• Mauritius launches national AI strategy and ethical FAIR guidelines

• Plan targets infrastructure, skills, governance, and sector adoption

• Government aims to position country as regional AI hub

Mauritius officially launched its national artificial intelligence strategy on Thursday in Phoenix, alongside the FAIR guidelines, an ethical framework built around fairness, accountability, inclusivity and integrity.

Led by the AI Unit with support from the United Nations Development Programme, the initiative aims to guide AI adoption and position it as a driver of economic and social transformation.

The strategy, titled "AI for Mauritius" (AIM), sets out key pillars including the development of digital infrastructure, skills building, innovation, governance and the adoption of AI across sectors. The goal is to provide a coherent framework enabling public and private actors to deploy solutions at scale while ensuring responsible and secure use of the technology.

The government aims to position Mauritius as a regional AI hub, particularly for small island developing states. The strategy presents AI as a strategic infrastructure that can improve productivity, optimize decision-making and boost competitiveness. It is also expected to modernize public services, support the climate transition and drive innovation in sectors such as finance, health and education.

The initiative falls under the "Digital Transformation Blueprint 2025–2029," the government's roadmap to accelerate growth, modernize public services and improve well-being. It builds on solid foundations: Mauritius ranked first in sub-Saharan Africa in 2024 in the Government AI Readiness Index by Oxford Insights, with a score of 53.94 out of 100.

The next challenge is implementation. Success will depend on the country’s ability to build local skills, mobilize investment and ensure inclusive adoption. The objective is not just to adopt AI, but to make it a lasting engine of growth while balancing innovation, technological sovereignty and citizen protection.

Samira Njoya