24 Hours to Set up your Business in Comoros

Coach Djamil  Boinali in blue T- shirt with the winners of 'Banana' project group

OIA (Omar Ibn Abdullah) Group was organizing from 26 to 27 January 2019, the first edition of ‘24 hours to set up your company’. The event was held at the Technical Institute (IUT) of the University of Comoros in Hamramba campus in the south of Moroni. It was mainly sponsored by the BDC (Bank for the Development of Comoros) and Telco (Telma in Comoros).  Different OIA groups took part at the event. Ahmed Bacar, the Technical Institute’s Director was so sorry for not having seeing many students of his institution among the OIA groups.   

Ali Soulé, 33 years old, is an IUT alumnus in Commerce Department. He is graduated in 2008. He is currently working as textbooks ‘manager at the Ministry of Education of Ngazidja. His project ‘Commercialization and Marketing of Sea Food’ has been selected. He thinks that his project can create many job opportunities for the youth.  

Soilihi Ben Ali, 26, is also from the University of Comoros. He got his diploma in 2012 at the Management Department known as GEA (Gestion des  Entreprises et des Administrations).  He works as an intern in a private small enterprise called Ider-Elec located in Moroni. He wants to set up a foreign exchange counter, but his idea did not convince the public. So he decided to join the group that focuses on a ‘Tourist Center’ plan.  As he comes from Mbashile, a touristic, historic and attractive village in the south west of Moroni, he thinks he can contribute by brainstorming many new ideas in that sector.

There were about 40 projects in competition presented by the participants. The participants were also the promoters of their own projects. They were dressed in red T-shirts and the coaches in blue. Only 7 projects, which got the majority of the vote, have been selected. The participants whose proposals have not been chosen have to join a group of their choice. Each OIA group was directed by a coach.

       Oirdati Avoucat with her team members

Djamil Boinali, 30, is from Itsandra Mdjini city. He is a public policy consultant and President of Young Self-Promoters Crossroads Association. He is coaching the ‘Banana’ project. The question is: how to increase the production of this crop in the country in terms of quality and quantity. Oirdati Avoucat, 28, is a student at the Horticultural National Center located in Nvouni campus. She also has a Bachelor’s degree in Science from the University of Comoros. She plans with her partners to promote the banana crop in the country.

Moufidat Mohamed Abdoulhalik, 35, is the founder and Manager of a cosmetics products business made from coconut. She is the facilitator of the ‘Counselling Service’ project group whose aim is to offer guidance or advice to those who wish to launch their own concerns. ‘‘Any project that shows you the better way to succeed within the community is welcome’’ she said. 

Mohamed Mroivili, 28, is conducting the ‘Cattle Breeding’ group. His project is focusing in the production of beef and milk. He is the Human Resources Director of Sultan Group Corporation based in Moroni. In 24 hours, the 3 best drafts have to be selected by a jury and backed by the sponsors. Coach Boinali was happy that Sunday afternoon. The ‘Banana’ project won the first price.  ‘‘We have a bank account opened at BDC with 3,000€ and one year Wi-Fi access point box with super-fast connection offered by Telma,’’ he proudly said. The two other winners are the ‘Cattle Breeding’ Group and a Super market Project on farm produce.  

OIA Group is currently in 5 countries: USA, Madagascar, Benin, Nigeria and South Africa. It has five years of existence and aims to support development economic actors to achieve the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) by training and coaching across Africa and the world.    

Moroni, 28 January 2019  

Chami Mouzawar

Contributing writer