The Republic of Mauritius has become the twenty-third (23rd) member state of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Africa’s investment grade, infrastructure solutions provider.

Mauritius has continued to register impressive economic progress across the board, including a near fivefold increase in its GDP per capita in the last 30 years.

Additionally, it is consistently one of the highest-ranking countries in Africa in the UN’s Human Development Index.

As the country strives towards moving from a mid-income to a high-income country, its strategy, titled “Achieving the Second Economic Miracle”, places a high emphasis on infrastructure investment, with a particular focus on three of AFC’s sectors on investment: power, transport & logistics.

Following its accession to the membership of AFC on August 21, 2019, the Corporation will therefore engage the Mauritian authorities and private sector on how it can best contribute towards developing the country’s infrastructure, leveraging AFC’s approach to deliver high quality, sustainable infrastructure projects.

The Mauritius Africa Fund (MAF), SBM Group and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) are in discussions with regards to the establishment of an Africa-focused infrastructure and industrialization fund.

The Fund, a Mauritius initiative, will seek to collaborate and mobilize funds from key institutional investors for investment in crucial infrastructure projects and facilitate the setting up of special economic zones across the African continent.

Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC, said: “We are pleased to welcome Mauritius as a Member State of AFC. Through its commitment to promoting private sector-led solutions for its development challenges, Mauritius presents an excellent partnership opportunity for AFC’s mandate to develop and finance infrastructure, natural resource and industrial assets for enhanced the productivity and economic growth of African states. We look forward to significantly contributing to Mauritius’s growth story.”