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Mauritius Unveils Ambitious Five-Year Financial Services Strategy

  • Sep 12, 2025
  • 5 min read

Mauritius is no longer content with being just a player among many in global financial services. Over the past year, it has sharpened its strategy, strengthened its regulatory framework, and doubled down on its connections with Africa. The aim: transform the island into a premier gateway for investment between Africa and Asia, not just in theory, but in measurable growth. Here’s what’s happening—and what investors should watch closely.


A Solid Base: Recent Performance & Economic Resilience

Mauritius’ financial services sector is contributing significantly to its economy. In 2024, financial services accounted for 13.4% of GDP, with gross value added (GVA) rising to nearly 24.8% once indirect and induced effects (e.g. services to support the sector, employment, supply chains) are included.


Within that, the Global Business Licence (GBL) segment alone made up 8.2% of GDP and generated 68.2% of corporate tax revenues in 2024. The sector also contributed tens of thousands of formal jobs: about 36,854 employees in total, with approx. 20,000 direct financial services roles.


Growth has been steady. The International Monetary Fund’s 2025 Article IV report highlighted that Mauritius expanded by 4.7% in 2024, driven largely by its services industries, construction, and tourism. Inflation remains contained.


Strategy 2025–2030: What’s Being Put in Motion

To build on this foundation, Mauritius unveiled in mid-2025 a five-year strategy titled “Rethinking the Future of the Financial Services Industry”. The plan sets ambitious targets: increasing financial sector gross value from USD 1.7 billion in 2024 to USD 2.5 billion by 2030 while improving regulatory efficiency and boosting global competitiveness.


Some of the key pillars:

  • Regulatory reform & ease of doing businessThe strategy includes modernising licensing processes (digitisation), introducing “Known to the Commission” status, implementing e-KYC for international clients, and revamping fee structures. These will help reduce delays and make Mauritius more attractive for global business and fund services.

  • Innovation, fintech & sustainable financeThe Financial Services Commission (FSC) has expanded its fintech innovation hub, regulatory sandbox, and is supporting emerging technologies. Mauritius has updated laws around virtual asset service providers (VASPs) and initial token offerings to align with international AML/CFT (anti-money laundering / countering financing of terrorism) standards.

  • Branding and global partnershipsThe strategy recognises that Mauritius’s edge lies not just in regulation, but in reputation. There are specific initiatives to promote the Mauritius International Financial Centre (IFC) globally, develop a “brand identity,” and strengthen trade and investment linkages, particularly with Africa and Asia.

  • Talent, skills & workforceAuthorities acknowledge that human capital is a constraint. Plans include more training, bursaries, scholarships, diaspora engagement, and expert visa reforms to bring in high-skilled professionals.


Mauritius & Africa: Deepening the Connection

Mauritius is not just looking outward—it’s also doubling down on its role as a bridge for investment into Africa.

  • According to the Economic Development Board (EDB), Mauritius has already facilitated over USD 80 billion in investment stocks across Africa through structures including investment funds and global business companies. It hosts over 900 investment funds, underlining its capacity to channel capital into African markets.

  • The Mauritius Africa FinTech Hub (MAFH) is a key development, enabling collaborations between local and international fintechs, universities, governments, and investors to build cross-border fintech solutions. This ecosystem support helps fintech ventures in Africa tap into Mauritius for regulatory, investment, and operational base.

  • The role of financial institutions like AfrAsia Bank and MCB Group is noteworthy. They already have regional footprints, and they’re being leveraged in Mauritius’s strategy to deepen financial product offerings and drive cross-border financial flows in Africa.


Opportunities & Positive Signals

There are several developments which suggest Mauritius is executing well on its strategy and finding success:

  • Ranking improvements: In the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) published in early 2025, Mauritius climbed two spots, and saw a 15-point increase in its score. It now ranks 58th out of 119 IFCS globally. It is among the top regional financial centres in Middle East & Africa, behind Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Casablanca.

  • ESG / Impact & Wealth Management: Wealth is growing. Mauritius is seeing faster growth in high-net-worth individuals, and the government is encouraging wealth & family offices, ESG reporting and impact investing. Changes in tax incentives (for those offering advisory services, fintech / AI enabled services) are being aligned in the strategy.

  • Regulatory sandbox & fintech innovation: The FSC’s support for fintech through its regulatory sandbox and innovation hub is enabling new services and pilot projects. This supports not just local firms but allows foreign fintechs with Africa-oriented models to test out in Mauritius.


Challenges & What Needs Close Attention

No growth is without friction. Several areas will require vigilance:

  • The decline in growth for some global business companies and funds: metrics show that while some segments like management companies are growing, other segments are seeing stagnation or slight decline.

  • Skills shortages remain real. Technical and regulatory skills, particularly in fintech, data, AI, ESG compliance, are still in high demand. The strategy includes steps to correct this.

  • Regulatory delays / bureaucracy: the strategic plan admits that delays in licensing, account openings, and regulatory approvals remain a constraint. These need systemic fixes to unlock faster growth.

  • External risks: global interest rates, demand from key trading partners, geopolitical risks, climate change (notably droughts or cyclones) are still tail-winds Mauritius must watch carefully. The IMF pointed out that growth could soften in 2025 due to external demand weakening and severe drought


The Road Forward: What Investors Should Watch

For investors, partners, funds and financial service firms that are following Mauritius closely, here are the markers that will signal whether the strategy is working in practice:

  1. Speed of implementation: How fast do regulatory reforms happen? Are licensing delays reduced? Are e-KYC and “Known to Commission” status working in practice?

  2. Product diversification: Are we seeing new fund types (sustainable finance, ESG, virtual assets, token offerings) and are they getting traction?

  3. Intra-Africa deals & partnerships: How many funds/financial entities are using Mauritius as base to invest into Africa? How many cross-border fintech partnerships?

  4. Talent & innovation: Does the fintech ecosystem start producing scale-ups? Are skilled professionals being attracted, and are universities, training institutions feeding the pipeline?

  5. Macro stability: GDP growth vs forecasts, inflation containment, debt sustainability. These will influence investor confidence and cost of capital.


Final Take

Mauritius has spent the past years weaving together policy, regulation, branding and diplomacy to reclaim its place as a financial centre of prominence. The strategy is not exploratory; it is executed with intent.


Where many small-island and IFC jurisdictions struggle with visibility, Mauritius is leaning into its strengths: legal stability, regulatory credibility, financial infrastructure, connectivity with Africa and Asia, skilled workforce, and reputation.


If Mauritius can maintain this momentum, fix its structural bottlenecks, deliver innovations, and stay resilient against external headwinds, it might not just be “a gateway” for Africa-Asia investment. It could become the destination investors think of first.

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