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The Mauritian International Financial Centre (MIFC) is central to Mauritius Commercial Bank’s (MCB’s) growth strategy

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Thierry Hebraud

As MCB begins the latest phase of its international transformation, its new CEO, Thierry Hebraud, opens up about the challenges of heading a bank with a dual footprint and talks about how the financial institution has managed to make the most of Mauritius’s International Financial Centre, an important source of the bank’s financial performance

PORT LOUIS, Mauritius, June 10, 2024/APO Group/ — 

In a video interview released in June 2024, MCB’s new CEO, Thierry Hebraud, speaks of his biggest challenge for the bank he heads. MCB’s (https://www.MCB.mu) foray into Africa and the rest of the world, which dates back over a decade, took a new turn these past couple of years, with more than two-thirds of its turnover—and profits—generated outside its home country, Mauritius.

Mr Hebraud’s appointment as the bank’s CEO earlier this year and that of MCB Group’s CEO, Jean Michel Ng Tseung, herald a new turn for the 185-year-old bank, which is rapidly intensifying its operations abroad. The bank’s CEO spoke of his conviction that MCB’s very Mauritian identity is not in question, declaring that “for me, it’s easy to reconcile because we wouldn’t be able to do what we do abroad if we weren’t who we are here in Mauritius”. The fact is, he adds, that “I now have two banks to manageI have a local bank and an international one, and my challenge is to ensure that they can both serve their respective clients in an optimal way locally and internationally, and this is a work in progress”.

Thierry Hebraud went to lengths to stress that the importance given to MCB’s local operations isn’t commensurate with its share of profits generated; “it’s the Mauritian bank that has given the means to the international one to develop, and we can only continue to shine abroad if we continue to lead here in Mauritius. One cannot exist without the other.”

When asked about the source of the bank’s profits abroad, its CEO said it owes a lot to the Mauritian International Financial Centre (MIFC), which positions Mauritius as the hub for financial and commercial flows linking Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the USA with Africa.

The MIFC gives us exceptional visibility and positioning, and we use it in our growth strategy in Africa and beyond

The MIFC gives us exceptional visibility and positioning, and we use it in our growth strategy in Africa and beyond”, he explains, adding that Mauritius’ decision to create an IFC has been the source of much of the country’s economic transformation. “I think Mauritius is the only real IFC in Africa. It has created many opportunities for the country, and there’s still potential to develop that business further”, he concludes on the subject.

Thierry Hebraud also discusses MCB’s positioning in Africa, saying it is a niche market bank very well-known in specific markets such as Oil and Gas and investments by Private Equity Funds. On the former, he says, “MCB is the leading African bank in the sector, and we are not ashamed of this because we acknowledge that Africa needs an energy mix, including fossil fuels. If all the banks were to stop financing fossil fuels, it would severely jeopardise the development capacity of Africa.”

Private Equity is also an area of great potential for MCB in Africa, where the bank is gaining visibility, says its CEO. “We have started to be well recognised in that segment in Africa, taking advantage of the exit of major international banks from the continent. We have become known thanks to our competence and the quality and uniqueness of our offers in that sector”, Mr Hebraud says.

On the home front, Thierry Hebraud says MCB’s commitment to Mauritius’s development remains unwavering.  However, he cautions against focusing solely on short-term returns. He recalls the challenges faced by the textile industry, which initially went through difficult times but ultimately led to the emergence of a middle class in the country. “MCB stood steadfastly by its clients in that sector, and today, the country continues to benefit from it. That’s a good example of how MCB has impacted the overall development of the country.

He says that COVID-19 was another good example of how intricately linked MCB and Mauritius are. MCB and other banks worked closely with the government, and a potentially catastrophic situation was turned around. Today, Mauritius’s economy is thriving.

The CEO adds that MCB has also taken the lead in its commitment to assist the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy by offering lines of credit at preferential rates to help the country adapt to climate change. Mr Hebraud says adaptation is urgent, with beach erosion threatening the tourism industry, currently contributing about 25%, both directly and indirectly, to the country’s GDP. He adds that refocusing on the development of the local economy and reducing Mauritius’ dependency on imports is also an important aspect of MCB’s support to the economy.

This support also takes the form of assistance to what Thierry Hebraud calls “the irrigators” of the economy—Small and Medium Enterprises. He explains how the bank’s different partnerships—Made in Moris and Punch in particular—seek to help connect SMEs to strategic partners so that they can optimise their performance.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd (MCB) Group.

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Aurionpro expands its multi-country transaction banking engagement with Diamond Trust Bank (DTB)

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Aurionpro

Aurionpro’s upgraded iCashpro platform for DTB delivers a unified digital experience across payments, trade, virtual accounts, and real-time reporting, enhancing straight-through processing, visibility, and control for both the bank and its corporate customers

MUMBAI, India, April 30, 2026/APO Group/ –Aurionpro Solutions Limited (www.AurionPro.com) (BSE: 532668 | NSE: AURIONPRO)a global leader in banking technology, announced the expansion and upgrade of its transaction banking engagement with Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), to modernize and enhance the bank’s corporate transaction banking capabilities across multiple countries.

Download Document: https://apo-opa.co/4edHUaC

This multi-country transaction banking upgrade covering Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania aligns with DTB’s intent to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and support growing transaction volumes as it expands its regional corporate banking footprint. DTB continues to focus on building a more agile, ‘digital-first’ banking experience, particularly around payments for its corporate customers across Africa, and is now well positioned to scale these capabilities. As part of its broader transformation agenda, the bank has been steadily investing in platforms that enhance scale, reliability, and service consistency across markets.

Through this partnership, we are proud to lead the next era of transformation in transaction banking, helping DTB enhance operational agility

Aurionpro’s upgraded iCashpro platform for DTB delivers a unified digital experience across payments, trade, virtual accounts, and real-time reporting, enhancing straight-through processing, visibility, and control for both the bank and its corporate customers. By enabling DTB to standardize and scale its transaction banking operations across countries, the platform ensures consistent service levels, stronger control, and improved efficiency. It also supports enhanced user experience, advanced security, and the flexibility to introduce new features as DTB expands its regional transaction banking footprint.

Murali Natarajan (https://apo-opa.co/48trPdk), Managing Director & CEO, DTB Kenya   commented: “We are delighted to strengthen and broaden our partnership with Aurionpro Solutions as part of DTB’s ongoing digital transformation journey across multiple markets. Our focus on innovation, operational excellence, and customer-centricity continues to guide our technology investments. This upgrade strengthens our transaction banking capabilities, enabling us to deliver greater value to our customers through robust digital channels and seamlessly integrated experiences.”

Ashish Rai, Group CEO, Aurionpro Solutions, commented: “We are pleased to deepen our multi-country engagement with Diamond Trust Bank and support the next phase of its transaction banking modernization. As DTB continues to scale across markets, platform resilience and consistency become paramount. Through this partnership, we are proud to lead the next era of transformation in transaction banking, helping DTB enhance operational agility, deliver superior experiences to corporate customers, and create long-term value across geographies.”

He added, “Aurionpro’s iCashpro lays a strong digital foundation for transaction & wholesale banks across the globe to grow their corporate and SME client portfolio today, while creating a clear roadmap for next- generation capabilities in AI-driven insights, advanced automation and API-led connectivity for businesses in Kenya and across Africa.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Aurionpro Solutions Ltd.

 

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Minerals Council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joins African Mining Week (AMW) as South Africa Improves Sectorial Investment Climate

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Energy Capital

Minerals Council CEO to share insights on policy, infrastructure and investment trends shaping South Africa’s mining industry

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 30, 2026/APO Group/ –The upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) conference will feature Mzila Mthenjane, CEO of the Minerals Council of South Africa, as a speaker. Scheduled for October 14 – 16, 2026 in Cape Town, the event will bring together global investors, policymakers and industry leaders, with Mthenjane’s participation highlighting the council’s commitment to engaging international stakeholders and promoting investment across South Africa’s mining sector.

His participation comes at a critical moment as the Minerals Council works closely with government on finalizing the Mineral Resources Development Bill 2025, a policy framework aimed at strengthening the country’s mining investment climate and the sector’s contribution to GDP. According to the council, the revised legislation will support new investment across the value chain as South Africa seeks to mobilize R2 trillion over the next five years to unlock its critical minerals potential.

The policy reforms come amid shifting production trends in the sector. In 2025, South Africa recorded declines in gold and platinum group metals output of 1.9% and 4.1%, respectively. The new regulatory framework is expected to strengthen public-private partnerships and stimulate investment, enabling South Africa to increase production and capitalize on strong global commodity prices. Increased private sector investments is crucial with South Africa seeking targeting to unlock an estimated R40 trillion in untapped iron ore potential as well as maintain its position as the world’s leading producer of chrome and manganese.

At AMW 2026, Mthenjane is expected to outline these trends, providing insights into how the council is contributing to addressing challenges disrupting the sector. Infrastructure and energy costs remain key concerns for industry players. To support the energy-intensive sector, South Africa approved a 35% reduction in electricity tariffs for major ferrochrome producers, helping stabilize an industry that has faced significant cost pressures after electricity prices surged by roughly 900% since 2008.

Logistics constraints are also a priority area for reform. South Africa’s economy is losing an estimated R1 billion per day due to inefficiencies across rail and port infrastructure. As a result, the government is considering measures supported by the Minerals Council to increase private sector participation in logistics. Planned reforms include rail modernization initiatives targeting 250 million tons of freight capacity by 2029, alongside port upgrades and private operator participation aimed at strengthening mineral exports and improving supply chain efficiency.

Beyond infrastructure and policy reforms, the Minerals Council is advocating for stronger exploration investment to support long-term industry growth.

At AMW, Mthenjane is expected to highlight these developments and outline the steps required to reinforce South Africa’s position in the global minerals supply chain. His insights will offer investors and stakeholders a timely perspective on opportunities within the country’s mining sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Seychelles Targets Energy Investment Push as Minister Jérémie Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 as a Speaker

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African Energy Chamber

Seychelles energy minister will speak at AEW 2026, positioning her to highlight reforms, renewable projects and investment opportunities as the island nation advances its transition toward a diversified energy system

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 29, 2026/APO Group/ –Marie-May Jérémie, Minister of Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources for Seychelles will participate as a speaker at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, taking place from October 12–16 in Cape Town. Her participation underscores the country’s growing role in shaping Africa’s small-island energy transition agenda.

Minister Jérémie’s presence at AEW 2026 comes at a critical time as Seychelles accelerates efforts to reduce its heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels. The event provides a platform to attract investment, strengthen policy alignment and showcase bankable projects, positioning the country as a viable destination for private-sector participation in island energy systems.

Seychelles is demonstrating how policy reform and innovation can unlock investment in constrained environments

In May last year, international finance institution the World Bank approved the Renewable Energy Acceleration Program, a seven-year initiative aimed at modernizing the grid and increasing renewable energy penetration to 15% by 2030. The program focuses on unlocking private capital while strengthening transmission infrastructure to accommodate variable renewable energy sources.

Project development is gaining traction in the country, particularly in innovative technologies suited to Seychelles’ land constraints. The 5.8 MW Seysun Lagoon floating solar PV project, developed by independent renewable power producer Qair, is under construction and expected online in 2026.

Alongside renewables, Seychelles continues to pursue upstream opportunities to diversify its economy. The government approved new exploration entrants in 2025 and extended exiting petroleum agreements, while securing an infrastructure partnership with China. Multilateral estimates suggest over $800 million in investment will be required over the next 25 years.

Regulatory reform is central to this transition, with Seychelles introducing an independent power producer framework to open the market to private developers. Standardized power purchase agreements, grid access reforms and strengthened public-private partnership structures are being implemented to improve transparency, reduce risk and accelerate project bankability across solar, storage and emerging wind opportunities.

“Minister Jérémie’s participation highlights the strategic importance of island nations in Africa’s broader energy transition,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Seychelles is demonstrating how policy reform and innovation can unlock investment in constrained environments. Her insights will be critical to advancing dialogue on resilient, low-carbon energy systems across the continent.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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