1. Could you begin by introducing AXYS Group and the range of services it provides within Mauritius’ financial ecosystem?
AXYS Group is around 30 years old, a fullservice Mauritian financial services group offering investment management, asset management, stockbroking, and corporate services. Historically, we’ve been a facilitator for bridging investment into Africa, both inbound and outbound, into wider developed markets. Building on that heritage, AXYS today provides integrated, endtoend solutions across portfolio management, investment advisory, capital markets, and corporate finance, underpinned by strong governance and a clear purpose: helping clients grow wealth responsibly for the long term. We recently unified the AXYS and NWT brands under one Group identity, signalling clarity, shared values, and our evolution from boutique legacy to a regional platform.
2. Mauritius has evolved into a sophisticated international financial centre. How has AXYS leveraged this environment to build its reputation in wealth management and investment advisory?
We’ve focused on building investment corridors across jurisdictions that are preferred execution venues for investors in Africa and internationally, particularly in the GCC. That’s why we have an FCAregulated presence in the UK and coverage in Switzerland, with Geneva providing a booking centre for GCC and African clients seeking access to developedmarket products. We’ve also established an office in the UAE to service Gulf capital flowing into Africa. Mauritius gives us an edge: transparent regulation, bilingual talent, and a familiar common and civillaw context, often in the same time zone as the GCC, which is critical for realtime execution. Compared with other offshore centres, Mauritius combines timezone alignment and cost efficiency with governance that global investors recognise. As the island strengthens its IFC credentials, including innovation in fintech and sustainable finance, AXYS is well placed to connect Gulf investors to African and Asian opportunities through a MauritiusDubai bridge.
3. As a leading investment firm, how do you balance global investment opportunities with a strong understanding of regional markets such as Africa, the Middle East, and Asia?
It starts with people. We have over 180 professionals in Mauritius, supported by centres of excellence in Switzerland and teams in the Middle East. I grew up in Kuwait and Bahrain and have been based in the UAE for 20 years, so understanding regional nuance is second nature. Operationally, we run a “hubandspoke” model: global products with regional expertise. From Mauritius, for example, we’ve built one of the world’s largest Islamic fundadministration franchises, servicing major Saudi and UAE Islamic investment banks. We complement that human capital with a datadriven, integrated investment model that links portfolio management and capitalmarkets advisory so clients experience continuity across the entire lifecycle. We’re investing in technology to enhance client experience and the quality of insights while maintaining agility and transparency.
4. ESG and responsible investing are gaining traction globally. How is AXYS incorporating sustainability into its investment philosophy and client advisory process?
In Mauritius, sustainability is part of everyday life - being an island sharpens environmental awareness. When we rebranded and restructured, ESG became a boardlevel discussion and is now embedded across our investment criteria, especially in African markets where we regularly interact with DFIs. For us, ESG isn’t a trend; it’s a gateway to investment viability. We integrate ESG into portfolio construction and advice and continue to refine internal policies and reporting. We also see growing client demand in the GCC, including family offices, to align portfolios with sustainability goals. That alignment, combined with our governance discipline, helps channel capital to sectors where impact and performance go handinhand.
5. Many investors view Mauritius as a gateway to Africa and Asia. How does AXYS support these investors in structuring and managing their crossborder portfolios?
With operations in Switzerland, the UAE, the UK and Kenya, we offer multijurisdictional structuring tailored to investor objectives, governance, and tax considerations. Recently, for instance, we helped a Kenyan client investing in Ethiopia set up a structure coordinated from Mauritius and the UAE. This multicentre model lets us manage complexity: fund administration, fiduciary services, and execution, while providing strategic insight and risk management for crossborder portfolios targeting Africa via Mauritius.
6. With financial literacy and inclusivity becoming national priorities, what role does AXYS play in educating and empowering Mauritian and regional investors?
We’re a growing employer in financial services, and education is central to our mission. Each business line runs outreach and training, and we collaborate with publicsector think tanks on industry development. Demand for skilled talent is high; to keep Mauritius competitive, we need to widen the professional pipeline. At AXYS, we invest in humancapital development, technical training, leadership pathways, and crossborder secondments, so that execution quality, governance standards, and client value remain worldclass.
7. Given increasing global regulatory requirements, how does AXYS ensure compliance and transparency while maintaining agility and innovation?
Agility comes from a lean management structure supported by seasoned international nonexecutive directors, such as John HowlandJackson and Sandy Shipton (a key architect of the DIFC and a member of our UAE board). We balance regional understanding with international governance standards, robust risk and compliance frameworks, and clear accountability, so we can innovate without compromising on controls, AML/CFT, or data stewardship. The goal is simple: stay executionfocused while remaining ahead of regulatory expectations.
8. What opportunities do you foresee for greater collaboration between Mauritius and Gulfbased investors, especially those seeking secure and diversified assetmanagement solutions?
Africa remains the last frontier of valueaccretive investment. While developed markets are heavily leveraged with compressed returns, Africa offers real, cashgenerating assets with healthier balance sheets. We’re seeing the GCC lean into these opportunities: renewable energy, infrastructure, logistics, manufacturing, and select privateequity strategies, where AXYS can provide structured access via Dubai and Mauritius. There’s also a strategic alignment on energy, logistics, and food security, and as trade links deepen, familiarity rises. With Africa holding a significant share of critical minerals for future industries, interest from Gulf investors continues to build.
9) Finally, what message would you like to share with Khaleej Times readers about Mauritius’ growing appeal as a financial hub and how AXYS Group is shaping the next chapter of investment management in the region?
At AXYS, we see ourselves as more than a financial services group, we’re a bridge. Anchored in Mauritius, connected through Dubai, we bring together people, capital, and ideas to build a sustainable financial future. Our goal is to create value that lasts for clients, communities, and the regions we serve.
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