The Economic Development Board (EDB), host agency of the SheTrades Mauritius Hub, in collaboration with the Indian Business Council (IBC), successfully concluded the SheInvests: Financial Literacy Series for Women Entrepreneurs, with a certificate award ceremony held on 30 September 2026 at the EDB Auditorium in Ebene, where 30 women entrepreneurs received certificates of participation.
The Award of Certificates event marked the completion of a four-month capacity-building programme, comprising five financial literacy sessions delivered from April to August 2026 which engaged a total of 86 women entrepreneurs. The sessions were delivered by experienced resource persons from the Indian Business Council, who shared their expertise, practical insights and industry experience to strengthen participants’ financial capabilities and help them apply sound financial practices to their businesses.
This initiative aimed to equip women entrepreneurs with practical knowledge and tools to make informed business decisions, manage financial risks, plan effectively and build more resilient and sustainable enterprises.
In her welcome address, Mrs Nirmala Jeetah, Director, Healthcare & Life Sciences & ITC SheTrades, Economic Development Board, highlighted the valuable collaboration of the Indian Business Council of Mauritius (IBC) in supporting the delivery of the Financial Literacy training series, particularly through the contribution of experienced resource persons. She highlighted that the resource persons successfully translated financial concepts into practical business applications, enabling participants to relate the knowledge gained to their day-to-day operations. Through practical examples, interactive discussions and experience-sharing, the sessions strengthened participants’ understanding of how sound financial management can facilitate informed decision-making, improve risk management and foster sustainable business growth. She emphasised that the real value of the programme lies not only in the knowledge acquired but, more importantly, in its practical application within their businesses to enhance financial resilience, improve performance and support long-term growth.
In his address, Mr Jayasankar Seshadri, President of the Indian Business Council Mauritius, highlighted financial literacy as an essential business skill. He noted that the programme addressed key areas including budgeting, financial planning, cash flow management, access to finance and risk management, providing participants with practical knowledge to support business resilience and growth. Mr Seshadri further emphasised that strengthening women-led businesses contributes to a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem by bringing innovation, resilience and new perspectives to the business environment. He expressed his appreciation to the EDB SheTrades Mauritius Hub for the partnership and acknowledged the valuable contribution of the trainers and facilitators. He also reaffirmed the IBC’s commitment to supporting knowledge sharing and business opportunities for entrepreneurs in Mauritius. Congratulating the participants, he noted that completing the programme marks not an end, but the beginning of a journey towards applying their new financial knowledge with greater confidence in managing and growing their businesses.
Highlighting the practical importance of financial literacy, Mr Amit Gupta, Founder and Group Chairman, AMG Services Ltd, provided an overview of key financial concepts and terms covered during the training. He explained where entrepreneurs can find relevant financial information, how to read and interpret financial figures, and how these figures can help assess the financial health of a business.
He also emphasised the importance of financial planning and informed decision-making, noting that understanding the numbers enables entrepreneurs to plan their finances more effectively, identify potential challenges and make better business decisions. Financial literacy, he stressed, ultimately helps build confidence and empowers entrepreneurs to take greater control of their business finances and support sustainable growth.
The event also featured a Sharing of Learning Experiences panel discussion moderated by Mrs Nirmala Jeetah, with reflections from three participating entrepreneurs:
- Ms Diane Nuteau, Founder of the award-winning enterprise, The Creative Brainstorming
- Mrs Aarti Abbi, Founder, Pink Elephant Handicrafts Ltd & Vice President, Plenitude Trading
- Mrs Jenny Pidial, CEO, Fit-U-Garment
Sharing their experiences, the participants highlighted how the programme helped them move from simply receiving financial figures to better understanding and interpreting the numbers behind their businesses. They noted that the sessions gave them greater confidence in reading financial statements, asking more meaningful questions of their accountants and using financial information to support key business decisions.
They also emphasised that financial learning is an ongoing process, enabling them to assess opportunities more effectively and take calculated risks while considering important financial factors such as depreciation and other business costs.
In her closing remarks, Mrs Meenakshi Saxena, Executive Director, AMG Services, reaffirmed the commitment to continued collaboration with the EDB and SheTrades Mauritius Hub in supporting women entrepreneurs. She highlighted the value of initiatives that strengthen business capabilities and expressed her hope for further programmes and capacity-building activities in partnership with EDB, providing women entrepreneurs with continued opportunities to enhance their knowledge, build confidence and support the sustainable growth of their businesses.
Celebrating Achievement and Continued Growth
The award of certificates recognised the commitment of the 30 women entrepreneurs who fulfilled the programme’s participation requirements. The ceremony provided an opportunity to celebrate their learning journey while reinforcing the importance of continued capacity building in strengthening women-led businesses.
The SheTrades Mauritius Hub remains committed to supporting women entrepreneurs through targeted capacity-building initiatives that strengthen business capabilities, promote financial confidence and contribute to the development of more resilient and sustainable women-led enterprises.
