“The future is in Africa. The future is women. The future is sustainability.”

How was your experience participating in MCB Trade Week?

One phrase really resonated with me: “The future is in Africa. The future is women. The future is sustainability.” It captures the spirit of our times. When we talk about women, we mean integrating both women and men. It’s about more than just gender; it’s about a shared journey. Women are stepping out of traditional roles. I have two companies—one in security technology and the other in waste management. Not typical ‘feminine’ sectors, but they have a broader purpose. The focus is on the impact we can have when we all work together. Regarding Africa, Mauritius plays a strategic role as a hub between Asia and Africa. We’re bilingual—French and English—which makes us attractive to Europe and Asia. And from Africa’s perspective, there’s a certain admira-tion for what we’ve achieved in terms of development. This positioning as a bridge between continents gives us a unique advantage, though there’s still a long road ahead. Africa is the future because it’s where resources and op-portunities lie. But progress has to start with the strong countries, like Rwanda and Kenya, which are leading the way in terms of development. Madagascar, my country of origin, is also evolving. This underscores the need for strategic partnerships and human-focused development.

Africa today is viewed by the world with heart-eyed emojis because it represents so much potential. This is where a lot is happening, and it’s an opportunity for business growth and social development.

The word “sustainability” has come up frequently. How do you relate it to trade in the African con-text?

Sustainability, especially from an African perspective, involves much more than just environmental concerns. It’s about people and humanity. Trade, ultimately, is about people—machines don’t trade, people do. When we focus on sustainability, we create a better world by considering how our actions affect communities, educa-tion, and women’s conditions. Sustainability and trade are complementary in this context. If you trade in a sustain-able way, it has a positive impact on society, making the world a better place. Africa is a land of opportunity, but with that comes a set of challenges.

What are the constraints and opportunities for business in Africa?

Africa can be intimidating due to logistical and safety concerns. Doing business can be complicated, with con-tainers getting stuck or payment in unstable currencies. Logistical issues, like a delayed container, can cause sig-nificant disruptions. And in terms of currency, transac-tions often require dollars or euros, which adds to the cost. But if we only focus on the constraints, we’ll never do anything. The key is to find ways to address these constraints while also identifying opportunities. We should focus on spe-cific markets, countries, or sectors. The Mauritian Asso-ciation of Women Business Leaders has a saying, “Alone, we are invisible; together, we are invincible.” This speaks to the need for collaboration and partnerships, particu-larly when entering new markets. It’s safer to start small and then build on that foundation.