New Delhi, Dec 3 (KNN) In order to develop an appropriate policy for skill development and capacity building of the MSMEs sector, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between India and Mauritius.

An inter-governmental MoU was signed yesterday between MSME Minister K H Muniyappa and Mauritius Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives Jangbahadoor Seetaram, an official release said.

Muniyappa, was on a three-day visit to Mauritius which started on November-30.

He expressed confidence that through this positive engagement his ministry would be able to create an ideal framework for further collaboration in this sector, which is critical to the two countries' common vision of inclusive and balanced economic growth.

"The agreement provides for further capacity building for developing an appropriate policy and institutional framework for MSMEs and providing training for improvement of managerial and technical skills for these units," the statement said.

Under the MoU, surveys and feasibility studies would also be carried out to identify thrust areas and opportunities for development of these units in Mauritius, it added.

In these and other official interactions with Mauritian Ministers and senior officials, the Minister reaffirmed India's commitment to extending all necessary cooperation in the field of small and medium enterprises to Mauritius, in the form of training inputs, institution building and technology transfer.

Seetaram had visited India in September 2013, during which two institutional-level MoUs between the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority of Mauritius (SMEDA) and the Entrepreneurship Development Institute, Ahmedabad, and between SMEDA and the National Small Industries Corporation of India were concluded.

During the delegation-level talks, the possibility of setting up of a vocational training cum incubation Centre for the benefit of Mauritian SME sector was discussed, along with assistance in developing policies and a robust institutional framework for SME development in the country.

The Incubation Centre would provide hands on practical training to first generation budding entrepreneurs and unemployed persons in order to equip them with knowledge and expertise for setting up new small enterprises.

Joint Secretary SME, S N Tripathi, Chairman and MD, National Small Industries Corporation H P Kumar were also present on the occasion.
Muniyappa has also called on Mauritius President Rajkeswur Purryag and Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam. (KNN/SD)