Johannesburg, South Africa (ADV) – Mauritius has launched a programme on Cooperative Entrepreneurship in secondary schools, aiming to promote inclusive development through cooperative entrepreneurship among the youth.
The programme was launched by the Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives, Soomilduth Bholah, at the Camp de Masque State College earlier today.
The programme is set to be carried out in about 30 secondary schools across the island and it is targeting, in particular, Form Four and Lower Six learners. It is expected to give the learners an insight on the basics of cooperative entrepreneurship and its advantages and job prospects.
Minister Bholah highlighted the cooperatives act as vital agents that contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of a country.
“It helps in integrating the poor and the unemployed in the mainstream of the economy, improve the standard of living of people, provide access to markets that individually people cannot access on their own and also combats social exclusion,” he said.
The Minster further highlighted several incentives and schemes that the government, is putting in place to facilitate the creation of a cooperative society. He called for a change in mindset and encouraged the youth to develop a culture of cooperatives and to actively participate in the field of cooperatives and entrepreneurship.
The NCC Director, Geeanduth Seechurn, said the role of the NCC is a facilitator that provides appropriate training to potential entrepreneurs and assists entrepreneurs to regroup and form cooperative societies. He also dwelt on the traits of successful entrepreneurs, the principles and potentials of cooperative and the values of an entrepreneur.
