Leading Mauritius into the Intelligence Age
Mauritius is prepared for AI, but real progress toward becoming a Smart Island now depends on leadership. By starting with practical, high-impact uses of AI to improve speed, efficiency, and decision-making, leaders can unlock immediate value while building the foundation for long-term transformation.
Mauritius’s AI Readiness: A Strong Foundation
Mauritius has made significant strides in positioning itself as a leader in AI readiness. According to the 2024 Government AI Readiness Index by Oxford Insights, Mauritius ranks 61st globally and first in Africa, ahead of Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia, and Rwanda (source). This reflects the country’s sustained investment in governance, infrastructure, and strategic policy to support emerging technologies.
The Mauritius Artificial Intelligence Strategy, launched in 2018, laid the groundwork for this progress. It called for the creation of the Mauritius Artificial Intelligence Council (MAIC) to oversee implementation, foster collaboration, and measure socio-economic impact (source). The strategy also emphasized capacity building, ethical frameworks, and data protection.
Image Source: Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index (pdf)
The Leadership Imperative in the Intelligence Age
While infrastructure and regulatory readiness are essential, business leaders have a critical role to play. AI presents an opportunity to accelerate growth, sharpen competitiveness, and reimagine how work gets done. “Leaders need to be actively investing in understanding how AI can make a difference for their company today,” says Dave Duarte, CEO of Treeshake. “The impact of AI over the next 5 years across industries will likely out-pace the changes we’ve seen in the last 20.”
Leadership, in this context, means more than adopting the latest tools. It means fostering a culture of curiosity, clarity, and continuous learning — and aligning AI capabilities with the deeper mission of serving people well. “Smart leaders are investing time to understand how AI could accelerate their mission,” says Duarte. “You need to figure out what problem you’re solving before you just throw AI at it.”
Four Phases of AI Adoption: A Framework for Action
To guide organisations through the evolving journey of AI integration, Duarte outlines a four-phase model of adoption:
Efficiency Gains – Quick wins that reduce friction, save time, and build confidence
Operational Integration – Embedding AI into workflows and decision systems
Strategic Differentiation – Using AI to create competitive advantages
Organisational Transformation – Rethinking models, roles, and capabilities for the Intelligence Age
“Start with what saves time and builds trust,” says Duarte. “Then move from automation to advantage.”
Quick Wins Across Key Sectors: Phase One in Action
Each industry in Mauritius has access to high-impact, low-friction AI use cases. These efficiency gains are the best starting point — delivering measurable ROI while preparing teams for deeper transformation.
In financial services, AI-powered chatbots and onboarding automation cut wait times and improve customer experience.
In tourism and hospitality, review analysis tools instantly surface guest sentiment, allowing quicker service adjustments.
For manufacturing, computer vision enhances quality control by spotting defects early and reducing waste.
In ICT and BPO, ticket triage and transcription tools reduce turnaround times and improve team capacity.
In real estate and construction, AI-assisted property valuations provide faster pricing insights for agents and investors.
In FMCG and retail, AI-driven inventory forecasting helps reduce stockouts, manage cash flow, and improve service.
And in general business operations there are a range of productivity boosts. Tools like Microsoft Copilot, Gemini and ChatGPT can provide sythesised information so quickly that expectations are shifting, yet intelligent use is necessary. Meeting software like Otter seems like an obvious win - transcribing discussions, generate summaries and help teams focus on what matters most. These quick wins form the foundation for longer-term strategic innovation and transformation.
One major consideration that companies leaders have is data privacy and security. These are substantial and need to be addressed one vendor at a time. In addition to that, the security risk posed by hackers equipped with AI to enhance their attacks is increasing, and there’s a need for an equivalent response in defense.
Why AI Is Worth It: Speed, Scale, and Smarter Decisions
Rising consumer expectations are putting pressure on every sector to move faster, deliver more, and do so intelligently. According to Mastercard’s 2024 retail insights, technology adoption is critical to meeting growing customer demand for real-time, personalised service (source). The same is true across financial services and BPO, where clients expect immediacy, reliability, and tailored engagement.
“Every improvement in speed creates margin — whether that’s financial, emotional, or operational,” says Duarte. “AI is the only way to deliver personalisation at scale without blowing up your cost structure.”
Building a Smart Island Requires Smart Leadership
The Smart Island vision is not about plugging in more tech. It’s about applying intelligence — human and artificial — to solve real challenges and build a more livable, inclusive society.
“AI without strategy is just noise at scale,” says Duarte. “If your goals aren’t clear, the smartest algorithm in the world can’t help you.”
As Vrigesh Futta, Director at the Mauritius Emerging Technologies Council, notes: “The incredible impact of Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence on our society is the next step in corporate-customer and government-citizen relationships.” (source). Leaders must be ready not just to manage change, but to communicate it, connect people to purpose, and make ethical calls under uncertainty. That’s where the real leverage lies.
Mauritius has every reason to lead in this next chapter. With a digitally literate population, strong institutions, and a clear policy vision, the foundations are in place. But smart policy alone won’t get us there — it’s smart leadership that will take us forward. “The Intelligence Age will be defined by the leaders who show up, not with hype, but with clarity, courage, and a deep sense of responsibility.” — Dave Duarte, CEO of Treeshake
This article serves as a primer for participants in the upcoming “AI Strategy for Leaders” course, delivered in partnership with the KIP Center Mauritius. It offers a foundation for understanding the strategic role of leadership in unlocking AI’s potential across the island.