The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Subregional office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA) had commissioned a set of 11 country studies and a regional report to assess the impacts of Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine War on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) on its 11 member states in Southern Africa that consist of Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Each country study was based on a survey implemented among MSMEs in the respective member state and was a collaborative venture between the UNECA and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Business Council and with the national business associations of that member state.

Against the foregoing, the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Subregional Office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA) and the Association of Mauritian Manufacturers (AMM), is convening a meeting of a target group of MSME stakeholders along with government officials in order to review and discuss the main findings of the country study for Mauritius. The aims of the meeting are to:

• Stimulate reflections on the challenges faced by MSMEs in Mauritius, in the wake of Covid-19 and the ongoing global conditions and the opportunities that are available to strengthen the competitiveness, growth and resilience of MSMEs in the years ahead;
• Discuss the vision and strategy of the Government of Mauritius in relation to MSME development and within the context of implementing the country’s national industrial policy, 10-year Master Plan for the SME Sector, National AfCFTA Strategy and national development strategy;
• Establish the pressing needs of MSMEs in the context of the AfCFTA, national and regional development frameworks and the global environment and identify areas of targeted support from government, the United Nations, UNECA and the international development community.

Programme and Meeting Focal Point:
Ms Bineswaree Bolaky
Economic affairs officer
ECA Subregional Office for Southern Africa
Lusaka, Zambia
Email: bineswaree.bolaky@un.org

For Media inquiries:
Lavender C. Degre
Communication Officer
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Sub Regional Office for Southern Africa
Tel: +260 211 228502/5 Ext. 21307
Fax: +260 211 236949
DL: +260 211 376607
Email: lavender.degre@un.org

Concept Note and Draft Programme