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. 1
SMEDA Business Counselling and Facilitation Services The Business Counseling and Facilitation Unit of SMEDA Objective of Services Implementing Agency Services 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. 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 Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority 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 to start their business. Information on Permits and Clearances required to start a business To set up and operate a business various permits and clearances are required from local authorities and other governmental institutions. SMEDA officers provide the necessary information on these clearances and the authorities which need to be contacted. 2
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. Target group 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. Potential Entrepreneur Existing businesses Registered enterprises 3
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: smeda@orange.mu 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, 9 th 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: smedarod@orange.mu 4
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. 5
Management Training Programmes Business Communication and Customer Care Title objective Business Communication and Customer Care To assist entrepreneurs to master communication skills and manage customer relationship more effectively and efficiently 10 Hours Management Training Programmes Business Growth Title objective Fees Business Growth For entrepreneurs to manage growth, various strategies to grow, to maximize on hidden asset marketing Workshop and Group Discussion Free 5 Hours 6
Management Training Programmes Entrepreneurship Training Workshop Title objective Build Your Business (BYB) Programme Learn about how to launch and sustain businesses. Developing ideas of how SMEs can keep learning and improve their capabilities. Practical class and theory Fees Rs 1500 80 Hours (twice weekly) Management Training Programmes Entrepreneur Café Title objective Entrepreneur Café Brainstorming session with various entrepreneurs about organisational issues Workshop and Group Discussion > HSC, Degree Holder, Entrepreneurs 5 Hours 7
Management Training Programmes Entrepreneurship Training Workshop Title objective Entrepreneurship Training Workshop For entrepreneurs to develop personal competencies for better managing their business > HSC, Degree Holder, Entrepreneurs 6 Days Management Training Programmes Financial Planning for SMEs Title objective Financial Planning for SMEs To impart knowledge of how to prepare financial statement, do forecasting and budgeting 15 Hours 8
Management Training Programmes Food Security and Food Regulation Title objective Food security and Food Regulation To impart knowledge of how to handle food sately from production line to consumption 10 Hours Management Training Programmes Human Resource Management Title objective Human Resource Management To understand the importance of human resource issues in an organisation 15 Hours 9
Management Training Programmes Import and Export Procedure; Occupational Health and Safety Title objective Fees Import and Export Procedure; Occupational Health and Safety To get a better understanding on Trade issues. Laws about the Health and safety of employees at work Workshop and Group Discussion Free 5 Hours Management Training Programmes Leadership and Culture Change Title objective Leadership and Culture Change To help trainees better manage change in an organisation 15 Hours 10
Management Training Programmes Marketing and Branding Title objective Marketing and Branding To know the various marketing strategies and the importance of Branding of a product or service 15 Hours Management Training Programmes Managing your Business Level I Title objective Managing your Business Level I To understand the notion for managing a business > Form 4 15 Hours 11
Management Training Programmes Managing your Business Level II Title objective Managing your Business Level II To know how to use various tools like marketing, financial and communication to manage a business Fees Rs1200 25 Hours Management Training Programmes Quality Standards Title objective Fees Quality Standards To Impart knowledge about ISO, quality assurance and other quality norms and standards Workshop and Group Discussion Free 10 Hours 12
Management Training Programmes Starting Your Business Title objective Starting Your Business Elementary training in management to assist them in starting their business Micro enterprises, startups, young entrepreneurs > CPE 10 Hours Management Training Programmes Digital Literacy Curriculum (DLC) Title objective Digital Literacy Curriculum (DLC) 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 Practical class and theory Not Applicable Fees Rs 500 40 Hours (twice weekly) 13
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. 14
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 objective Fees To impart skills and knowledge to potential and existing entrepreneurs Practical class and theory Open-No academic qualifications necessary Rs 35 per session 9 Months Handicraft / Skill-Based Training Programmes Floral arrangement Pyrography Silk Painting Wood Craft Fashion & Design (High level garment making) objective Fees To impart skills and knowledge to potential and existing entrepreneurs Practical class and theory Open-No academic qualifications necessary Rs 500 monthly 9 Months 15
Skill-Based Training Programmes Beauty care & Hair Dressing Title objective Fees Beauty care & Hair Dressing To impart skills and knowledge to potential and existing entrepreneurs Practical class and theory Open-No academic qualifications necessary Rs 1000 monthly 9 Months Skill-Based Training Programmes Packaging Title objective Fees Packaging To impart skills and knowledge to potential and existing entrepreneurs Practical class and theory Open-No academic qualifications necessary Free 9 Months 16