LocationsThis 3-day event aims at empowering SMEs to unlock new partnerships in Africa, strengthen export readiness, and seize emerging opportunities under the AfCFTA.
UNDP supports the participation of 21 Mauritian and Seychellois SMEs in the Africa Business Immersion Event in Johannesburg
November 24, 2025
The mission brought together 21 high-potential SMEs from Mauritius and Seychelles, to strengthen their export readiness and explore avenues in the African Market.
UNDP Mauritius / Sharon Sunassee
A 3-day Africa Business Immersion Event was held on 17-19 November 2025 at the EY Wavespace Office in Johannesburg, South Africa. Organised as part of the Phase 2 of the UNDP-MCCI Xport Accelerator Programme, the mission brought together 21 high-potential SMEs from Mauritius and Seychelles, to strengthen their export readiness and explore avenues in the African Market.
The initiative aimed at empowering participating SMEs – many of which are youth and women-led - to unlock new partnerships in Africa, improve their international exposure, and seize emerging opportunities under the AfCFTA. By providing them with exposure to South African businesses, investors, and industry experts, the programme builds their capacity and provides them with key insights to navigate and succeed in one of Africa’s most dynamic markets.
Empowering SMEs to Scale Across Africa
Over the three-day immersion programme, Mauritian and Seychellois SMEs took part in intensive workshops and expert-led discussions aimed at strengthening their export readiness and improving their understanding of both the South African and broader regional business environment. The sessions covered opportunities under the AfCFTA, highlighting how island economies such as Mauritius and Seychelles can better engage with emerging continental markets. Participants also received practical guidance on South Africa’s ease of doing business, market entry strategies, and key considerations for export development.
They further engaged in panel discussions with EY experts and top industry leaders, gaining insights into export best practices, procurement processes within the South African retail sector, and effective approaches for strengthening market engagement. Additional sessions examined regional trade dynamics, market comparisons, and workforce strategies essential for scaling growing enterprises. The programme also emphasised the importance of adopting a growth mindset to support long-term expansion and competitiveness. By actively participating in these sessions, SMEs seeking to expand into South Africa and the wider African market received a comprehensive foundation of knowledge, tools, and strategic perspectives needed to navigate new opportunities under an evolving regional trade landscape.
Business-to-Business Engagements and Investor Networking
In parallel to the panel discussions, SMEs participated in a dedicated B2B networking event hosted at EY’s Wavespace, which provided a dynamic platform for collaboration, learning, and high-value networking. The event connected entrepreneurs with a curated group of South African buyers, distributors, and potential partners across multiple sectors. These targeted meetings and sector-focused discussions aimed at facilitating concrete business opportunities, while enabling entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative, niche solutions across the Manufacturing, Consumer/Retail, and Services sectors. These engagements formed a core component of the mission’s objective to enhance SMEs’ ability to navigate and succeed in the South African market.
The programme concluded with an investor-focused segment, beginning with a panel on funding strategies from investors, which provided participants with valuable insights into investor expectations and effective positioning for growth financing. As part of the mission’s broader objective to facilitate targeted business meetings and potential partnership agreements with South African buyers, entrepreneurs then took part in a Shark Tank–style pitching exercise, presenting their businesses to real investors and receiving practical feedback to refine their value propositions. This interactive format not only strengthened their pitching skills but also expanded their professional networks and opened avenues for future collaboration.
Following this Business Immersion Programme, participating SMEs will continue to receive individual coaching session and tailored market research support from EY experts, and will also benefit from a grant to implement their future activities based on the assessment report from EY.
