blink, Mauritius’ leading digital payments platform by the pioneering telecom major Emtel Ltd, has welcomed the launch of the National Fintech Strategy 2026–2030. The company has described it as a landmark roadmap that will accelerate innovation, financial inclusion, digital transformation and cross-border economic growth.
The strategy sets out an ambitious vision to position Mauritius as Africa’s trusted hub for FinTech, powered by innovation, inclusion and cross-border collaboration. It outlines a coordinated national approach to strengthening regulatory agility, digital infrastructure, talent development, investment, international partnerships and consumer trust.
Atul Bhatia, Chief FinTech Officer of Emtel, said the strategy arrives at a pivotal moment for Mauritius’ digital economy.
“Mauritius has already built many of the foundations needed to become a leading FinTech jurisdiction – from MauCAS and the national QR infrastructure to PayID, Open Finance and Central KYC – alongside strong financial institutions and a highly connected population. The National Fintech Strategy provides the coordinated framework needed to translate these foundations into long-term competitive advantage. We believe it can be a catalyst for accelerating innovation, attracting investment and creating new opportunities for businesses and consumers alike.”
The strategy identifies several priorities that resonate strongly with blink’s own vision for the future of digital financial services, including improved interoperability, enhanced digital public infrastructure, open finance, faster regulatory pathways, greater adoption of digital payments and increased support for FinTech innovation.
For Atul, true success will be measured less by individual platforms or projects, and more by the behavioural and structural shifts they unlock across the wider economy – from the share of everyday transactions conducted on local payment digital rails, to the confidence with which citizens and businesses transact online.
“We see this as a multi-year journey rather than a single milestone. The real test of progress will be whether digital payments become the default choice for households, businesses and government alike – not the exception. Public sector leadership has an important role to play here: when government services move to electronic collections and payouts, it sets a powerful example that helps normalise digital adoption across the wider economy.”
According to Atul, one of the most significant opportunities lies in expanding access to digital financial services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of the Mauritian economy.
“Digital payments are often the first step in a broader digital transformation journey. When businesses embrace digital transactions, they gain access to data, automation, financing opportunities and new ways to engage with customers. The strategy’s focus on SME enablement, digital lending and financial inclusion has the potential to unlock meaningful economic value across the country – particularly where onboarding is simplified and merchants of every size can accept electronic payments easily and affordably.”
blink also welcomed the strategy’s emphasis on strengthening national digital infrastructure, including payment interoperability, Open Finance, digital identity, CBDC, e-KYC systems and cybersecurity resilience.
“The future of financial services will be built on trusted digital public infrastructure. Innovations such as mobile-based digital identity and alias-based payment directories – allowing people to send and receive money using something as simple as a mobile number, irrespective of the bank or banking and PSP app customer is using – can remove friction from everyday transactions. Initiatives that streamline onboarding, improve interoperability and strengthen cyber resilience will not only benefit FinTech companies, but also improve the experience and security of every Mauritian consumer and business using digital financial services.”
The company noted that the strategy’s commitment to exploring cross-border payment connectivity and greater regional integration aligns with Mauritius’ growing role as a gateway between Africa and international markets.
“Mauritius is uniquely positioned to serve as a bridge between Africa and the rest of the world. By strengthening cross-border payment capabilities and leveraging regional partnerships, the country can play an important role in facilitating trade, investment and digital commerce across the continent.”
blink further welcomed proposals aimed at fostering FinTech talent development, strengthening collaboration between industry and academia, and creating a more innovation-friendly environment through regulatory modernisation and public-private partnerships.
Atul said collaboration would be essential to ensuring the strategy’s success, and pointed to ongoing dialogue with regulators as a model for how industry and government can work together.
“The launch of the National Fintech Strategy is not the finish line – it is the starting point. Delivering on its ambitions will require continued collaboration between government, regulators, financial institutions, FinTechs, academia and the wider private sector. We are encouraged by the spirit of mutual accountability already shaping conversations between industry and regulators, including shared progress reporting and joint roadmaps, and believe this kind of structured, ongoing dialogue will be key to keeping momentum throughout implementation. blink is committed to playing its part in supporting the country’s digital transformation journey and helping build a more innovative, inclusive and globally connected financial ecosystem.”
As Mauritius embarks on the next phase of its digital economy development, blink believes the strategy provides a strong foundation for creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs, attracting international FinTech investment and delivering more accessible, efficient and secure financial services for all Mauritians.
