The Economic Development Board (EDB), as the host agency of the SheTrades Mauritius Hub, in collaboration with DHL and ITC SheTrades, held the Award Ceremony of the ‘Trade Beyond Borders’ Training Programme on 8th December 2025. A total of 24 women-led businesses graduated from the 2025 edition of the programme, marking an important milestone in strengthening the contribution of Mauritian women entrepreneurs to cross-border trade. The event was graced by the presence of the Honourable Dhaneshwar Damry, Junior Minister of Finance, alongside distinguished guests, partners, and key stakeholders from the business and export community.
The training program was officially launched on Monday, 17th March 2025 and was extended over four months throughout which the participants completed eight specialised training modules, covering eCommerce, digital marketing, logistics, supply chain management, international trade procedures, regulatory compliance, financial management, leadership, and customer experience. The programme integrates both business and logistics perspectives, ensuring that women entrepreneurs are equipped to scale their businesses internationally and navigate global markets with confidence.
The ‘Trade Beyond Borders’ Training Programme forms part of DHL’s flagship GoTrade initiative, which supports SME growth and export readiness worldwide. Since its inception in 2020, GoTrade has trained over 9,100 SMEs across major global markets—including the United States, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region with 74 projects implemented in 2024 alone.
In his Keynote Address, the Honourable Dhaneshwar Damry, Junior Minister of Finance, underscored the growing contribution of women-led businesses to the Mauritian economy, noting that:
“The more women entrepreneurs we empower, the stronger and more resilient our economy becomes.”
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to:
“Moving forward—reforming, performing, and transforming towards a more inclusive society where women-owned enterprises can thrive without barriers.”
He further encouraged the entrepreneurs present to maintain their passion, pursue their ambitions with confidence, and continue advancing on their entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing that their success is integral to the nation’s broader development agenda.
In his welcome remarks Mr Abhimanu Kundasamy Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Development Board highlighted the pivotal role the SheTrades Mauritius Hub is playing; the Hub’s membership grew significantly from 60 members last year to 312 members as of November 2025. He stated that:
“The Hub’s mission is clear: to ensure that no woman’s ambition is limited by a lack of resources, information, or networks. This aligns perfectly with our tagline, She Goes Global. Let us continue working together—public sector, private sector, and development partners—to build an environment where women entrepreneurs can thrive.”
He also expressed his appreciation to DHL for their professionalism and their unwavering support to Mauritian women-led businesses.
In her address, Dr Judith Fessehaie, Head of SheTrades at the International Trade Centre (ITC), reaffirmed the central role that the SheTrades Mauritius Hub now plays within the country’s entrepreneurial landscape. She emphasised that:
“The SheTrades Mauritius Hub has evolved into a vital center for women-led businesses—providing access to information, building skills, and opening new markets.”
Dr Fessehaie highlighted that as ITC SheTrades celebrates its 10th anniversary, the global initiative continues to deepen its support for women entrepreneurs across regions. She noted that Mauritius, with its growing network of export-ready women-owned enterprises and strong institutional partnerships, is increasingly well-positioned to take on a more strategic role in regional and global trade value chains.
Mrs Lalaina Rasolomanana, Country Manager of DHL Global Forwarding – Mauritius, reaffirmed DHL’s unwavering commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs and supporting their integration into global markets. In her address, she stated:
“Together, we are building bridges for Mauritian businesses to thrive globally. The success of this year’s programme fuels our commitment to continue next year—bigger, better, and with even more impact. When we say ‘Trade Beyond Borders,’ we mean breaking barriers, creating opportunities, and shaping a future where Mauritian businesses shine on the world stage.”
In her presentation, Mrs Nirmala Jeetah, Director at the Economic Development Board, provided a comprehensive overview of the key milestones and achievements of the SheTrades Mauritius Hub for 2025. She highlighted that the Hub has continued to broaden its impact and reinforce its position as a dynamic platform for empowering women entrepreneurs and enhancing their integration into regional and international markets.
Mrs Jeetah outlined the following major accomplishments:
- Delivery of 12 capacity-building workshops, each designed to strengthen core business skills and enhance export readiness across a wide range of sectors.
- A high-level regional workshop on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) organised in close collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), providing women entrepreneurs with critical insights into the opportunities and requirements of the AfCFTA market.
- Participation in the Reverse Buyer-Seller Meets (RBSM) in India, in partnership with the SheTrades India Hub, which enabled 11 Mauritian women-led businesses to explore new market linkages, showcase their products, and build strategic partnerships with international buyers.
She noted that these achievements demonstrate the Hub’s expanding role in facilitating market access, strengthening capacities, and positioning Mauritian women entrepreneurs as competitive players on the African and global trade stage. The focus of the Hub was to strengthen the capacities of women led businesses so that they can compete, innovate and lead.
The event also featured the unveiling of M’World, an innovative digital ecosystem developed to empower MSMEs through enhanced visibility, improved operational efficiency, and better access to business opportunities.
In his presentation, Mr Deepak Deepchand, Country Manager of DHL Express Mauritius, highlighted the continued success and growing impact of the GoTrade initiative. Building on the momentum and strong outcomes achieved during this year’s programme, he announced that EDB and DHL will jointly roll out an enhanced edition of the GoTrade Training Programme in 2026.
He emphasised that the next edition would place even greater emphasis on technical competencies and operational knowledge required for international trade, ensuring that Mauritian SMEs—particularly women-led enterprises—are fully equipped to meet the demands of global markets The next edition will also include Hands-on training on DHL’s digital trade tools, including MyDHL+ and the MYGTS Duty Calculators
In his closing address, Mr Sanjay Bhunjun, Chairman of the Economic Development Board (EDB), encouraged entrepreneurs to remain resilient, forward-looking, and steadfast in pursuing their long-term aspirations. He reminded participants that entrepreneurial success is rarely linear and often shaped by perseverance through challenges. He stated:
“The road to success is not linear. It is marked by highs and lows. Success demands determination and the willingness to do what it takes. Through this DHL GoTrade Programme, you have mastered the engine of business—logistics.”
By demystifying logistics, the DHL team has effectively de-risked the growth journey for countless entrepreneurs. Mr Bhunjun reaffirmed EDB’s strong commitment to promoting inclusive trade and economic empowerment, underscoring the importance of ensuring that women entrepreneurs have access to the tools, networks, and support systems needed to scale internationally. He encouraged all participants to stay actively engaged with the SheTrades Mauritius Hub and to fully leverage the opportunities available through the SheTrades platform, including registration and continued participation in its initiatives.
