MCCI E-News - September - Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and

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Foreword
M anufacturing 4.0
In an era of perpetual change with some cycles coming to an
end, while others are about to start, there are lots of questions
being asked about the new economic model and the future of
manufacturing. While it is clear that the service component in
manufacturing has increased significantly over the years,
what is still difficult to predict is the pace of change that will
take place and more importantly how the players will be
impacted. Even the traditional manufacturing powerhouses
are gearing up, with the UK Government initiative – Reshore
UK, launched in 2014 and the establishment of High-Value
Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult centres to bridge the gap
between research and industry. Today nearly one quarter of
advanced manufacturers use 3D printing with the UK
boasting the first company to print medical-grade silicone for
prosthetic noses and eyes …
Given that much work is still manual, building planes is nearly
30% automated while assembling electronics like cell
phones is only 10% automated - MIT Computer science and
Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in the USA is implementing its
vision of people and robots working together on the factory
floor……In the meantime, Germany’s industry is on the verge
of the 4th industrial revolution, leading the way with 11%
share of the global market for industrial automation.
Responding to such challenges, we need to rapidly embrace
innovative production processes which is the interaction
between advanced systems and technologies, digital
technologies, and a highly trained and skilled workforce. The
convergence of the real world with the digital world, where
product development, production and servicing communicate
through software and networks is Manufacturing 4.0.
Raju Jaddoo
Secretary-General
Presentation of Dr. Richard Brynteson, an organizational
consultant, on the theme "Building an innovation culture"
held on 8 July 2014 at the Labourdonnais Waterfront
Hotel.
View video
Mauritius-Turkey: Setting-up of a Joint
Business Council
The Mauritius-Turkey Joint Business Council w as officially
launched on the 29 August 2014 follow ing the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding betw een the MCCI,
represented by Mr. Raju Jaddoo, Secretary-General, and
the Foreign Economic Board of Turkey (DEIK), represented
by Mr. Omer Hakan Baki, Chairman of the Turkish-Mauritian
Business Council. Another MoU agreement w as signed
w ith the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of
Turkey (TOBB) on the same occasion.
The objective of the Mauritius-Turkey Joint Business
Council is to promote amplified collaboration and
exchanges betw een the tw o respective organizations
w ith
a view to consolidating further relations betw een the
business communities of both countries.
The signing ceremony took place at Kaya Thermal
Convention Centre in Izmir w here the largest Turkish
International trade fair w as held from the 29 August to 5
September 2014 and in the context of w hich Mauritius has
been appointed as Partner Country by the government of
Turkey. A high- level delegation, led by the Minister of
Industry, Commerce and Consumer protection, Hon Cader
Sayed-Hossen, and comprising public and private sector
representatives, participated at the event.
MCCI signs an MoU agreement with
Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce
The event brought together Austrian companies and
practitioners
from development banks, financing
organisations and public institutions. Discussions focused
on business opportunities and financing options for
projects in emerging markets and risk management.
The Forum w as also a platform to promote Mauritius as the
rising headquarter hub in the South-East Africa region.
Presentations w ere made by the Secretary-General of the
MCCI, Mr. Raju Jaddoo and by the Director of the Board of
Investment, Mr. Ken Poonoosamy, on the advantages of
investing and doing business in Mauritius and on building
partnerships.
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed
betw een the MCCI and the Austrian Federal Chamber of
Commerce during the ''Forum Emerging markets 2014, w ith
Mauritius as country focus", organised by the Federal
Ministry of Economy and the Austrian Federal Economic
Chamber held on 4 September 2014 in Vienna.
In his discussions w ith the Vice President of the Austrian
Federal Economic Chamber, Mr. Richard Schenz, Mr. Raju
Jaddoo raised the prospect of joint venture opportunities
betw een Mauritian and Austrian companies to target
Southern and Eastern Africa and the mechanism to be put
in place to accelerate technology transfer from Austrian
high tech manufacturing sector especially in the fields of
medical devices and machinery.
The objective of the Forum w as to consolidate business
relations betw een Mauritius and Austria.
Information session on 'Cross-Border
Payment Systems in Africa'
The MCCI, in collaboration w ith the COMESA Clearing
House and the Bank of Mauritius, organized an information
session on the various payment and settlement systems
operational in the region on Friday 26 September 2014 at
Le Labourdonnais Hotel, Port Louis.
In his opening address, the President of the MCCI, Mr.
Sébastien Mamet highlighted the grow ing importance of
regional markets for Mauritian business and the need to
have reliable, time efficient and affordable regional
payment systems.
A joint presentation w as made by Mr. Mahmood Mansoor,
Executive Secretary of the COMESA Clearing House and
Mr. Vikash Thakoor, Head-Payment Systems and MCIB at
the Bank of Mauritius, to explain the functioning and the
benefits of using the COMESA Regional Electronic Payment
and Settlement System (REPSS) w hen doing business in
the region. A presentation w as also made by the
representative from the Bank of Mauritius on the SADC
Integrated Regional Settlement System (SIRESS).
The presentations can be dow nloaded from the MCCI’s
w ebsite: w w w .mcci.org
MCCI Participates in the COMESA 1st Meeting of the National Focal Points on
NTBs
The MCCI participated in the first meeting of the COMESA National Focal Points on Non-Tariff Barriers
(NTBs) which was held in Nairobi, Kenya on 23-25 September 2014.
The meeting took stock of the number of NTBs which was filed on the online system
(www.tradebarriers.org) and on the number of cases that have been resolved. Out of the 476 reported
NTBs on the online system, 385 cases have been resolved and 84 were still pending while 7 of the
reported NTBs were non-actionable.
The most frequently reported NTB in the region were those related to customs and administrative
procedures followed by transport, clearing and forwarding; and other administrative procedures. NTBs
related to rules of origin accounted for 9% of all reported NTBs.
The meeting also recommended that the COMESA Secretariat expedites the process of designing the
COMESA electronic certificate of origin for use by Member States that were ready to do so.
Kenya proposed to amend standards on imports of paper towels and hand
sanitizers
Kenya has issued a draft notification which introduces new standards for imports of paper towels and
hand sanitizers into the Kenyan market.
The draft regulations and the proposed standards which are expected to come into force in March 2015
can be downloaded at:
Draft regulations document
Members
are
requested
to
contact
Mrs.
Kamala
Rajcoomar,Tel:4338164,Email:
[email protected], from the Mauritius Standard Bureau (MSB) for any comment on the above
regulations by Thursday 30 October 2014,at latest.
New Standards on Imports of Toys into the EU
The European Commission has issued a draft notification which limits the use of chemicals used in the
manufacture of toys and imported into the European market.
The draft Commission Directive G/TBT/N/EU/231 introduces limit values for phenol, formamide, BIT, CMI
and MI in a ratio of 3:1, as well as CMI and MI individually in toys intended for children under 3 years or in
other toys intended to be put in the mouth, in order to ensure alignment to the latest scientific evidence
and increase children's safety.
The draft regulation which is expected to come into force in July 2016 can be downloaded at:
Draft Regulation document
Members are requested to contact Mrs. Kamala Rajcoomar, Tel: 4338164, Email:
[email protected], from the Mauritius Standard Bureau (MSB) for any comment on the above
regulation by Thursday 30 October 2014, at latest.
Trade Figures for 1st Semester 2014
Total exports for the first six months 2014 were valued at Rs 38.2 billion against imports of Rs 77.5 billion.
Analysis of exports figures by country of destination for the first semester of 2014 shows that the European
countries were our main buyers, purchasing some 52.4% of our exports for a value of Rs 20 billion. The
United Kingdom remained our main market with Rs 5.3 billion, representing 14.0% of total exports. The
other major destinations for our exports were France (13.0%), U.S.A (10.5%), Italy (8.5%), Madagascar
(6.9%) and South Africa (6.6%).
Compared to the first six months of 2013, total exports to U.S.A, Madagascar and France went up by
24.0%, 21.8% and 12.3% respectively, while those to United Kingdom, Italy and South Africa fell by 14.4%,
11.2% and 10.5% respectively.
During the first semester of 2014, imports from the Asian continent, our major supplier, amounted to Rs
43.8 billion, representing 56.6% of total imports. Our imports originated mainly from the following
countries: India (23.6%), China (15.1%), France (8.2%) and South Africa (6.5%).
According to the Central Statistical Office (CSO), total exports for the year 2014 are expected to be of the
order of Rs 94 billion while imports figures will amount to Rs 175 billion.
For
more
information
click
on:
http://statsmauritius.gov.mu/English/StatsbySubj/Documents/ei1128/trade.pdf
La MCCI lance son nouveau service
pour les entreprises :
L’intelligence B2B
La MCCI lance son nouveau service pour les entreprises : L’intelligence B2B La MCCI a le plaisir d’annoncer son
nouveau service pour les entreprises : L’intelligence B2B, avec un partenaire privilégié, Ellisphere. Cette initiative fait
suite à la volonté de la MCCI d’offrir des services innovants à la communauté des affaires. Ce nouveau service est
disponible à partir du lundi 29 septembre 2014 sur le site de la MCCI .
Partenariat Ellisphere et MCCI
C’est au mois de mars 2014 que la MCCI et Ellisphere ont signé un contrat pour offrir à la communauté des affaires un
service d’intelligence B2B, par le biais du pack Ellipro. Ellipro permet d’utiliser l'information d’entreprise autrement grâce à
un accès en ligne direct et une offre souple et adaptée aux besoins des entreprises. Le pack Ellipro comprend un
certain nombre de rapports parmi des modules d'information.
L’intelligence B2B : Un outil essentiel pour les entreprises
• Une gestion vraim ent efficace des postes clients
Chaque jour les changements de données commerciales, financières, économiques sont susceptibles d’affecter les
prises de décisions dans les entreprises. Les gestionnaires de données d’Ellipro collectent, agrègent, qualifient,
analysent et diffusent des données et informations sur les entreprises.
• La confiance est nécessaire à la croissance
Dans un environnement économique toujours plus complexe, les entreprises souhaitent fiabiliser leurs informations de
solvabilité. Actionnaires, fournisseurs, clients, banques entre autres sont demandeurs d'informations sur l’entreprise et
leur projet et vice versa. Petites ou grandes, toutes les entreprises sont concernées : la valeur ajoutée des analyses
transmises est indispensable dans l'appréciation du risque.
• Anticiper et prévenir les difficultés
En temps de crise, les entreprises ont du mal à se faire financer auprès des banques, elles doivent donc renforcer leur
niveau de vigilance sur les risques. L’offre Ellipro permet d'ajuster les rapports de solvabilité aux besoins des
entreprises.
• Sécuriser le développem ent du business
Pour décider d'investir, d'entrer en relation avec un client ou un fournisseur, il est nécessaire de disposer d'informations
complètes, à jour, vérifiées, et - si nécessaire - accompagnées de l'avis d’experts.
La MCCI Business School et TNT
Business Solutions signent le premier
contrat de formation en alternance
La MCCI Business School et TNT Business Solutions, l’une des plus grandes entreprises BPO lancent la
première formation en alternance.
Pour la première fois a Maurice, 20 jeunes seront recrutés et bénéficieront a la fois d’une expérience
professionnelle en entreprise et une formation académique menant a un diplôme international en
Assistant de gestion PME/PMI.
La formule alternance combinant formation académique et insertion professionnelle permettra aux
jeunes de mieux s’intégrer au monde du travail et de décrocher en même temps un Brevet de Technicien
Supérieur, diplôme d’Etat de l’enseignement supérieur français délivré par le Ministère de l’Education
Nationale par le biais de l’Académie de la Réunion.
Durant leur formation de deux ans à la MCCI Business School, les jeunes seront pris en charge par TNT
Business Solutions. L’entreprise s’acquittera de l’intégralité de leur frais de scolarité avec le soutien du
Dual Training Programme du ministère des Finances. De plus, ces étudiants/employés recevront un
stipend de Rs 3,000 roupies par mois.
La mise en place de ce programme s’inscrit dans la volonté de la MCCI Business School de répondre
davantage aux besoins des entreprises et de proposer des jeunes cadres disposant à la fois d’une
formation académique de qualité et une expérience professionnelle avérée.
La MCCI Business School espère que d’autres entreprises vont emboiter le pas à TNT Business
Solutions en profitant de cette formule pour pouvoir former leurs cadres dans différentes spécialités
notamment : Services Informatiques aux Organisations, Management des Unités Commerciales,
Assistant de Gestion PME–PMI, Banque, Commerce International et Communication.
Pour tout renseignement sur l’alternance, veuillez contacter la MCCI Business School
Tel. +230 454 8950 – email: [email protected] - www.mccibusinessschool.org
GS1 Mauritius celebrates the 2nd Anniversary of its Training Course ‘Basic
Principles of GS1 & Bar Coding’
In August 2014, GS1 Mauritius has celebrated the 2nd Anniversary of its MQA Approved Course ‘Basic
Principles of GS1 & Bar Coding’. The course was first launched 2 years back to strengthen GS1 Mauritius
core offers to better serve and advice GS1 subscribers and industry players in an endeavour to contribute
to the efficiency of the supply chain to reduce scanning errors, reduce waiting time at Point of Sale due to
poor bar code quality and to increase easy flow of goods.
The objective of the course is to ensure that participants are equipped with a working knowledge of GS1
Standards: to save their business time and money by getting their bar codes right and to protect their
business against possible retailer rejection of their products.
Delivered on a monthly basis, by our only MQA Approved GS1 Trainer in Mauritius, Miss Fazlee Dhuny,
more than 250 participants have followed the course during the last 2 years. Furthermore, regular
feedback from supermarkets has revealed that the printing and quality of barcodes have improved
tremendously contributing to less scanning errors and less waiting time at Point of Sale.
Members interested to participate are kindly invited to contact Mrs G. Bertrand at GS1 Mauritius / MCCI on
208 3301.
Presentation of SICORAX ERM, a tool
to manage business efficiently
A presentation of SICORAX ERM was made by
Uniconsults Ltd. through the MCCI Business Club
platform. The event was held at the MCCI on 26
September 2014.
The objective of the presentation was to apprise the
audience of the various benefits of SICORX RM.
These include the saving of time as information is
processed through automatic and a powerful
search engine that allows quick search data and
avoidance of omissions thanks to an automatic
classification of files which are also centralized and
shared.
A copy of the presentation is available at the MCCI
upon request. Contact person : Ms. Fazlee Dhuny,
Tel: 208 3301
Seychelles to becom e the 161st WTO m em ber
The small island nation Seychelles has overcome the last hurdle
towards its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO): On
September 10, the country signed a final bilateral agreement with the
United States in Geneva, which clears the way to joining the 160member organisation.
The WTO’s Working Party for the examination of Seychelles’ accession
request was established in July 1995. Negotiations gained
momentum in 2008, when the government of the island state started to
enact new legislations on sanitary and phytosanitary measures and on
the protection of copyright and industrial property. Subsequently,
Seychelles concluded bilateral agreements with eight interested WTO
members, namely Canada, the European Union, Japan, Mauritius,
Oman, South Africa, Switzerland and Thailand. These agreements are
a prerequisite for the formal endorsement of the accession either by
the WTO General Council or Ministerial Conference.
With the approval by the US as the last interested party, Seychelles’
Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment is optimistic that the 92’000people country will become the 161st member of the WTO at the
multilateral organisation’s General Council meeting in December this
year. For more information, please click on the following link :
http://www.ictsd.org/bridges-news/bridges-africa/news/seychelles-tobecome-the-161st-wto-member
ICC News
IP research paper reveals the importance of trade secrets
The contribution of trade secrets to knowledge diffusion and
collaborative innovation is the focus of the latest intellectual property
research paper from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
“Trade secrets: tools for innovation and collaboration” is the third
installment in a research paper series produced by the ICC
Commission on Intellectual Property. The five-paper series explores
how intellectual property (IP) interacts with decisions, transactions and
processes related to technology development and dissemination.
The latest paper, prepared by external researchers Jennifer Brant and
Sebastian Lohse, aims to inform policymakers about shortcomings in
existing frameworks for trade secret protection, which can undermine
cross-border collaboration. It comes amid growing awareness among
companies of their vulnerability to the theft of confidential business
information. For more information, click on the following link:
http://www.iccwbo.org/News/Articles/2014/IP-research-paper-revealsthe-importance-of-trade-secrets/
Huile de pétrole
La Chambre institua un comité pour étudier une lettre de la maison Goudin et
Coutanceau, soumettant la question de savoir si l’huile de pétrole devait être
considérée comme une marchandise dangereuse et ne devait être embarquée
que sous des conditions spéciales.
Le mardi 10 novembre 1863, lecture fut donnée du rapport du comité chargé
d’examiner la question présentée par la maison Goudin et Coutanceau. Si le
comité considérait que le sujet devait être livré à l’étude de personnes
compétentes, il était d’avis que l’on ne devait pas embarquer d’huile de pétrole à
bord des navires sans en avertir les capitaines. Le rapport, modifié, fut adopté.
Lors de la prochaine réunion de la Chambre, la question de l’huile de pétrole fut
référée à la municipalité de Port-Louis, le maire, M. Hippolyte Lemière, étant
engagé à faire prendre des mesures pour l’importation et la mise en entrepôt de
cette dangereuse marchandise.
Référence: Extrait du livre 150 ans d'histoire ouverte sur le monde publié par
la MCCI. Ce livre est disponible en vente à la MCCI et dans les librairies.
MCCI enews September/October 2014 issue
3, Royal Street, Port-Louis, Mauritius. Tel: (230) 208 3301 Fax: (230) 208 0076 www.mc c i.org
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