressed by regional stakeholders.
The ENFA-OI program will implement activities aimed at strengthening the capacities of support organizations and private sector professional associations, as well as MSMEs in the aforementioned sectors. It also aims to facilitate exchanges between regional businesses, disseminate best practices, establish a consultation framework for support organizations, and organize a regional pitch competition for startups in the relevant sectors.
Maoulida Mbaé
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