In the context of an official visit undertaken on July 31, the Head of Private Sector Operations for Southern Africa at the African Development Bank (AfDB), Mr. Bleming Nekati, and Mrs. Nontle Kabanyane, Country Programme Officer, held a meeting at the Economic Development Board (EDB) to discuss collaboration with Mauritius as part of the agenda to help advance the Africa-focused investment strategies.
At the outset, Nekati stressed AfDB’s keen interest to work in close collaboration with local stakeholders as part of efforts to understand better the needs and ambitions of the local private sector while stressing its intention to support local enterprises keen to expand their footprint on the continent through direct financing, technical support, and regional partnerships.
He further added, “We are in Mauritius to gain a deeper insight into the strategic priorities of its private sector. The African Development Bank remains committed to supporting projects aligned with our “High 5” priorities, targeting critical sectors for transformative growth: Light-up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa. We also look forward to engaging directly with promoters of bankable projects who are seeking financing to scale their initiatives across Africa, while collaboratively leveraging the Bank’s strengths in delivering impactful and sustainable investments.”
The jurisdiction has for long positioned itself as a trusted and neutral gateway to Africa, on the back of a robust, financial and institutional frameworks where the EDB has reaffirmed its dedication to help deepen regional economic integration while, at the same time, leveraging strong connections and bilateral agreements spanning across African markets to support the internationalisation of local businesses.
CEO at EDB Mahen Kundasamy commented, “We would like to establish a close collaboration with the African Development Bank in key development areas where Mauritius needs investment and finance, with this partnership fully aligning with the five strategic pillars of the bank and complements our ambition to positioning the jurisdiction as a launchpad for sustainable and inclusive investment into Africa.”
The visit is believed to set the pace for a new chapter of collaboration between EDB Mauritius and the AfDB, with the shared goal of accelerating development, driving regional integration, and building a prosperous, connected Africa. At the same time, the AfDB serves as a key strategic partner to support local enterprises in tapping into new frontiers by unlocking access to blended finance, de-risking mechanisms, and co-investment opportunities across targeted areas, including green energy solutions, agro-industrial development, healthcare infrastructure, and skills development.
