The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has opened its 5th International Conference in Mauritius, a three-day gathering that brings together corporate governance leaders from across the India–Africa corridor. Running from 3 to 5 August 2026, the event is themed “Strengthening Governance in VUCA World” and features a roster of government and industry speakers, including Dr the Hon Mrs Jyoti Jeetun, Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning, and Anurag Srivastava, High Commissioner of India to Mauritius.
Dr Jeetun set the tone in her opening remarks, arguing that resilience must be embedded in boardroom strategy. “Growth without resilience is fragile. Boards must evolve from compliance to adaptive strategies,” she said. Her comments reflect a broader shift in governance thinking, as companies face volatile geopolitical conditions, supply chain disruptions, and rapid technological change.
Srivastava reinforced the role of company secretaries as “strategic enablers of investment and cross-border commerce,” highlighting the growing economic ties between India and Mauritius. The conference’s location is no accident: Mauritius has positioned itself as a gateway for investment into Africa, and its financial services sector is a key pillar of that strategy.
Agenda tackles geopolitics, AI, and regulation
The conference program includes sessions on “Geopolitics and Risk Oversight in Boardrooms” and “Responsible AI for Future-Ready Institutions,” reflecting the dual pressures of external uncertainty and internal digital transformation. A dedicated session led by Dovinassy Pillay Naiken, Acting Director of the Financial Services Unit, examined Mauritius’s regulatory framework and its role in the India–Africa corridor. Naiken’s presentation offered delegates a close look at how the island nation’s legal and financial infrastructure supports cross-border investment.
The event concludes on 5 August with a study tour of the Ministry of Financial Services and Economic Planning, giving participants direct exposure to the regulatory bodies that shape Mauritius’s financial landscape.
Mumbai to host 2027 Global Governance Conference
ICSI also used the Mauritius platform to announce its upcoming Global Governance Conference, scheduled for 8–9 January 2027 in Mumbai. That event aims to assemble global leaders to discuss responsible business practices, with a focus on agile leadership, transparency, and AI-powered innovation. ICSI President Pawan G Chandak said, “Governance for the future relies heavily on agile leadership, transparency, and AI-powered innovation.”
The Mauritius conference is part of ICSI’s broader push to internationalize its programming, following similar events in other financial hubs. For travel industry professionals, the conference underscores the growing importance of MICE travel to Indian Ocean destinations. Mauritius has been actively courting business events, and this gathering adds to a calendar that already includes major corporate retreats and industry summits.
The event also highlights the intersection of governance and travel: as companies expand across borders, the need for robust compliance and risk oversight grows, and destinations like Mauritius are positioning themselves as hubs for that dialogue. For travel management companies and corporate travel buyers, the conference is a reminder of the value of MICE incentives in attracting high-level business events.
ICSI’s choice of Mauritius reflects the island’s strategic location and its reputation as a stable, well-regulated financial center. The conference’s focus on governance in a VUCA world—volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous—resonates with travel industry leaders who are navigating similar challenges, from geopolitical tensions to the rise of AI in booking and operations.
As the travel industry continues to recover and reshape, events like this one provide a platform for cross-sector dialogue. The MICE sector has shown resilience, and conferences such as ICSI’s are a testament to the enduring demand for face-to-face professional exchange.
With the Mumbai conference on the horizon, ICSI is clearly aiming to build on the momentum generated in Mauritius. The organization’s focus on governance, technology, and cross-border commerce aligns with the priorities of many travel industry stakeholders, from airlines to hotel groups, who are increasingly operating in a complex global environment.
