Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority

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Small and Medium

Enterprises

Development Authority

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) is a parastatal body established under the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority Act 2009. It is committed to support and facilitate the development of entrepreneurship and SMEs in Mauritius. To help local enterprises grow and glow, SMEDA Mauritius offers a wide array of services designed to help SMEs develop and expand their businesses.

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SMEDA – Business Counselling and Facilitation Services

The Business Counseling and Facilitation Unit of SMEDA

The Business Facilitation and Counseling Unit of SMEDA assist people who intend to set up their own business. Information is provided to potential entrepreneurs on how to find and develop a business idea, where to seek assistance, how to prepare a business plan and the necessary clearances and permits required to start an enterprise. Assistance is also provided to existing entrepreneurs who want to expand, diversify or modernize their business.

Objective of Services  To encourage people to start new businesses

 To facilitate business set up with minimum hindrance  To disseminate information on financial facilities

available

 _{To assist entrepreneurs to find appropriate technical} information and assistance for their business

 _{To assist entrepreneurs to plan their business and} minimize failure

 To monitor implementation of new businesses

 To assist enterprises in their continuous improvement Implementing Agency Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority Services Information on how to start a small business

Potential entrepreneurs are provided with useful information on how to start a business. These include how to choose a business idea, identify potential customers, choose a right location, and conduct a small market research to see if the business idea is viable.

Counseling on a specific business idea using profit and loss forecast

Once the entrepreneur has conducted a market research and found that there is a demand his/her product or service, a profit and loss forecast can help to see if the business is financially viable.

Assistance to prepare a Business Plan

Assistance is provided to start up for business plan preparation. Business plan templates are made available to entrepreneurs and help is provided to understand the financial forecast so that they can make informed decision

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Services Information on various loan facilities

To finance a business loan facilities are available at the Development Bank of Mauritius and other commercial banks. Schemes and financial incentives are also made available by the government through different institutions. SMEDA help SMEs to identify the appropriate scheme for their business or project.

Specialized services provided by other institutions

SMEDA help entrepreneurs to locate further sources of information on their business with specialized institutions. For instance, SMEDA officers can help to make the initial contact with officers of AREU to get technical assistance for agricultural based project.

Expansion/modernization of an existing business

Successful businesses never remain static, but grow steadily either slowly or rapidly depending upon changing consumer trends and new technology. SMEDA officers can discuss expansion, diversification or modernisation projects and provide useful tips and information.

Registration with SMEDA to benefit from incentives

To provide registration facilities and have a database of enterprises for dissemination of SMEDA activities.

SMES can register their business with SMEDA to benefit from schemes offered by the government including loans and other financial incentives.

Monitoring of New enterprises

New registered enterprises are monitored by phone to assess project implementation. Counseling is provided when SMEs face problems to start their business.

Monitoring of Existing enterprises

Monitoring are conducted by SMEDA officers onsite to collect updated statistics on employment, project costs, and turnover, to identify problems faced by the enterprise, to give small tips to improve the business, and to provide updated information to the entrepreneur on new schemes and services.

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Contact Addresses The above services are available at: SMEDA Head-Office

Royal Road, Industrial Zone, Coromandel, Mauritius Tel: (+230) 233 0500 Fax :( +230) 233 5545 Email: [email protected]

Website: www.smeda.mu Curepipe Regional Office Remono St, Curepipe Tel: 449 0500

Bon Accueil Regional Office Royal Road, Bon Accueil Tel: 418 8440

Triolet Regional Office Royal Road, 9th_{Mile, Triolet}

Tel: 261 3407

Rose Belle Regional Office Cooperative Centre, Rose Belle Tel: 627 1225

SMEDA Rodrigues Office Malabar, Rodrigues

Tel: 831 4428 Fax: 831 5446 Email: [email protected]

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Training

Capacity building of SMEs should focus on enhancing SMEs knowledge, competencies and skills to better cope with competition. As such SMEDA Mauritius organises training programmes and seminars, workshops and conferences in regional centres across the country. These need-based training programs are affordable, appropriate and innovative. These programs are aimed at improving knowledge and competencies in the technical, marketing, financial, compliance, policy, regulatory, legal, commercial and other important functions of enterprises.

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management Programs

The management-based training programs help to improve major performance indicators such as productivity, quality, competitiveness and sustainability etc. The results include improvement in communication skills and marketing, human resource development and managerial capacity building etc. These programs help decreasing the level of SME mortality and increasing efficiency.

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Management Training Programmes

Business Communication and Customer Care

Course Title Business Communication and Customer Care

Course objective To assist entrepreneurs to master communication skills and manage customer relationship more effectively and efficiently

Course delivery Lecture and Group Work

Target audience SMEs, startups, young entrepreneurs Eligibility Criteria > SC, Degree Holder, Entrepreneurs

Fees Rs 600

Duration 10 Hours

Mode of Application for

Course Press, Website, Referral from Business Facilitation department, SME fairs

Management Training Programmes

Business Growth

Course Title Business Growth

Course objective For entrepreneurs to manage growth, various strategies to grow, to maximize on hidden asset marketing

Course delivery Workshop and Group Discussion Target audience SMEs, startups, young entrepreneurs Eligibility Criteria > SC, Degree Holder, Entrepreneurs

Fees Free

Mode of Application for

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Management Training Programmes

Entrepreneurship Training Worksho

p

Course Title Build Your Business (BYB) Programme

Course objective Learn about how to launch and sustain businesses. Developing ideas of how SMEs can keep learning and improve their capabilities.

Course delivery Practical class and theory

Target audience SMEs, startups, young entrepreneurs

Eligibility Criteria > SC, Degree Holder, Entrepreneurs

Fees Rs 1500

Duration 80 Hours (twice weekly)

Mode of Application for

Management Training Programmes

Entrepreneur Café

Course Title Entrepreneur Café

Course objective Brainstorming session with various entrepreneurs about organisational issues

Course delivery Workshop and Group Discussion

Eligibility Criteria > HSC, Degree Holder, Entrepreneurs

Fees Rs 600

Mode of Application for

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Management Training Programmes

Entrepreneurship Training Workshop

Course Title Entrepreneurship Training Workshop

Course objective For entrepreneurs to develop personal competencies for _{better managing their business} Course delivery Lecture and Group Work

Eligibility Criteria > HSC, Degree Holder, Entrepreneurs

Fees Rs 600

Duration 6 Days

Mode of Application for

Management Training Programmes

Financial Planning for SMEs

Course Title Financial Planning for SMEs

Course objective To impart knowledge of how to prepare financial _{statement, do forecasting and budgeting} Course delivery Lecture and Group Work

Fees Rs 600

Mode of Application for

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Management Training Programmes

Food Security and Food Regulation

Course Title Food security and Food Regulation

Course objective To impart knowledge of how to handle food sately from production line to consumption

Fees Rs 600

Mode of Application for

Management Training Programmes

Human Resource Management

Course Title Human Resource Management

Course objective To understand the importance of human resource issues in an organisation

Fees Rs 600

Mode of Application for

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Management Training Programmes

Import and Export Procedure; Occupational Health and Safet

y

Course Title Import and Export Procedure; Occupational Health and Safety

Course objective To get a better understanding on Trade issues. Laws about the Health and safety of employees at work

Fees Free

Mode of Application for

Management Training Programmes

Leadership and Culture Change

Course Title Leadership and Culture Change

Course objective To help trainees better manage change in an organisation

Fees Rs 600

Mode of Application for

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Management Training Programmes

Marketing and Branding

Course Title Marketing and Branding

Course objective To know the various marketing strategies and the importance of Branding of a product or service

Fees Rs 600

Mode of Application for

Management Training Programmes

Managing your Business Level I

Course Title Managing your Business Level I

Course objective To understand the notion for managing a business

Eligibility Criteria > Form 4

Fees Rs 600

Mode of Application for

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Management Training Programmes

Managing your Business Level II

Course Title Managing your Business Level II

Course objective To know how to use various tools like marketing, financial and communication to manage a business

Fees Rs1200

Mode of Application for

Management Training Programmes

Quality Standards

Course Title Quality Standards

Course objective To Impart knowledge about ISO, quality assurance and other quality norms and standards

Fees Free

Mode of Application for

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Management Training Programmes

Starting Your Business

Course Title Starting Your Business

Course objective Elementary training in management to assist them in starting their business

Target audience Micro enterprises, startups, young entrepreneurs

Eligibility Criteria > CPE

Fees Rs 600

Mode of Application for

Management Training Programmes

Digital Literacy Curriculum (DLC

)

Course Title Digital Literacy Curriculum (DLC)

Course objective To teach and assess the basic concepts and skills needed to use a computer. Computer technology can help

entrepreneurs in their everyday life to develop new social and economic opportunities

Eligibility Criteria Not Applicable

Fees Rs 500

Duration 40 Hours (twice weekly)

Mode of Application for

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Handicraft Training

The local handicraft industry has the potential to create job and self employment. Usually handicraft units involve low capital investment and high value addition. With the changing trends in the tastes and preferences of end-users there is a need to materialise creativity and innovative products with higher value addition at an accelerated pace.

Export potential exists for locally manufactured handicraft products. While competition with low-cost producing countries is affecting the competitive edge of local craftsmen, there still exist business opportunities in many sectors such as glass, wood, textile and leather-craft sectors.

In view of manufacturing high quality handicraft items that are export-oriented, SMEDA provide handicraft training to entrepreneurs.

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Handicraft / Skill-Based Training Programmes

• Ceramics & Pottery

• Coconut shell based products making,

• Fibre Craft

• Leather craft

• Rattan craft

• Decorative & Painting Design,

• Fancy Jewellery

• Fashion Jewellery & Fashion Bags

• Footwear

• Garment Making

• Interior Decoration

• Wall Hanging

Course objective To impart skills and knowledge to potential and existing entrepreneurs

Eligibility Criteria Open-No academic qualifications necessary

Fees Rs 35 per session

Duration 9 Months

Mode of Application for

Handicraft / Skill-Based Training Programmes

• Floral arrangement

• Pyrography

• Silk Painting

• Wood Craft

• Fashion & Design (High level garment making)

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Skill-Based Training Programmes

Beauty care & Hair Dressing

Course Title Beauty care & Hair Dressing

Fees Rs 1000 monthly

Mode of Application for

Skill-Based Training Programmes

Packaging

Course Title Packaging

Fees Free