The Economic Development Board (EDB), host agency for the SheTrades Mauritius Hub, in collaboration with Club Export Réunion, organised a workshop focused on exporting to Réunion Island with the theme “Cap sur La Réunion: Opportunités d’affaires pour les entrepreneures mauriciennes”. The event was held on 10 September 2026 at the EDB Offices in Ebene.
La Réunion represents a high-potential regional market for Mauritian businesses seeking to expand their activities and take the next step in their internationalisation journey. Its strategic geographical proximity to Mauritius, strong historical, cultural and economic ties, and established connectivity make it a natural market for Mauritian enterprises, particularly women-led businesses.
As a French overseas department and an outermost region of the European Union, Réunion also offers Mauritian businesses an opportunity to develop commercial partnerships within a European market and gain exposure to EU standards, requirements and business networks. Strengthening trade and business linkages between Mauritius and Réunion can therefore contribute to greater regional integration, market diversification and the expansion of Mauritian exports.
The workshop provided SheTrades Mauritius Hub members with practical insights into the Réunion market, including the regulatory framework, export procedures and requirements, with a view to enabling more Mauritian women entrepreneurs to identify opportunities, establish partnerships and successfully access this strategic neighbouring market.
In her opening remarks, Mrs Nirmala Jeetah, Director of the ITC SheTrades Mauritius Hub, highlighted La Réunion as a strategic and accessible regional market for Mauritian businesses, particularly women-led enterprises. She emphasised the geographical proximity, longstanding economic and people-to-people ties, and the potential to further strengthen bilateral trade.
She stressed that successful market entry requires a clear understanding of regulatory requirements, standards, customs procedures and export formalities. She reaffirmed: “Our objective is not simply to identify opportunities, but to help our businesses turn those opportunities into concrete partnerships, commercial relationships and, ultimately, exports.”
Mrs Dominique Valgrésy, President of Club Export Réunion, welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed her strong commitment to women’s entrepreneurship and internationalisation. Drawing on her own experience as a woman entrepreneur and exporter with business activities in Mauritius, Madagascar and Rwanda, she highlighted the strong potential for greater economic cooperation between Mauritius and La Réunion.
Acknowledging that European regulations and market requirements may appear complex, she stressed that “these are not walls; they are steps, and they can be overcome.” She encouraged entrepreneurs to understand the market, master the regulatory framework and build direct business relationships, emphasising that “our complementarity is our greatest strength” in creating sustainable partnerships and opportunities for women-led businesses.
Participants gained insights into consumer trends and promising sectors for Mauritian businesses, including agri-food, services, arts and crafts, design, textiles and the circular economy. Experts from Mauritius, La Réunion and the European Union provided practical guidance on market opportunities and the requirements for doing business in Réunion.
Understanding Market Access Requirements
The first session, “Decoding and Accessing the Réunion Market,” focused on the key requirements and practical considerations for Mauritian businesses seeking to access the market. Mr Alexis Bouvet, Economic Intelligence Officer at La Réunion Développement, provided an overview of the macro-economic environment in La Réunion, including market characteristics, consumer trends and potential opportunities for Mauritian companies.
Mrs Khoudijah Maudarbocus-Boodoo, Trade Affairs Officer at the Delegation of the European Union to Mauritius, explained the EU–Mauritius trade framework, with a focus on standards, compliance requirements, market opportunities and the main barriers that businesses may encounter.
The customs and administrative aspects of exporting were addressed by Mr Kheran Ramkhalawon, Team Leader at the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) Customs, who provided an overview of the procedures applicable to exports from Mauritius.
Complementing this presentation with an operational perspective, Mr Ashween Bunwaree, CEO of Capstone Consulting Ltd, shared practical insights into customs procedures and the steps businesses need to consider when preparing for export.
The legal aspects of establishing a business presence in La Réunion were presented by Elsie Rasolohery, Senior Partner at Geo Lawyers. Her presentation covered options for establishing a subsidiary, commercial partnerships, appropriate business structures and contractual considerations.
Learning from Business Experience
The second session, “Experience Sharing,” gave participants the opportunity to learn from experienced business practitioners and gain practical perspectives on operating within the regional market.
Mrs Aisha Allee, Founder & Chairperson of Blast Burson, and Mrs Catherine Dubreuil Le Roy, Regional Commission Head at CCIFM and Co-Founder of All for Impact, shared their valuable experiences and practical insights on doing business in the Réunion market.
Mrs Allee shared Blast Burson’s first-hand experience of entering the Réunion market, highlighting key challenges, practical lessons and the importance of understanding the local market, building networks and adapting to market requirements.
Mrs Dubreuil Le Roy provided insights into the Réunion business ecosystem, emphasising strong local connections, trusted partnerships and an understanding of market dynamics to identify opportunities and build sustainable business relationships.
The sessions concluded with an interactive Q&A, allowing participants to raise practical questions and gain further clarification on regulatory, customs, market access and legal matters.
Through this initiative, the SheTrades Mauritius Hub continues to support women entrepreneurs in accessing new markets by providing them with market intelligence, practical knowledge and opportunities to build valuable business networks.
“Cap sur La Réunion” also highlighted the potential of closer regional economic cooperation and the importance of equipping women-led businesses with the knowledge and tools needed to successfully navigate international markets.
The seminar reaffirmed La Réunion’s potential as a strategic regional market for Mauritian businesses and provided participating women entrepreneurs with practical guidance to take informed steps towards trade, partnership and international business expansion.
