What Cap Business Océan Indien does

Cap Business Océan Indien is a non-profit membership association founded in 2005 and headquartered in Ebène, Mauritius, that operates as the primary regional economic cooperation platform for the six island territories of the South-West Indian Ocean (Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, La Réunion, and Seychelles). The association unites 13 member organizations — chambers of commerce and professional federations — representing more than 20,000 businesses, and is led by Executive Director Virginie Lauret with a lean operational team of six staff and a Director Committee chaired by Chamsouddine Ahmed (President of UCCIA Comoros). It was previously known as the Union des Chambres de Commerce et d'Industrie de l'Océan Indien (UCCIOI) and rebranded in 2021 with the Roadmap 2021-2026.

The association's service portfolio is built around the Think-Can-Do methodology (Think: awareness via conference-debate cycles; Can: regional working groups; Do: technical and financial accompaniment of enterprises), and includes the annual Forum Économique des Îles de l'Océan Indien (FEIOI, held since 2005), a regional economic dashboard, a knowledge platform with studies and publications, thematic working groups across five priority sectors (biodiversity, blue economy, circular economy, sustainable tourism, energy and construction, agriculture/agro-industry, connectivity), and project-based coaching programs such as carbon footprint analysis, Business for Biodiversity (B4B), biomass value chain studies, and ecosystem-based adaptation.

The business model is non-commercial: revenue derives from membership dues paid by chambers and professional organizations, plus project-based grants from international development partners — primarily the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the European Union, Expertise France, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), and the ICR Facility. Since 2005 the association has mobilized over €5 million in cumulative financing; the most recent visible grants include a €676,000 AFD B4B award (June 2022), a €270,825 AFD Carbon Footprint Phase 1 (June 2024), a $150,000 CEPF EbA project (July 2024), a €170,000 AFD biomass study (March 2025), and a €100,000 AFD vulnerability analysis (April 2026). There is no equity ownership, parent company, or commercial product revenue stream.

Name

Cap Business Océan Indien

Legal name

Union des Chambres de Commerce et d'Industrie de l'océan Indien

Website

https://capbusiness.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cap Business Océan Indien is a Mauritius-headquartered non-profit association, founded in 2005, that unites 13 chambers of commerce and professional organizations across six Indian Ocean island territories, representing more than 20,000 businesses through regional forums, working groups, and donor-funded sustainability programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Economic Cooperation Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Regional economic cooperation
• Chambers of commerce network
• Private sector development
• Blue economy initiatives
• Sustainability transition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ebène

HQ country

Mauritius

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Chambers of commerce and professional organizations pay membership fees to join the association and access the regional network, resources, and collaborative platforms.
2. Development Partner Funding: The association receives funding from international development partners including AFD, EU, CEPF, Expertise France, and others to implement regional development projects, training programs, and technical assistance.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cap Business Océan Indien is a non-profit regional association that mobilizes the private sector across six Indian Ocean island territories through membership services, the annual FEIOI economic forum, thematic working groups, and project-based accompaniment programs on biodiversity, blue economy, circular economy, sustainable tourism, and low-carbon strategies. The association applies its proprietary Think-Can-Do methodology (Think: awareness/data dissemination; Can: consultation spaces; Do: technical and financial accompaniment) to support member businesses in their sustainability transitions.

Product overview

Cap Business Océan Indien is a regional economic cooperation platform and business membership organization, not a technology product company. Its offering consists of a suite of association services organized around five priority sectors (Biodiversity, Blue Economy, Circular Economy, Sustainable Tourism, Energy & Construction, Agriculture & Agro-Industry, and Connectivity) and four transversal markers (Low-Carbon Strategies, Ecosystem-based Adaptation, Gender Inclusion, and Information Access). The core portfolio comprises: the annual Forum Économique des Îles de l'Océan Indien (FEIOI) as the premier regional economic event; a regional economic dashboard with indicators by territory; a knowledge platform with studies, fact sheets, and publications; project accompaniment services for enterprises (carbon footprint analysis, biodiversity coaching, biomass value chain studies); thematic working groups; the Résîlience Océan Indien conference-debate cycle; and membership services enabling participation in regional cooperation, advocacy, and networking. The organization operates through a Think-Can-Do methodology combining reflection, project co-construction, and technical/financial accompaniment. No software-as-a-product, API, or developer-facing offering has been identified.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forum économique des îles de l'océan Indien (FEIOI) The largest economic gathering in the Indian Ocean region, held annually since 2005, bringing together hundreds of decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and investors to strengthen cooperation between island economies through partnerships, business meetings, and project concretization. The 15th edition was held in Moroni, Comoros in April 2026.
• Membership Services Association membership for chambers of commerce and professional organizations offering participation in regional economic cooperation, advocacy for private sector, networking opportunities, technical and financial support access, coaching and training programs, and regional event participation. Currently 13 member organizations from six territories.
• Tableau de Bord Économique Régional A regional economic dashboard presenting key indicators by territory, sector, and thematic area including economic outlook, transversal markers (circular economy, biodiversity, information access), and priority sectors (sustainable tourism, blue economy, connectivity, energy and construction, territorial vulnerability).
• Ressources (Knowledge Platform) A knowledge-sharing platform providing studies, technical fact sheets, podcasts, videos, publications, and analytical tools on regional economic development themes including agriculture, biodiversity, connectivity, inclusion, and tourism.
• Regional Projects Portfolio Project portfolio covering five priority sectors and four transversal markers: biodiversity, blue economy, circular economy, sustainable tourism, connectivity, energy and construction, and agricultural agro-industry, with initiatives like carbon footprint analysis, ecosystem-based adaptation, and biomass value chains.
• Thematic Working Groups Thematic regional working groups on circular economy, maritime connectivity, tourism, entrepreneurship, and biodiversity facilitating collaboration between enterprises, professional organizations, and researchers.
• Résîlience océan Indien (Conference-Debate Cycles) A virtual conference-debate cycle dedicated to promoting fair, sustainable, and resilient economic development in the Indian Ocean region, creating a continuum of exchanges around common challenges facing the territories.
• Business for Biodiversity (B4B) Coaching Program A 12-month coaching program integrating biodiversity into business strategy for enterprises in agriculture and tourism sectors across six territories, under the Varuna Programme funded by AFD.
• Carbon Footprint Analysis Program Carbon footprint assessments and reduction plans for enterprises in Mauritius and Madagascar, covering Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions, with Phase 1 covering 50 enterprises and Phase 2 targeting 11 additional enterprises in Comoros and Madagascar.
• Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Project Engaging private sector and CCI networks in climate adaptation through nature-based solutions across Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles, funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund.
• Biomass Value Chain Study An exploratory study of regional biomass product value chains across six Indian Ocean territories for circular economy development, covering woody and lignocellulosic biomass, bioenergy, and food applications.
• Vulnerability Analysis Study A study conducting macro analysis of vulnerabilities and identifying key sectors for inclusive and resilient economic recovery of the southwest Indian Ocean region, covering all six territories.
• Forum Editions Archive Historical record of all FEIOI forum editions (1st in 2005 through 15th in 2026) with downloadable proceedings and summaries of each regional economic forum.
• Newsletter Email-based information service delivering updates on activities, publications, projects, resources, events, and calls for proposals from Cap Business Océan Indien.
• Think-Can-Do Methodology Services Three-pillar service approach: Think (awareness and data dissemination through conference cycles), Can (creation of consultation spaces and working groups), and Do (technical and financial business accompaniment for transition initiatives).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over €5M in financing mobilized for regional economic development since 2005
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Expertise FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Public technical cooperation agency, AFD subsidiary, implementing the Varuna program which includes the Business for Biodiversity (B4B) project. Supports capacity building and policy reinforcement in partner countries.
• Organisation Internationale de la FrancophonieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership agreement signed in 2018 to develop francophone economic cooperation for sustainable development.
• Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFounded in 1850, oldest non-profit institution in Mauritius representing the private sector. Hosted the secretariat from 2012 before inauguration of dedicated office in Ebène in 2019.
• Commission de l'Océan IndienminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Cooperation Agreement signed in 2007 with publication of a White Paper. Regional intergovernmental organization coordinating Indian Ocean cooperation.
• Programme VarunacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner8-project regional program implemented by Expertise France and funded by AFD, with Cap Business Océan Indien managing the Business for Biodiversity (B4B) project.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Smart Africa Alliance: Multi-country African cooperation platform convening governments, private sector and development partners around shared economic and digital agendas; structurally similar to Cap Business as a regional federation-of-members platform coordinating cross-border initiatives.
• Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat: Regional cooperation platform for Pacific island nations, bringing together governments, private sector and civil society on shared economic and sustainability themes; structurally similar to Cap Business's regional convening role for SW Indian Ocean islands.
• Réseau Entreprendre International: International federation of entrepreneur-support associations operating across multiple countries; comparable as a multi-territory association-of-associations model for SME accompaniment, training and coaching programmes.
• Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO): Regional private-sector umbrella for Pacific Island countries, with a mandate broadly comparable to Cap Business's federation role: aggregating chambers and industry bodies across multiple island economies to promote trade, investment and sustainability.
• Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC): Regional chamber-of-commerce network for Caribbean economies; directly comparable as a federation of national chambers and industry bodies coordinating trade, investment and private-sector advocacy across multiple island states.

Broad incumbents

• Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA): Intergovernmental body covering Indian Ocean rim nations with economic, trade and sustainability cooperation pillars. Overlaps with Cap Business on regional economic cooperation but at a much larger, government-led geographic and thematic scale.
• Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat: Regional intergovernmental body coordinating Caribbean Community states; comparable to Cap Business's convening role but at governmental level and across a different island region, illustrating a structurally similar regional cooperation platform.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Global environmental organisation with active biodiversity and marine programmes in Indian Ocean islands. Overlaps with Cap Business on the environmental domain (biodiversity, blue economy, ecosystem-based adaptation) where the association increasingly operates.
• Commission de l'océan Indien (COI): Intergovernmental organisation coordinating cooperation among Indian Ocean island states. Cap Business has had a Cooperation Agreement with COI since 2007 and the two operate in overlapping regional spaces, but COI works at governmental level while Cap Business is private-sector led.

Others

• SmartFish Programme: Regional fisheries cooperation programme implemented under the Indian Ocean Commission, focused on sustainable fisheries and blue-economy themes. Directly comparable on the blue-economy domain within the same SW Indian Ocean region that Cap Business serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CapBusinessOI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cap-business-oi-union-des-chambres-de-commerce-et-d-industrie-de-l-ocean-indien-uccioi
• Instagraminstagram.com/capbusiness.io

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cap Business Océan Indien