1. Could you introduce Standard Chartered Mauritius and explain its strategic role within the Group’s global network spanning Asia, Africa, and the Middle East?
At Standard Chartered, our network is our key differentiator. Combined with our deep understanding of local markets, it enables us to deliver tailored solutions to multinational corporates, local corporates and financial institutions, including investors, insurers, banks and sponsors, as they trade, invest and expand across borders.
We support multinational companies from Europe and the Americas in accessing growth opportunities in emerging and frontier markets through our global hubs in the UAE, London, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong and Mainland China. In this sense, we are very much a super-connector bank.
Standard Chartered recognises the strategic importance of Mauritius as both a gateway to the African continent and an anchor market for our Sub-Saharan Africa operations. Mauritius is uniquely positioned between Africa and Asia, making it the International Financial Centre of choice for these corridors. We are closely aligned with the country’s vision of being the “Gateway to Africa and Asia.”
Our Mauritius franchise has a distinctive value proposition. We are the only global bank in Mauritius with a presence in nine other African countries, combining strong local insight with international capabilities to maximise value across our network.
2. Standard Chartered has a long-standing presence in Mauritius. How does the bank support multinational corporates, financial institutions and investors operating across Africa, Asia and the Gulf?
We offer a world-class product suite across cash management, custody, transactional banking, financial markets and trade. Our digital solutions include best-in-class cross-border payments, with unmatched speed and reach.
Sustainable finance is also an increasingly important focus in Mauritius, and Standard Chartered is recognised as one of the leading voices in this space.
Our brand promise, Here for good, is central to how we operate. The Bank is frequently consulted for thought leadership, reflecting our long-term commitment to economic and social development in the markets we serve.
3. Mauritius is positioning itself as a leading International Financial Centre. What role does Standard Chartered play in facilitating cross-border trade, investment flows and treasury solutions through the IFC?
Over the past three decades, Mauritius has successfully positioned itself as a gateway to Africa and Asia, supported by a legislative framework that has attracted international capital through the Mauritius International Financial Centre (MIFC).
Standard Chartered Mauritius is closely aligned with this strategy, acting as a key connector and leveraging our strong network to help clients access opportunities across the continent.
Historically, capital flows were primarily from Europe and the US into Africa and Asia. Post-COVID, we are increasingly seeing Asia-to-Africa flows, particularly in sectors such as mining, diversified industrials, infrastructure, oil and gas.
Today, the Mauritius IFC hosts over 20,000 Global Business Companies and close to 1,000 funds, managing assets under management exceeding $1 trillion. Many of these entities, while headquartered abroad, have established a physical presence in Mauritius. A significant number bank with Standard Chartered Mauritius, as well as with Standard Chartered in other jurisdictions.
4. Digitisation is transforming transaction banking and corporate finance. How is Standard Chartered leveraging technology to enhance cash management, trade finance and FX services in Mauritius?
Over the past five years, we have invested approximately $300 million in upgrading our technology platforms and incubating Africa-based ventures.
Our digital solutions include industry-leading cross-border payments, with an unmatched focus on speed and reach. Our award-winning Straight2Bank platform enables fast and efficient transaction banking, while our FX capabilities continue to support clients in managing their currency exposures effectively.
Mauritius was also the first country in Africa to implement our Liquidity Management digital platform in 2013, supporting regional treasury centres, underscoring our long-standing commitment to innovation in the market.
5. Sustainability is a key global priority for Standard Chartered. How are ESG principles and sustainable finance embedded into your local operations and client solutions?
Sustainability is strategically embedded in how we do business and underpins our Here for good brand promise. It is integral to our client offering across all segments and represents a key growth driver, given our access to sustainable growth opportunities across our markets.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to sustainable finance, particularly for small island states that face both climate vulnerability and debt challenges, while also possessing rich biodiversity and strong transition potential. Mauritius is no exception, and tailored solutions are essential.
With our long-standing presence in Mauritius, close relationships with local stakeholders, strong connectivity across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and the innovative mindset of our teams, we are well positioned to deliver.
We were privileged to support the Government of Mauritius in issuing its inaugural Sustainable Finance Framework in 2023, providing a reference for green, social and sustainability-linked instruments. More recently, we acted as Sustainability Coordinator for MCB’s inaugural sustainability-linked loan in 2024, a $400 million transaction that was oversubscribed 1.12 times.
This momentum reflects the growing enthusiasm for sustainable finance in Mauritius, and we remain committed to supporting its continued development.
6. Risk management and regulatory compliance are critical in international banking. How does Standard Chartered ensure resilience, cybersecurity and trust in an increasingly complex environment?
Banks have always played a vital role as connectors, between borrowers and lenders, risk takers and the risk averse, traders and merchants, and central banks and citizens.
Our priority is to embed security into innovation, rather than treating it as an afterthought. We are building secure-by-design platforms, integrating controls and vulnerability detection throughout the software development lifecycle.
We have also embedded Chief Information Security Officers within our business teams, ensuring alignment on cybersecurity risks and enabling us to move early in areas such as digital assets. Security is designed as a business enabler, extending to how we manage third parties and vendors across our ecosystem.
7. As Chairperson of the Mauritius Bankers Association, what are your key priorities for strengthening collaboration and supporting financial stability?
My priorities centre on collaboration, competitiveness and stability. The banking sector is the engine of the Mauritius International Financial Centre and must maintain high compliance standards to support Africa-facing finance.
The MBA is focused on strengthening industry collaboration, accelerating digital transformation, including digital KYC and biometrics, advancing ESG and sustainable finance frameworks, and safeguarding the competitiveness of the MIFC while managing regulatory and cost pressures.
These priorities align closely with the objectives of the Bank of Mauritius in mobilising capital, adopting innovation and strengthening institutions.
8. How is the Mauritius Bankers Association working with regulators to support innovation and responsible growth?
The MBA works closely with the Bank of Mauritius and other authorities. Key initiatives include engagement with the Innov8 Innovation Hub launched in 2024, contributing to regulatory consultations on digital banking and virtual assets, and supporting the national Digital Transformation Blueprint for 2025–2029.
We also place strong emphasis on talent development, industry training and public awareness campaigns focused on digital literacy and cybersecurity.
9. The UAE and the wider Gulf region are strategic markets for Standard Chartered. How does this expertise support clients investing into Mauritius and Africa?
The UAE and wider GCC play a central role in connecting capital, trade and expertise across Africa. We support Gulf-based clients investing into Africa while equally enabling African corporates and investors to access opportunities across the GCC and globally.
Mauritius plays an important role within this ecosystem, particularly for cross-border structuring and Africa-focused investment strategies. Our teams across regions work closely to deliver seamless execution and strong local insight.
What differentiates us is our ability to connect ecosystems, not just individual markets, helping clients manage complexity, mitigate risk and pursue sustainable growth.
10. Finally, what message would you like to share with Khaleej Times readers about Standard Chartered Bank Mauritius’s role in global connectivity and economic development?
Standard Chartered is a global bank connecting corporate, institutional and affluent clients to a network that provides unique access to sustainable growth opportunities across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
As a super-connector deeply rooted in Africa, we continue to link African markets to each other and to the world, while helping international clients unlock the Africa opportunity.
With our combined network, heritage, capabilities and local expertise, we are a trusted partner supporting businesses, individuals and communities to drive progress, prosperity and long-term value for generations to come.
.png)
