• Mauritius creates an Artificial Intelligence Unit under the Ministry of ICT and Innovation to coordinate national AI initiatives.

• The country ranks 69th globally in the 2024 AI Readiness Index with a score of 53.94.

• The unit will drive the Digital Transformation Blueprint 2025–2029 and design the national ethical and regulatory AI framework.

Mauritius launched a digital roadmap in May that aims to use technology as a cross-sector modernization tool. Artificial intelligence has emerged as one of the central pillars of this strategy.

The Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation (MITCI) recently announced the creation of an “Artificial Intelligence Unit,” a structure designed to coordinate, develop and deploy AI technologies at the national level.

MITCI attached the AI Unit directly to the ministry to ensure it implements the Digital Transformation Blueprint 2025–2029 and provides a unified vision for all AI-related initiatives. The ministry expects the unit to harmonize projects, prevent fragmented actions and guarantee a coherent approach across public administrations, tech companies and research institutions.

The unit will define an ethical AI framework, design an adapted regulatory environment, train public-sector executives, deploy intelligent automation in government services and structure research partnerships with universities and the local tech ecosystem.

A growing digital environment

The creation of the AI Unit formalizes a trend already underway and provides a more structured governance framework. Mauritius ranks among Africa’s most connected countries, with internet penetration above 80% and rising adoption of online services across the public and private sectors.

The 2024 AI Readiness Index—which assesses governments’ ability to leverage AI in governance, technological infrastructure and data quality—gives Mauritius a score of 53.94 and places it 69th globally. This ranking reflects a progressing ecosystem that still requires stronger institutional mechanisms to advance further.

By centralizing AI governance, the new unit is expected to improve efficiency and coherence. It could accelerate automation in public services, enhance citizen experience and reduce administrative delays. It should also help ensure responsible and inclusive AI development by enforcing compliance with international standards, data protection rules and system reliability requirements.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum