Africa-Press – Mauritius. Vasish Ramkhalawon, Secretary-General of the Insurers Association of Mauritius (IAM), has been appointed to the Board of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO), becoming the first Mauritian in more than fifty years to hold such a position. His appointment marks a milestone for Mauritius, reflecting the nation’s growing influence within Africa’s insurance landscape and its recognition as a leader in regional financial governance. “I look forward to contributing to AIO’s agenda of strengthening insurance markets across Africa, while ensuring Mauritius’ voice is heard in regional policy and governance,” Ramkhalawon remarked.
Founded in 1972 in Mauritius, the AIO is a prominent non-governmental organization recognized by numerous African governments as the representative body for the continent’s insurance sector. Despite Mauritius being its birthplace, no Mauritian has served on its board for over five decades. Ramkhalawon’s nomination fills that historical gap, signaling both the maturity of the Mauritian insurance market and its ambitions to play a more proactive role in African financial services and regulatory cooperation.
With years of experience in the insurance and financial sectors, Vasish Ramkhalawon has served on several boards and national committees. Before joining the IAM, he worked as a National Consultant for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a Mission Officer for the World Bank in Mauritius and Seychelles, and as a senior executive across various local and international institutions. As Founder and Secretary of the Africa Network of Insurers Associations (ANIA), he has been instrumental in promoting digital transformation, improving corporate governance, and fostering best practices across the insurance industry. His new AIO role will allow him to contribute to crucial pan-African themes such as market penetration, regulatory harmonization, and cross-continental partnerships.
For Mauritius, this appointment provides enhanced visibility within regional networks and a stronger positioning as a hub for insurance and reinsurance in Southern Africa and beyond. It also underscores the country’s strategic ambition to leverage its expertise and regulatory framework to support financial integration across African markets.
In the coming months, Vasish Ramkhalawon will engage with regulators and insurance associations across the continent, leading initiatives aimed at raising industry standards and driving innovation. His priorities include advancing digital transformation, enhancing consumer protection, and promoting Mauritius’s strategic advantages as a model for regional development. “The continent faces many challenges in the insurance space — low penetration, fragmented regulation, emerging risks,” he said. “But there are also great opportunities in innovation, collaboration, and capacity-building. I am excited to work with my peers across Africa to build stronger, more inclusive insurance ecosystems.”
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