The Summit "Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence for Organizational Transformation" Organized by Institutional Expert Services (IES) to Better Integrate AI into Business and Enterprises
The summit "Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence for Organizational Transformation," organized by Institutional Expert Services (IES), took place on Tuesday, April 30, at the Hennessy Park Hotel in Ébène. It brought together over a hundred participants from the private, public, academic, and technological sectors to discuss the challenges of transforming the business world through AI in Mauritius. The event featured speeches from Dr. Avinash Ramtohul, Minister of Information Technologies, Communication, and Innovation; Dr. Jyoti Jeetun, Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning; and Mark van Beuningen, Group Strategy and Investment Executive of CIEL Group. The summit emphasized the strategic role of AI in enhancing national competitiveness.
Organized around three pillars — political and regulatory leadership, public-private collaboration, and human capital development — the event highlighted the urgent need for a structured national response to AI adoption, as Mauritius aims to become a Hi-Tech Intelligent Island. It was crucial for IES to unite all stakeholders involved in digital transformation. The summit underscored the need for a strategic and coordinated response to this necessity.
"We are here as collaborators, policy builders, and catalysts for transformation at all levels. Today, we are not just talking about digital transformation; we are discussing intelligent transformation. Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept; it is a real force already at work in our businesses, institutions, and societies. From industry to finance, agriculture to health, AI is redefining the rules of the game. Those who will dictate the evolution of systems are those who can adapt. This is why we organized this summit — because urgency is needed. Because technological advancements often outpace our institutions' ability to regulate them. And because Mauritius cannot afford to be a spectator to this revolution. We have gathered leaders, students, public decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and innovators. Together, we can build an ethical, inclusive, and sustainable framework to make AI a lever for human progress and not just a replacement, but an evolution. AI should serve to amplify potential. It is a driver of productivity, innovation, and adaptation. This is why we invest in skills, tools, and synergies. For IES, this summit is part of a broader mission: to rethink AI differently," explained Namita Jagarnath Hardowar, Managing Director of IES.
The desire to advance the topic was highlighted during the two panels. The focus was on the strategic implementation of AI in business processes, public policies, and private initiatives to accelerate digital transformation on a national scale. The discussions addressed the ethical, legal, and operational challenges of artificial intelligence.
"Today, a business or organization that does not integrate artificial intelligence into its operations risks becoming obsolete very quickly. AI is no longer an abstract concept. It is now part of our daily lives, both at work and in our everyday activities. It redefines how we live, decide, and interact. This is why it is imperative to integrate AI learning from school and to provide a structured framework for its development at the national level. At the Ministry of Information Technologies, Communication, and Innovation, our priority is to lay solid foundations for responsible transformation. This involves establishing a regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. It is not just about fostering innovation but also about protecting ourselves from excesses, as we see elsewhere. A concrete example: the use of generative AI, like ChatGPT, can be useful, but poorly regulated, it can lead to leaks of sensitive data, not to mention concerns regarding cybersecurity. AI relies on data, but we still lack a robust infrastructure. This is why we are launching a national data warehouse to enable better exploitation of behaviors and smarter decision-making, both by humans and machines. We will soon publish a national AI Blueprint, based on international models like the European AI Act. I invite the private sector to take hold of it because this transformation can only succeed with a collaborative approach. And beyond public-private partnerships, we must not forget a fourth "P": the people. Because all our regulatory, technological, and political actions aim first and foremost to serve citizens," explained Dr. Avinash Ramtohul.
Dr. Jyoti Jeetun shared that "artificial intelligence is not simply a technological tool. It is a catalyst that reshapes what we thought were the limits of possibility. AI is not new. For decades, machine learning has propelled industry giants who anticipated change, but since 2022, with the arrival of large language models, AI has moved from laboratories to living rooms. The pace of transformation is striking. In just a few years, search engines have become intelligent tools, automation has infiltrated offices, decisions are assisted, and customer services are transformed. Soon, AI could simulate millions of molecular combinations to accelerate medical research, predict harvests, rethink agriculture, or even create sustainable materials. But let’s not be mistaken: AI does not replace humans. It must be guided, framed, and directed. Just as a bulldozer does not build a house without an architect, AI does not produce value without human intention. What we must build today are bridges between human intelligence and artificial intelligence. The government’s strategic program 2025–2029 aligns with this vision. Moreover, my ministry is fully committed to aligning public policies with the issues of digital transformation. AI can support economic recovery, combat brain drain, improve productivity, and strengthen our public services. This requires training, adaptation, ethics, and robust governance. AI complements creativity, emotional intelligence, and leadership. But it must be used responsibly. We are on the brink of a new era, and one thing is certain: the future of AI will be what we, as humans, decide to make of it."
The human aspect of AI was also central to the discussions, particularly with the intervention of Mark van Beuningen, Group Strategy and Investment Executive of CIEL Group. He shared that "It is a privilege to have been able to share some reflections on artificial intelligence, beyond the technology itself. What concerns us the most today is not so much what AI can do, but how we integrate it responsibly and meaningfully into our organizations. Many projects fail not because of the tools, but because the human factor has not been sufficiently taken into account. AI is a powerful lever, but its impact largely depends on our ability to ask the right questions, exercise discernment, and accompany change in a structured manner. At CIEL, our approach is based on a clear conviction: AI should enhance people's roles, not replace them. It can free us from certain tasks, allowing our teams to focus on what truly matters. This implies a deep transformation: skills, mindsets, and especially culture. This is why we chose to involve teams early in defining use cases, training our employees on the ethical and operational challenges of AI, and making change management a cornerstone of our strategy. Our goal is simple: to create the conditions for sustainable progress, where technology serves humanity, not the other way around."
This was emphasized through two discussion panels. The first panel, "Ethical and Legal Dimensions of AI: Where Do We Draw the Line?", allowed for a debate on the ethical and legal limits of artificial intelligence, in a context where uses evolve faster than regulations. The second panel, "Leveraging AI to Drive Organizational Agility and Efficiency", demonstrated how AI tools can be integrated into business operations to reduce friction, improve decision-making, and enhance organizational efficiency. The importance of the human element in automation was highlighted, particularly through training strategies aimed at increasing team adaptability.
The summit "Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence for Organizational Transformation" created a space for dialogue on the technological, human, and strategic challenges of artificial intelligence in Mauritius. AI should not be seen as an end in itself, but as a lever to enhance resilience, inclusion, and performance at all levels. The road ahead is still long, but the foundations have now been laid to build a truly intelligent and sustainable island.
As the organizer of the summit, Institutional Expert Services (IES) reaffirms its position as a key player in organizational transformation in Mauritius and the region. Beyond its role as a catalyst for integrating artificial intelligence, IES supports companies and institutions through a comprehensive range of services in strategic consulting, skills development, and creating tailored solutions. Through its extensive local, regional, and international network, IES facilitates the best training, innovation, and organizational transformation implementation opportunities. Its collaborative approach aims to enhance the effectiveness, competitiveness, and resilience of organizations in a changing world. Driven by a professional team committed to excellence, IES is committed to long-term sustainability and cooperation between Africa, Asia, and the rest of the world. This summit is just one example of IES's ability to bring together talents, drive structural changes, and build bridges between sectors to address today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.