On the Path to Made in Moris: 40 Companies Selected for the 3rd Edition

Made in Moris has officially announced the 40 companies that make up the 2026 cohort of its program "On the Path to Made in Moris" (ERVM). The opening ceremony took place at Kocottes in Saint-Pierre at the Made in Moris headquarters on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The event was attended by Aadil Ameer Meea, Minister of Industry, SMEs and Cooperatives, Dhaneshwar Damry, Deputy Minister of Finance, and Pamela Chan, Head of Business Banking at MCB, a partner of the label.

The "On the Path to Made in Moris" (ERVM) program aims to recruit 120 SMEs over three years (2024, 2025, 2026) to help them meet the requirements of the Made in Moris specifications and increase their chances of earning the label. This program is entirely free for participating businesses and is led by Made in Moris with support from the Ministries of Finance and Industry and MCB, which finances the first year of membership for the certified companies.

A Continuity Strengthened by the Success of the First Two Cohorts

The first two cohorts of the program "On the Path to Made in Moris" demonstrated the relevance and effectiveness of the chosen approach. In 2024, out of 90 applications received, 40 companies were selected; 38 successfully completed the program, and 35 earned the Made in Moris label, resulting in a completion rate of 90% and a certification rate of 92%. In 2025, the program confirmed this positive trend: 81 SMEs registered, 39 were selected from seven economic sectors, and 31 companies completed the program, achieving a completion rate of 85% and a success rate of 94% in the certification process. These results reflect not only the commitment of participating companies but also the effectiveness of the support system established.

Since October 2023, the program has generated significant interest, with 267 applications received and 69 companies currently being supported, resulting in 65 brands certified as Made in Moris. Collectively, they represent a cumulative turnover of over 850 million rupees and have a direct impact on 861 employees. Among these companies, 23 are led by women, showcasing the diversity and inclusiveness of the ecosystem supported by the program, as well as its role in strengthening the Mauritian entrepreneurial and industrial fabric.

This year, 97 new companies applied, and 40 were selected, demonstrating genuine enthusiasm for the ERVM training. The 2026 cohort comprises 40 SMEs from key sectors of the Mauritian economy, primarily agro-food (12 companies), industry (12), textile (7), as well as cultural, creative, and digital sectors (5), services (3), and agriculture (1), reflecting the diversity of the local entrepreneurial landscape.

Made in Moris at a Stage of Maturity and Confidence

In his welcoming speech, Sylvan Oxenham, President of the Made in Moris Brand Committee, emphasized: "Today, Made in Moris is an economic reality, but above all a collective adventure that impacts eight key sectors of our economy. It is proof that Mauritius has achieved true industrial maturity. Made in Moris has also reached a stage of maturity: it is a national, collective project supported by solid foundations, a clear vision, a dedicated team, and engaged partners." He addressed a message to the 40 business leaders starting their journey On the Path to Made in Moris: "I come from a family of entrepreneurs myself. I grew up with the idea that building a business is not just about doing business. It is about creating value, jobs, and passing on knowledge. It means accepting sacrifices, doubts, long days... but also great satisfactions. And believe me, nothing is more admirable than an entrepreneur who pushes forward, even when the road is tough."

Shirin Gunny, CEO of AMM and Made in Moris, highlighted the successful partnership between government and the private sector. "On the Path to Made in Moris illustrates what a well-structured public-private partnership can achieve when based on trust, rigor, and a shared vision. After three cohorts, we now have a proven model, supported by an engaged ecosystem mobilized around a common goal: to sustainably strengthen the capacities of Mauritian SMEs." She particularly reminded everyone of the dynamics behind this program. "On the Path to Made in Moris relies on a collective momentum that brings together our teams, public institutions, financial partners, trainers, and experts. It fully embodies the spirit of Sustainable Development Goal 17, demonstrating that strong partnerships are a key lever to achieving concrete results. The impact is measurable: better-structured companies, more resilient and better prepared to meet demanding standards. But beyond the results, On the Path to Made in Moris reflects a culture that we have built within AMM and Made in Moris: a culture focused on impact, transformation, and contributing to the country's economic development."

The ceremony continued with presentations from the institutional partners of the On the Path to Made in Moris program.

A Free and Intensive Program to Support Mauritian SMEs

The On the Path to Made in Moris program offers participants 65 hours of training, 4 hours of company diagnostics conducted by SGS and NPCC, 18 hours of personalized coaching, as well as Masterclasses and networking events. The workshops cover essential topics: standards, quality, operations, productivity, human resources, branding, communication, public relations, and sustainability. Additionally, two Masterclasses enrich this journey: Financial Literacy for SMEs (offered by Punch, a platform of MCB) and Export Readiness by the Economic Development Board. Networking events are organized to foster synergies among local businesses.

The workshops, led by experts from the Made in Moris ecosystem, aim to provide practical tools to help local companies overcome structural challenges and enhance their competitiveness in the Mauritian market.

At the helm of the program are Yann Charlotte, Manager of Operations and New Business Development, supported by Charlotte Moothooveeren, Project Executive. "The results achieved during the first two editions confirm the effectiveness of an approach that combines personalized follow-up, practical resources, and training led by specialists. This methodology has enabled participating SMEs to fully exploit their capabilities: increased turnover for some, opening up to international markets for others, or substantial gains in operational efficiency. Our gratitude goes to all partners and the committed business leaders," emphasizes Yann Charlotte, Manager of Operations and New Business Development at Made in Moris.

"The rigor demonstrated by the participants encourages us to maintain these high standards for the 2026 edition. By launching this new cohort, we reaffirm the demanding criteria of our certification system as well as the fundamental principles of the label: valuing skills, innovation, collaboration, and environmental responsibility. This mission makes sense when it is embodied by economic actors who share our ambitions and have chosen the Made in Moris approach," specifies Charlotte Moothooveeren, Project Executive, Made in Moris.

A Promising Future for the 2026 Cohort

During this ceremony, entrepreneurs from the new cohort had the opportunity to meet members of the Made in Moris network, as well as experts and program partners. This event also highlighted the importance of sharing experiences and the spirit of collaboration, which are essential values within the label.