Key Business Sectors
Mohéli’s economy, while traditionally modest, has several key sectors that are ripe with opportunity and central to the island’s development strategy. Below is an overview of these sectors and why they are attractive:
Agriculture & Agro-Processing
Agriculture is the backbone of Mohéli’s rural economy. The island’s fertile soil produces world-class vanilla, ylang-ylang (for essential oils), cloves, coffee, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Opportunities exist not just in farming but in agro-processing – adding value to these products before export. For example, investors can look into setting up facilities to cure vanilla locally, distill ylang-ylang oil, or produce packaged spices and jams. There’s a growing global demand for organic and fair-trade products, and Mohéli’s largely organic traditional farming methods give it an edge in these niche markets. The government supports this sector through cooperatives and is improving infrastructure like farm-to-market roads and cold storage, making it a promising sector for sustained growth.
Fisheries & Blue Economy
Surrounded by rich marine life, Mohéli has a thriving artisanal fisheries sector. Fish like tuna, grouper, and snapper, as well as seafood like octopus and lobsters, are abundant. Investment in modernizing this sector – such as better boats, sustainable fishing gear, and processing units for fish drying or canning – could increase yields and exports while preserving stocks. Additionally, the broader “blue economy” concept opens avenues like aquaculture (fish or seaweed farming), eco-marine tourism (diving, whale watching enterprises), and marine biotechnology (researching medicinal compounds from sea organisms). Mohéli’s marine park provides a model for sustainable use of marine resources, balancing conservation with fishing livelihoods. Businesses that align with sustainable practices will find community and government support.
Tourism & Eco-Tourism
As highlighted, tourism is a key sector for Mohéli, focusing on eco-tourism and cultural tourism. The island’s unspoiled beaches, marine park, and friendly villages offer a canvas for a tourism industry that can significantly boost the economy. From accommodations to tour operations and transport services, tourism touches many business opportunities. Mohéli aims to avoid mass tourism and instead pursue a model that emphasizes low-impact, high-value tourism – attracting travelers who will spend on local guides, crafts, and extended stays. This means that smaller businesses can thrive; one does not need a huge resort to succeed in Mohéli’s tourism sector. Even a small guesthouse with authentic experiences can flourish. This sector also stimulates others – agriculture (demand for local food), handicrafts (souvenirs), and transport (taxis, boat services) all benefit from more visitors.
Energy & Infrastructure
With development, infrastructure itself becomes a business sector – private contractors are needed for roads, buildings, and renewable energy installations. As Mohéli rolls out its solar projects and potentially explores wind energy, companies specializing in renewable energy can secure contracts or form public-private partnerships. There’s room for businesses in construction (given housing and public works needs), waste management (services to handle garbage and recycling as the population grows), and transportation (inter-island ferry services, local logistics). These are sectors where the demand will increase as other parts of the economy expand. Already, improvements in the port and airport signal opportunities for logistics companies and those that provide auxiliary services (shipping agents, cargo handlers, etc.).
Financial Services & Fintech
With the advent of offshore services on Mohéli, a cluster of financial service businesses is emerging. This includes not only offshore banks and brokers, but also local firms providing support – accounting, legal advice, compliance consulting, and fintech solutions. Fintech (financial technology) is a particularly exciting sub-sector; Mohéli’s regulators have shown openness to innovation (e.g., issuing crypto-related licenses ), so a startup that might develop a mobile payment app, a remittance platform targeting the Comorian diaspora, or a blockchain-based service could find a sandbox environment here. The local population is increasingly adopting mobile money (already present in Comoros), so tech-savvy entrepreneurs can ride the digital wave to offer new financial products (like micro-insurance via mobile or agricultural finance apps).
