1. Could you start by sharing your vision for Mauritius Finance and how the organization serves as a key driver for the country’s financial services ecosystem?
Mauritius Finance is the apex body representing the financial services industry and related professionals in Mauritius, bringing together more than 190 key players across the value chain. We act as a unified platform for advocacy and dialogue with local and international stakeholders, government bodies, and regulatory authorities.
Our vision is to foster a strong, competitive, and future-ready International Financial Centre (IFC). We believe this is best achieved through a collaborative private-public approach that promotes innovation, ensures policy coherence, and continually strengthens the operating environment. At the same time, we are deeply committed to upholding international best practice standards, which underpins both investor confidence and sustainable sector growth.
This vision is advanced through four core strategic pillars. First, advocacy, whereby Mauritius Finance acts as a collective industry voice in major policy discussion. Second, training and capacity building, with a strong focus on developing future-oriented skills and competencies. Third, visibility of the Mauritius IFC through consistent and coordinated outreach efforts. And finally, industry development, supporting new products growth and building market intelligence to benchmark Mauritius against global financial centres and ensure sustained competitiveness.
2. Mauritius has long been recognized as a trusted international financial centre. How is Mauritius Finance working to further strengthen the jurisdiction’s global competitiveness and reputation for transparency?
Mauritius Finance plays a central role in strengthening the jurisdiction’s competitiveness and reinforcing its reputation for transparency and good governance. We work closely with both domestic stakeholders and international partners to position Mauritius as a trusted IFC with investment-grade credentials, a strong legal framework, and high regulatory standards.
Through workshops, industry consultations, and technical working groups, we continuously highlight the robustness of our regulatory architecture and our commitment to fair and transparent treatment for investors and corporations alike. At the same time, we actively support the introduction of new financial products and services to maintain dynamism within the IFC.
Capacity building is a priority area. Our initiatives in compliance, AML/CFT, governance and risk management ensure that market participants possess the technical expertise required to meet evolving international standards. These continuous upskilling anchors Mauritius’ credibility as a jurisdiction committed not only to growth, but to responsible and transparent financial intermediation.
3. The global financial landscape is rapidly changing, with new regulations, ESG imperatives, and digital innovation. How is Mauritius adapting to remain at the forefront of these developments?
The financial landscape is undergoing profound transformation, and for Mauritius, adaptation is not optional; it is strategic. In the face of intensifying competition among international financial centres, our objective is to consolidate Mauritius’ role as a hub for Africa-focused funds, cross-border investments, and wealth management.
Mauritius is pursuing a deliberate strategy to modernise and diversify our product offering. Segments such as fintech, virtual assets, sustainable finance, family offices, private wealth services, and capital markets represent significant future growth channels. To support this, the adoption of the Virtual Assets and Initial Token Offering Services (VAITOS) Act 2021 demonstrates our proactive regulatory stance, providing a clear and secure framework for innovation in digital finance.
Digitalisation and ecosystem collaboration are also key priorities. Regulators, financial institutions, and technology firms are increasingly working together to design solutions aligned with both investor expectations and global regulatory norms. This positions Mauritius not merely as a participant in financial innovation, but as a forward-looking jurisdiction actively shaping it.
4. Could you elaborate on some of the key policy or regulatory reforms that have recently been introduced to enhance investor confidence and ease of doing business?
Mauritius has pursued a series of reforms aimed at reinforcing investor confidence while improving the ease of doing business in the jurisdiction. A central focus has been the accelerated development of fintech and virtual assets, anchored by the VAITOS Act 2021. This framework places Mauritius among the select jurisdictions adopting a sophisticated, risk-conscious approach to financial innovation.
Operational efficiency is another major thrust. Regulatory authorities and government agencies constantly aim at improving Ease of Doing Business and are increasingly digitising processes, streamlining administrative procedures, and enhancing KYC and consent mechanisms. These improvements directly reduce friction for investors and service providers and bring Mauritius in line with the world’s leading financial hubs.
In parallel, Mauritius has strengthened its regulatory regimes for wealth management, family offices, and fintech activities, while aligning compliance standards with evolving international expectations. The overarching priority is to ensure that Mauritius remains credible, competitive, and investor-friendly, without compromising on regulatory integrity.
5. Mauritius and the UAE have developed strong economic and financial ties over the years. How do you see opportunities for greater collaboration between the two jurisdictions, particularly in areas like fintech, funds, and wealth management?
Mauritius and the UAE share a high degree of strategic alignment in their economic vision. Dubai serves as a leading global platform for commodity trading, capital raising, and corporate structuring, while Mauritius operates as a trusted and stable hub for investment flows into Africa, one of the world’s fastest-growing regions, and other emerging markets.
Mauritius’s investment-grade sovereign rating, reaffirmed by Moody’s in July 2025, highlights the country’s economic stability, legal certainty, and fiscal appeal. These fundamentals position Mauritius as a natural partner for UAE-based entities seeking to expand their presence across Africa and beyond.
The signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in July 2024 between Mauritius and the UAE further cements this partnership. Capital, expertise, and cross-border investment vehicles can now move seamlessly between both jurisdictions. While Mauritius channels significant FDI into Africa, an increasing number of African entrepreneurs and funds are now leveraging UAE’s financial centres as a cross-border investment and financing hub. This synergy between the Mauritius IFC and UAE’s various financial centres creates unique opportunities for value creation across both ecosystems.
MIFC is poised as an unparalleled platform for domiciling cross-border investment vehicles targeting high-growth African and Asian markets. In terms of funds and wealth management, significant opportunities lie in fostering partnerships with UAE-based family offices and VCs. This collaboration can be strengthened by leveraging Mauritius’ experience in fund structuring, investment vehicles, and Africa-focused strategies, alongside the UAE’s strong base of institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals seeking diversified international exposure. Mauritius offers a stable, transparent, and internationally compliant platform that complements the UAE’s role as a capital origination hub.
6. As global investors look toward Africa, Mauritius often serves as a bridge for capital flows into the continent. What advantages does the Mauritian IFC offer in facilitating these investments securely and efficiently?
Mauritius has long been recognised as a secure and efficient platform for channelling investments into Africa. This is underpinned by a combination of political stability, a strong rule of law, and a well-regulated financial system grounded in international norms.
The country benefits from an extensive network of 46 tax treaties and multiple investment protection agreements, offering investors predictability and security for cross-border investments. Today, approximately 450 Africa-focused private equity funds are domiciled in Mauritius, and nearly USD 40 billion has been invested into African economies through Mauritian structures.
Furthermore, Mauritius’s membership in regional blocs such as SADC and COMESA provides access to a market of more than 750 million people. These elements collectively position Mauritius as an efficient conduit for investors seeking both opportunity and security in Africa.
7. How is Mauritius Finance supporting the integration of sustainability and ESG principles within the local financial services industry?
Sustainability is no longer an auxiliary theme; it is increasingly central to financial strategy. We have identified sustainable finance as a key lever of growth and differentiation for the Mauritius IFC.
Our initiatives are focused on both capacity building and framework development. This includes strengthening awareness of ESG principles, encouraging green product innovation, and working with stakeholders on taxonomies and disclosure standards aligned with international best practices. We are also actively supporting initiatives related to green bonds, climate finance, and transition-aligned investment vehicles. Through these combined efforts, Mauritius aims to position itself as a credible contributor to the global sustainability and climate agenda.
8. Digital transformation is reshaping financial ecosystems worldwide. How is the Mauritian financial centre embracing fintech, digital assets, and innovation-led growth?
Mauritius has embraced digital transformation as a central pillar of future competitiveness. The VAITOS Act 2021 provides a comprehensive framework governing virtual asset service providers, token offerings, exchanges, custodian, and brokerage services. This legislation creates clarity and confidence for innovators and investors in the digital asset space.
Complementing this, the Regulatory Sandbox and Innovation Hub enables pilot projects and experimental fintech solutions, many of which are designed for scalable deployment in African markets. Digitalisation of processes such as KYC acceleration and electronic trade documentation remains an explicit national priority, meaning investors benefit from increasing operational efficiency and transparency.
9. Talent development and capacity building are crucial for sustaining competitiveness. What initiatives is Mauritius Finance leading to nurture future professionals in the financial services sector?
Human capital is at the heart of any successful financial centre. Mauritius, like many jurisdictions, faces a shortage of specialised skills in areas such as fund administration, compliance, fintech, and risk management. Mauritius Finance is therefore prioritising initiatives aimed at strengthening the talent pipeline.
Our strategy includes the development of specialised training programmes aligned with industry needs, improved incentives to encourage young professionals to join the industry, and policies to attract foreign expertise and encourage members of the Mauritian diaspora to return. These initiatives are essential to supporting the industry’s move up the value chain, particularly as more sophisticated activities take root within the IFC.
10. Finally, what message would you like to share with Khaleej Times readers about Mauritius’s evolving role as a strategic, reliable, and forward-looking international financial hub for the region and beyond?
Mauritius has built a strong reputation as a trusted and forward-looking international financial centre, grounded in regulatory robustness, macroeconomic stability, and deep connections across Africa and Asia. Today, the country already serves as a preferred platform for cross-border investments across these regions and is well positioned to become an indispensable financial hub linking both continents.
The focus going forward is on innovation, adaptation, and responsible growth. We will continue to integrate regulatory excellence, economic diplomacy, and smart branding to reinforce the Mauritius IFC’s global standing. To global investors and partners in the UAE and beyond, my message is simple: Mauritius is open, reliable, and ready to support the next generation of financial opportunities.
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