At the initiative of the MCCI: a study to measure the adoption of AI by companies

A national study carried out by the MCCI intends to take stock of the adoption of artificial intelligence in order to guide Mauritian businesses. The launching ceremony took place on July 27 at the MCCI headquarters in Port-Louis.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Mauritius (MCCI), in partnership with the Outsourcing and Telecommunications Association of Mauritius (OTAM) and CAPFOR Mauritius, launched a market study aimed at assessing the level of adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) within Mauritian businesses on July 27. This approach aims to measure not only the current use of these technologies, but also the degree of preparation of organizations and their governance practices.

In his opening speech, the president of the MCCI, Patrice Marie, placed this initiative in the context of the national strategy dedicated to artificial intelligence as well as the measures announced in the 2026-2027 Budget. He stressed that the primary objective of this study is to better understand the expectations of the private sector in order to design actions adapted to the economic realities of the country. According to him, needs differ significantly from one sector to another.

The priorities of an industrial company are not necessarily those of a logistics operator, a hotel establishment, a financial institution or even a retail business. This diversity makes an in-depth analysis essential before setting up training programs or support systems.

For his part, the Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Avinash Ramtohul welcomed this initiative and encouraged companies to actively participate in the survey. He estimated that the debate is no longer about whether to adopt artificial intelligence, but about the modalities of its integration. He also recalled that the different applications of AI raise specific issues, particularly with regard to data protection. He highlighted that tools developed outside Mauritius do not always take into account local privacy requirements.

For her part, Jenny Chan, president of OTAM, observed that artificial intelligence has gradually moved from the status of an emerging subject to that of a strategic issue for economies. However, she noted the absence of precise data on the real level of adoption of these technologies in Mauritian companies, the sectors concerned or the skills available on the market. The study must therefore provide a snapshot of the current situation in order to help companies make their decisions on the basis of concrete information.

The project was then presented by Frédéric Romann, general director of CAPFOR Mauritius. He explained that this study will not be limited to identifying companies