Le NPCC a lancé le projet ECONO-Biz à l’intention des PMEs

Version anglaise / English Version

ECONO-Biz, a project designed to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) enhance their productivity through the adoption of best practices, has been launched by the NPCC. ECONO-Biz focuses on improving resource efficiency – materials, energy and water, among others. The project allows participating enterprises to grow and achieve excellence in a green and circular economy and at the same time reduce wastage and save on costs.

This initiative is a collaboration between the NPCC, the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change and the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC).

The NPCC is presently inviting SMEs with more than ten employees to join this project which addresses operational excellence through the adoption of practices towards waste elimination and avoidance of single-use plastics. SMEs have till 17 February 2023 to submit their expression of interest to participate in this project on the NPCC website. (https://npccmauritius.org/en/how-to-participate-register-here.html)

A total of ten SMEs will be selected as pilot for the implementation of the project. The beneficiary enterprises will be selected on the basis of a scoping study that will pre-determine their suitability and commitment to transform their operations and actively address Resource Efficiency and Clean Production (RECP) issues.

ECONO-Biz will involve the implementation of the International Labour Organisation’s SCORE (Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises) programme in the selected enterprises. SCORE is a global programme that improves productivity and working conditions in SMEs and is delivered through a combination of practical classroom training with in-factory consulting.

NPCC consultants will facilitate identify RECP issues and develop an Enterprise Improvement Plan. They will also help management implement the plan to achieve set goals and measure improvements through relevant Key Performance Indicators.

“Resource efficiency is essential for sustained economic growth. It helps in increasing industry competitiveness, create jobs, stimulate innovation, boost sectors such as recycling and resource recovery, and ensure secure supplies of key resources. At the present moment, we are currently facing numerous challenges that hurdle our growth potential. A better management of our resources through the adoption of best business practices that eliminate wastes is considered to be highly instrumental in facing these challenges successfully. ECONO-Biz will help our SMEs achieve growth and operational excellence in a green environment and circular economy,” says the Executive Director of the NPCC, Mr. Ashit Gungah.

Mr. Gungah also added that our focus today should also be on sustainable consumption and production. According to him, a sustainable consumption and production promotes resource and energy efficiency while providing access to basic services, green and decent jobs and a better quality of life for all.

By the end of the project implementation, participating enterprises will be able to build capacity from a pool of trained in-house employees who are able to manage a sustainable continuous improvement programme. The programme will start early March 2023 with the Training of Enterprises, data collection and awareness. On-site implementation will be effected between March to August 2023.