“For established Mauritian companies seeking growth, the natural direction is Africa ”

What are the key takeaways from the MCB Trade Week?

We must collaborate with our partners and clients to find solutions for Africa by Africa. These solutions must be sustainable; there’s no other option. The next phase of the century must be sustainable, with African countries working together to achieve this goal. The word that came up repeatedly during the Trade week was ‘sustainability’.

How do you connect trade with sustainability?

Sustainability and trade are intertwined. It involves pro–ducing goods with a low carbon footprint. We need to source materials sustainably, manufacture and convert them with minimal environmental impact, and ensure that the final product has the lowest carbon footprint possible. At the same time, we must incorporate the so–cial aspect of sustainability into the equation.

An example I like is a Mauritian merchant company op–erating in Madagascar. Rather than bringing in a lot of capital-intensive equipment and dominating the market, they chose a more sustainable approach. They invested in local production, involving the community in grow–ing maize, which is then used to feed poultry. This is a great example of sustainable business practices within Africa, for Africa.

The role of MCB is to support clients through highs and lows, as we’ve done for the past 185 years.

Given the focus on Africa, how important is the continent for MCB and for expats?

Africa is of great significance to us. First, Mauritius is part of Africa, and our clients here are experiencing growth and transition. To ensure a sustainable growth trajectory, Africa is the most logical market for them to expand into. Several large conglomerates are well-established in Mauritius, and Africa is the natural direction for their further growth. Though there are risks, there are also considerable opportunities. As Mauritian companies, they may be more accepted in Africa than European or American firms. MCB’s role is to support these clients through highs and lows, as we have done for the past 185 years. We’re not just about individual deals; we’re partners for the long haul, committed to these companies’ success.

When discussing Africa, we often hear about the challenges and obstacles for entrepreneurs. Does MCB face similar challenges?

 Yes, there are significant challenges in Africa. For instance, there are relatively few banks that meet international standards. When we work with clients to confirm a letter of credit, we need to ensure that the bank we’re partnering with is credit-worthy. This is where our market knowledge and experience come into play. We’ve been building relationships with other banks in Africa for many years, giving us the insight needed to navigate these challenges.