El Gibor Consultancy provided a natural "fit" for the Heritage Programme based on the country's drive towards a greener economy, and tourism being the single largest contributor to the country's GDP.
In addition, the consultancy's experience in systems development and application, a strong HR development and training background, and knowledge of specification initiatives made it an obvious choice as a business partner.
"We have been looking at a number of options to take the Heritage EMS and certification system to a larger market; and licensing specialists in our key markets makes the most business sense," says Greg McManus, managing director of Sustainability Benchmark Solutions (SBS) International, the parent company of Heritage.
By offering in-country licenses to eligible and appropriate companies, Heritage achieves a number of objectives. Firstly, its ability to manage and service clients improves dramatically with the use of local service providers, saving not only time and money on travel, but also by helping to develop local skills and expertise in this fast-growing market. "Our involvement with local specialists allows for greater adaptation of the Heritage standard to local conditions, while still ensuring its global competitiveness," McManus says.
Mauritius was selected as the first territory for licensing because of the country's commitment and focus on responsible tourism and environmental stewardship. The "Maurice Ile Durable" strategy adopted by the Mauritian government, and support from the tourism sector for greater environmental responsibility makes the process of developing local solutions to environmental impacts less complicated. "Selecting Mauritius provides Heritage with a valuable base in the Indian Ocean from which to expand into French-speaking east Africa and the Indian markets," McManus says.
"It's rewarding to be associated with such a young and dynamic firm that shares our values and who we believe has the potential to drive Heritage Environmental Management system in Mauritius and the region. Based on this model, we are now investigating similar opportunities with representatives from other African countries and are close to finalizing a licence agreement that will ensure our entry into the European market," McManus adds.
"We are very pleased to be selected as a strategic partner in SBS's transformation journey towards addressing the new paradigm in the tourism industry, one which is characterized by intense competition and demanding customers who are increasingly environmentally conscious. It is a significant step that will enable Mauritius to achieve important goals within the "Maurice Ile Durable" strategy. This agreement will strengthen our long-term competitiveness and enable sustainable development," says Yasheena Naojee, director of El Gibor Consultancy Ltd.
