Bangalore: Mauritius invited Indian women entrepreneurs, particularly in micro, small and medium sector, to collaborate with their counterparts in the island nation in areas such as technology and skill development.

"I invite you to explore opportunities and have alliances or joint ventures with your counterparts in Mauritius in areas like skill development, technology and equipment," Mauritius minister Mireille Martinshe Martin said.

Martin, who is the Minister of Gender, Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, was speaking at a function organized by Federation of Indian Women Entrepreneurs.

The Minister said setting up a business in Mauritius was not difficult as the country offers an investor-friendly environment.

The minister said Mauritius wants its women entrepreneurs to shift to more value-added sectors and India can help them in this regard.

In the past as well, Mauritius had benefited from India's experience in the area of entrepreneurship, she said.

Speaking on the occasion, Vayalar Ravi, who has been given additional charge of the Ministry for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), said at present the contribution of women entrepreneurs is only 13 per cent in the country's organized MSME sector and this needs to be increased.

"Young women from different parts of the country should be drawn to entrepreneurship. This will help in increasing the number of entrepreneurs in the country too," he said.

The Federation of Indian Women Entrepreneurs ( FIWE), which was founded in 1993, claims a membership of 15,000 entrepreneurs. The federation aims at fostering economic empowerment of women mainly in SME segment, by providing them various assistance.