The University of Mauritius, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade and the IORA Secretariat, hosted a two-day hybrid Brainstorming Workshop on “Post-COVID-19 – Sustainable Innovation to Set the Economy Back on Track” on 23–24 February 2022.
The workshop aimed to bring together government representatives, academia, industry leaders and experts from IORA Member States to exchange experiences, identify innovative strategies, and promote sustainable recovery pathways in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It sought to identify areas of common interest, build innovation clusters, promote government–academia–private sector partnerships, and agree on concrete actions to strengthen regional cooperation and capacity building.
The opening ceremony featured remarks by senior representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mauritius, the IORA Secretariat, and the University of Mauritius, highlighting the pandemic’s disruptive economic impacts and underscoring innovation and inclusivity as critical drivers for recovery and resilience across the Indian Ocean region.
Discussions were structured around four priority sectors: Blue Economy, Tourism, Health, and Circular Economy, with dedicated sessions for each. The Blue Economy session emphasized sustainable resource use, marine spatial planning, technology adoption, and resilience to climate and coastal risks. The Tourism session focused on post-pandemic recovery through sustainable, regenerative and responsible tourism models, digital transformation, and community empowerment. Health sector discussions highlighted the role of digital health systems, vaccine research and development, and regional collaboration to enhance access, equity and resilience. The Circular Economy session explored waste valorization, green financing, sustainable production and consumption, and the relevance of circular systems for Small Island Developing States.
Across all sessions, participants highlighted the importance of technology transfer, innovation clusters, policy support, and inclusive multi-stakeholder approaches. The workshop concluded with a set of actionable, sector-specific recommendations, including the establishment of technology-transfer and waste-valorization clusters, promotion of sustainable tourism financing mechanisms, enhanced knowledge sharing in digital health, and strengthened public–private partnerships.
The workshop contributed directly to IORA priorities by fostering regional cooperation, strengthening STI capacity, and supporting sustainable economic recovery aligned with the IORA Action Plan and broader regional development objectives.
[Special Fund Project]
