Anandsing Acharuz,
Acting Financial Secretary 

“Barcodes have made it easier to export our products all around the world”

Highlighting their pivotal role in transforming business operations and enhancing international trade in Mauritius, the Acting Financial Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Anandsing Acharuz, lauded the innovative contributions of GS1 Mauritius Ltd and Mauritius Network Services Ltd (MNS). His speech underscored the technological advancements in barcoding and trade facilitation, emphasizing the government’s commitment to fostering innovation, supporting SMEs, and driving sustainable growth in the Mauritian economy

In a keynote address marking the 30th anniversary of GS1 Mauritius Ltd and Mauritius Network Services Ltd (MNS), the Acting Financial Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Anandsing Acharuz, underscored the significant contributions of these two institutions to the Mauritian economy. His speech highlighted their role in fostering innovation, facilitating international trade, and improving business efficiency through technology.

He began by acknowledging the pivotal role of GS1 Mauritius Ltd in transforming business operations in Mauritius. As the sole provider of internationally recognized global standard barcodes, GS1 Mauritius Ltd has revolutionized the identification of goods and services, benefiting businesses of all sizes.

“GS1 Mauritius Ltd has been at the core of the transformation of the way of doing business in Mauritius,” Mr. Acharuz remarked. “These barcodes are instrumental for the identification of goods and services, and for the development of the field. They have not only facilitated the operations of large enterprises, but also enabled thousands of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to enter the mainstream retail and distribution ecosystem.”

The barcodes provided by GS1 Mauritius Ltd have also played a crucial role in enabling Mauritian products to reach global markets. “These barcodes have made it easier to export our products all around the world,” he noted. With a community of over 56,000 members spanning sectors such as retail, healthcare, raw materials, and agriculture, GS1 Mauritius Ltd ensures seamless, efficient, and safe trade.

Highlighting the technological advancements in barcoding, the Acting Financial Secretary pointed out the emergence of QR barcodes, which offer more features than traditional barcodes. “Our enterprises are gradually adopting this new barcoding system,” he said. QR barcodes allow consumers to use their smartphones to access real-time product information, enhancing the consumer experience with features such as recipes, rewards, and promotions.

Looking ahead, he emphasized several promising developments in barcoding technology:

• Dynamic QR Codes: Adapt to context and change based on location, time, or user profile.
• Blockchain-Enabled Barcodes: Link each product to a blockchain record, allowing consumers to verify the product’s origin and ethical sourcing.
• Augmented Reality Barcodes: Add a layer of interactivity, enabling users to unlock 3D models and interactive content.
• Voice-Activated Barcodes: Allow consumers to use voice assistants to scan barcodes and add items to shopping lists.
• Personalized Marketing: Retailers send exclusive discounts via barcode notifications when shoppers enter specific zones.

“These developments will revitalize the way we do business,” Mr. Acharuz stated. “The objective of government is to encourage enterprises to embrace these innovations and technological developments to stay competitive and meet the demands of an interconnected world.”

This anniversary embodies innovation, compliance, achievement, and overall PPP in the spirit of national inclusiveness and sustainable growth

Mr. Acharuz highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting SMEs in leveraging barcode technology. Through various budgets, financial support has been provided to SMEs, enabling them to benefit from GS1 barcodes and enhance their market access. The SME Barcode Registration Scheme covers registration fees, annual membership fees, and one-off trading fees for acquiring GS1 barcodes.

“This year, through the 2024-25 budget, government has further extended this scheme to corporate teams,” he said. Additionally, several initiatives have been launched to support technological integration and improve the ease of doing business, such as the operationalization of a 24/7 information center, and the increase in the number of licenses on the national e-licensing system.

Turning to MNS, the Acting Financial Secretary lauded it as a vivid example of a successful public-private partnership (PPP). MNS has significantly facilitated international trade procedures by developing and operating trade facilitation information systems, including the TradeNet Single Window System and the Customer Management System.

“With the implementation of these systems, we have significantly improved our ease of doing business,” he said. The systems have reduced the time for international trade, lowered trade transaction costs, eliminated duplication of information captured by different agencies, ushered in a paperless environment, and improved transparency of procedures.

MNS has also been instrumental in digitizing key government processes, such as the implementation of the Company and Business Registration Information System, the e-Courier System, the Sanitary and Phytosanitary System, and the Electronic Tax Refund System. The unveiling of the MNS Application Program Interface (API) showcases MNS’s capacity to understand the national ecosystem and continuously strive for improvement.

Mr. Acharuz emphasized the importance of continued innovation and collaboration. “This anniversary embodies innovation, compliance, achievement, and overall PPP in the spirit of national inclusiveness and sustainable growth,” he affirmed. “At the level of government, we will continue to foster innovation, support our businesses, and work together towards inclusive and sustainable growth.”

He urged the leaders of GS1 Mauritius Ltd and MNS to continue their drive for innovation and adoption of new technologies. “As much as I would like to give you a tap on the shoulder for the remarkable achievements so far, taking into account the speed at which the world of technology is changing, let us not be hit by the traffic from behind. Let us learn from yesterday and prepare for tomorrow, today,” he concluded.