Q. Could you please give to our readers a brief historical background of the Mauritius
Export Processing Zone Association?
A. The Mauritius Export Processing Zone Association was founded eighteen years ago and
the main objective of the association was to regroup all the companies involved in the
Export Processing Zone (EPZ), we have over 150 members to this date. Most of our members
are basically involved in the textile business, some of them in the jewellery and the
computer business. The association is here to lobby for our members and defend their
interest namely in legal aspect, national budget and labourrules and regulations
within the industry. Since 1992 we have set up a National Quality Award to emphasise the
importance of quality to our members, as quality remains a key ingredient to the export
sector in order to be competitive. In 1995 we raised the standard of the National Quality
Award to international norms so as to have a more holistic approach on the world market.
We are also giving lot of training and we organise seminars for the people of the
association. We have just created a Business Ethics Award where we encouraged our members
to be corruption free and abide by the rules of Transparency International to remain a
sound industry within the economy. The vision of the MEPZA is to have a ‘total
quality Mauritius’. The National Excellence Award for tourism has just been launched
this year.
Q. Is there a risk to loose competitiveness against South East Asian and North African
companies, what are the measures that the MEPZA is taking to improve quality and
competitiveness?
A. We at the MEPZA are trying to inculcate our members to be more and more quality
conscious so as to have the competitive edge on the world market and to have the ISO
programmes in their industries at different levels of production. | Q. Our readers are always interested in new business opportunities, could you mention
some investment or partnership opportunities in Mauritius and especially in the textile
industry?
A. We believe that companies who will operate with Textile Quality Management stand
better chances of investment. We still have room for upper workforce namely from a
technological point of view. We are willing to work with the film industry where we think
we can have good opportunities for the textile industry.
Q. As a final issue, what will be your final message to our readers?
A. Mauritius is really giving you the image of what it is to leave in peace with other
communities and all the most enjoy the difference of the other community-that is the
different ethnic group.
For more information, visit MEPZA's web site: http://www.mauritius-island.com/mepza/ |
Mauritius Export Processing Zone Association MEPZA