Pension Funds Conference Aims to Boost Quality Investment into Africa
On 15 March 2023, the two-day Pensions Africa conference (#PIAfrica) officially opened at Le Meridien Resort and Spa at Pointe-aux-Piments in Mauritius. The theme for this 6h edition of the Pension Funds and Alternative Investments Africa Conference is ‘Responsible Investing and Diversification Strategies in a Low Growth Environment’ as the world comes out of the #COVID pandemic.
The Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance, Mr Mahen Seeruttun; the Managing Director of the organizer AMETrade, Mr Mahad Ahmed; the President Emeritus and Group Managing Director of the Trade and Development Bank Group, Mr Admassu Tadesse; the Deputy Director and Head, Syndications of the Africa Finance Corporation, Mr Wola Asase; and other personalities were also present at the opening ceremony. Altogether, the event registered more than 200 delegates from 15 countries.
During his opening keynote, Minister Seeruttun emphasized the huge potential of the single market created by #AfCFTA. By 2030, Africa will have a population of 1.7 billion with a combined spending power of about USD 7 trillion.
Playing its role as one of the top Financial Hubs for the emerging continent, the Mauritius International Finance Center (#IFC) has contributed to attract high-quality #FDI for the benefit of the African continent. Currently, nearly 10% of all investments into Africa is structured via the #MauritiusIFC.
“Our mantra, Mauritius for Africa, will continue to fulfil its promise of delivering on the Africa We Want as envisioned in the AU #Agenda2063. We also noted a shift to a more productive, sustainable, and equitable growth through investment in new green and digital technologies.”
Mauritian Minister of Financial Services Mr Mahen Seeruttun
Minister Seeruttun briefly introduced the Variable Capital Companies (#VCC) which should prove to be an attractive structure for various types of Funds. In addition, the Protected Cell Company (#PCC) has proved to be a corporate structure of choice for multinationals with significant footprint across Africa or for Funds wishing to diversify geographically in order to optimize their operations and management.
In line with global #GoodGovernance. Mauritius is drafting an Environmental, Social and Governance (#ESG) Framework to give investors greater confidence and comfort in the Mauritian jurisdiction. On the same note, it might be worth recalling that Mauritius hosted the African Economic Conference by the AfDB in December 2022 to promote climate-smart financing for Africa.