Ebène, 31 May 2021: Some 27 Mauritian companies have undergone a positive transformation with highly motivating results following an intensive productivity improvement programme facilitated jointly by the NPCC and the Japan Productivity Centre (JPC). The achievements and transformation of these 27 companies were presented by officials from the JPC on Monday during an online meeting that was attended virtually by several stakeholders.
The project entitled “Productivity Improvement Programme for Manufacturing Companies in Mauritius” was conducted under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Trade Related Facility (TRF) and funded by the European Union. The presentation at the stakeholders’ meeting by the Japanese experts focused on three topics namely Operations and Production Management, Financial Management and Sales and Marketing. Four participants also shared their experience and knowledge acquired throughout the project.
The programme was devised with the objective of providing a financial analysis of manufacturing companies, in-company training and implementation of an appropriate improvement programme so that the companies can continuously improve their systems and processes to become more competitive on the international market.
In December 2020, the 27 manufacturing companies, including 16 SMEs and 11 large companies, had expressed interest in participating in the project. The JPC was selected as the international consultancy service provider. Online training sessions and consultation meetings were conducted with the assistance of the NPCC from January to May 2021.
According to the Executive Director of the NPCC, Mr. Ashit Gungah, the collaboration between the NPCC and the JPC has been a pinnacle in sustaining the productivity movement in Mauritius. The SADC TRF project along with the technical expertise of the JPC strengthens the overall ambition of the NPCC to sustain and help Mauritian enterprises in the short, medium and long terms.
“As we still navigate through stormy waters, it has become critical for all of us to put hands together and align our efforts to make our enterprises resilient and come out even stronger. The present SADC project highlights a landmark collaboration between the NPCC and JPC. This has not only helped Mauritian enterprises to benefit from the expertise of the JPC, but also enabled the NPCC consultants to rub shoulders with Japanese counterparts and thus further sharpen their knowledge in the field of productivity consultancy,” Mr. Gungah said in his opening remarks.
Mr. Narainduth Boodhoo, director of the International Trade Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, stressed on the fact that there is a pressing need for Mauritian enterprises to increase their productivity and ultimately enhance their competitiveness in the highly volatile global markets.
“Highly productivity companies also create the right environment to attract investments and in the promotion of exports,” he pointed out.
In their exposé, the Japanese experts explained the different methods and techniques that were implemented in the companies to help them build their sustainability and resilience. A diagnosis conducted by the experts allowed the companies to identify the different areas where they should be laying more emphasis in an effort to boost their productivity. His Excellency, Kawaguchi Shuichiro, Ambassador of Japan to Mauritius, expressed his satisfaction that the JPC was part of such an important project that aimed at boosting the productivity of Mauritian companies.
The SADC TRF Stakeholders' Meeting in the media
NPCC - SADC TRF Stakeholders Meeting (MBC JT 31.05.21)
NPCC Stakeholders discuss outcomes of Productivity Improvement Programme under SADC-TRF (GIS 31.05.21)
NPCC Programme d’amélioration de la productivité des entreprises (ION News 31.05.21)
NPCC: Réunion virtuelle avec les représentants du Japan Productivity Centre (allafrica.com 31.05.21)
19h30 News Bulletin - Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation - TV and Radio (MBC 01.06.21)
Click here to download the official press release
Click here to download the presentation on "Productivity Improvement Programme for Manufacturing Companies in Mauritius"
Click here to download a copy of the NPCC Executive Director's opening remarks