The Minister of Financial Services provided clarification and confirmation of the presence of Mauritius on the Grey List of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF-FATF) and the European Union (EU) Blacklist on Money Laundering and terrorist Financing.

He was initially to argue that the financial sector has grown by 5.2% annually over the past 5 years and accounts for 12% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A sector that, according to him, has developed rapidly, "and which was to be expected to pass under the magnifying glass of international institutions".

The Minister of Financial Services, however, deplores the fact that at "no time" did the EU consult Mauritius or carry out assessments before deciding to place the country on this blacklist. A "unilateral decision" that has, according to him, "germinated many reservations about the method used by the EU". He argues that the government has "put in double whack to restore Mauritius as a financial centre of reputation".

He also referred to the telephone conversation between Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and European Council President Charles Michel to demand that Mauritius be assessed by the EU before the blacklist is effective before 1 October. He argues that "all parties concerned have committed to address the requirements of the FATF ", with a law firm and lobbyists in Europe "engaged to plead our case, explore the way forward and do everything possible to get Mauritius out of this list that will be adopted by the European Parliament".

He also recalled the country's commitment with the EU, European embassies, the mission in Brussels as well as EU member states to obtain an autonomous assessment before 1 October. He added: "The objective is to address the deficiencies noted by the FATF. Five sub-committees have been established to ensure compliance with the five items of the FATF Action Plan . Until August 31, we will have to get developments. »

He concluded that, by the end of September, "with all the measures taken, we will be able to demonstrate to the FATF and the EU the progress made" in order to be able to get off the blacklist. "This is a subject of national importance that requires a collective effort."