A Digital Hub in the Indian Ocean? The PGP Research Team in Mauritius

How do small island states position themselves in an increasingly fragmented and digital world? For the past ten weeks, Research Team II of the IDOS Postgraduate Programme (PGP) has been exploring this question in Mauritius.

Under the leadership of Dr Benedikt Erforth and Dr Hangwei Li, the team has been analysing the country’s international digital cooperation – with a particular focus on partnerships with China, India and the EU.

In collaboration with Dr. Roukaya Kasenally, Dr. Gundeea Narrainen, and Keshyana Ackiah from the University of Mauritius, the team examined three key areas:

• the EU’s role in drafting the 2017 Data Protection Act,
• the “Safe City” surveillance project in cooperation with Huawei,
• and the introduction of India’s UPI and RuPay payment systems.

More than fifty interviews with decision-makers from politics, business, academia, and civil society have provided a nuanced view of the island state’s digital transformation. Initial findings were presented at a high-level expert workshop on April 16 in Cyber-City Ebène: “Mauritius’ Digital Transformation in a Multipolar World”. Guests included the Minister of Information Technology, Dr. Avinash Ramtohul, and former Foreign Minister Jean Claude de l’Estrac.

Takeaway? Mauritius is increasingly navigating a field of competing geopolitical interests – and faces the challenge of leveraging digital partnerships strategically without becoming dependent. Discussions with experts and policymakers make it clear: it takes more than infrastructure to become a digital leader. What matters is how Mauritius shapes its own digital future – with a clear strategy, strong institutions, and local innovation.

The final research report will be published in June 2025.