As an enormous wiretapping scandal continues to unfold in an election-bound Mauritius, Thoughtfox reached out to Ms. Tasneem Jaumally to seek her input on the broader issues facing that country relating to the economy, technology, education, and youth employment. A recipient of numerous prestigious awards, Jaumally is widely recognized as an approachable leader within the arenas of futuristic professional education, youth entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, and technological application (especially Artificial Intelligence).

Via email and LinkedIn Messenger, the interview was conducted by Dr. Piyush Mathur through October 31-November 8, 2024. The interview draft was slightly edited for clarity and flow. The penultimate draft of Ms. Jaumally’s responses was approved by her before being published.

Mathur: Mauritius is getting ready for Year 2024 elections, to be held on Sunday, November 10. What should the next political leadership do to better align the need for economic diversification with the emergent demands of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital transformation?

Jaumally: Well, the political leadership really does have a great chance here to align our economic diversification goals with digital transformation and AI. One way they could do this is by boosting investment in sectors like technology, education, and sustainable development. These are the areas that can create jobs and also give people a chance to learn new skills, which we need.

For example, if we are looking at digital transformation, maybe we could offer incentives to small businesses and start-ups. AI is still a fairly new concept for a lot of people, so I think investing in capacity-building is key. We have to remember that for every dollar spent on technology, an equal amount should go into training our people. This is how Mauritius can stay competitive.

Leveraging foreign investment for local talent in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Mauritius

Mathur: There is also this issue of foreign investment into Mauritius, whose history goes as far back as the 1970s. For our present times, how should the country ensure that its local talent benefits from foreign investment into AI? Do you have any specific suggestions to the leadership in that regard?

‘We have to remember that for every dollar spent on technology, an equal amount should go into training our people.’

— Tasneem Jaumally

Jaumally: Absolutely, Mauritius has become a strong investment hub over the years, and with AI now on the horizon, it is crucial that our local talent gains from these new opportunities. One approach the leadership could consider is encouraging partnerships between foreign investors and our local schools or training centres. This would mean specialized AI training for Mauritians, giving them the skills to really engage in this field.

Another idea would be to incentivize foreign companies to hire and train local talent directly. This way, foreign investment will directly benefit the people here. Supporting local start-ups and research in AI could also help develop our own expertise—and position Mauritius as an attractive investment destination and a hub of AI innovation.

Responsible usage of AI in Mauritius—and the issue of disparity

Mathur: How prepared do you think the country is to promote responsible usage of AI? This question somehow has a darkened backdrop to it, given the unfolding scandal regarding wiretapping and leaked audio conversations involving journalists, politicians, diplomats, and eminent persons; there is an argument there, ahead of the investigation, that AI has been used to manipulate some of these.

Jaumally: We are still in the early days with AI in Mauritius, and using it responsibly will be a big deal. I would say we are not fully prepared to handle this yet. First, we need to fully recognize the potential (and the risks) of AI. After that, developing clear guidelines, ethical standards, and privacy measures will be essential. We also need to show people both the good and the bad of AI—educational institutions, businesses, and government all have roles here.

I have attended several conferences over the past year where we have discussed policies and guidelines for responsible AI use. But honestly, we have not seen much movement yet. So yes, there is still a lot to do to be ready.

Mathur: Do you happen to notice any thinking evolving among Mauritian leadership (not only in politics) concerned with preventing AI and digital technologies from turning into tools of economic disparity?

Jaumally: Well, through the past two weeks, an awareness has developed! Awareness and a high level of concern, I must say. The awareness spans political, civic and professional spheres, post significant events unfolding in Mauritius. It is alleged that the recent leaks have revealed incidents involving phone tapping. While such surveillance technologies are legally permitted under strict circumstances—such as for monitoring terrorism or drug-related activities with judicial approval—concerns have arisen regarding alleged misuse in other contexts. These developments have reportedly introduced a new perspective!

‘Leaders around me are trying to increase people’s access to technology and skills—as we do not want anyone left behind and we do not want any job displacement.’

— Tasneem Jaumally

To answer your question, we would be tempted to think that AI and digital technologies could potentially deepen economic disparity. However, across my network, I have not come across leaders focusing on preventing AI and digital technologies from turning into tools of economic disparity. I do not want to say that no one is focused on the economic gap; but right now, people are more concerned about the technology itself, making sense of it, trying to understand it, trying to gauge the implications and potential ramifications. I attended another conference yesterday, on November 7, and again we were talking about technological policies that need to be developed. For the past couple of years, we seem to be talking about AI and all, but I do not see any concrete timeline yet.

Leaders around me are trying to increase people’s access to technology and skills—as we do not want anyone left behind and we do not want any job displacement. When we meet people daily, we see the disparity. By making these advancements accessible, Mauritius can ensure that no group is left behind as we adopt these new technologies.

AI development & ecological sustainability in Mauritius

Mathur: Many AI systems are also massive users of energy and water. Does a small nation-state like Mauritius have a specific strategy to address the resource-use component of AI development within the native ecological bounds? Are there any under-represented strategies here that Mauritius should adopt or articulate in order to optimize its engagement with AI and associated advances—in digital automation, robotics, machine learning, etc.—through the next 10 years?

Jaumally: This is a big one, and it is a valid concern for smaller countries like Mauritius. What we might not fully realise is that we have a free, natural resource in the sun. We can get solar energy to power data centres.  We should explore other renewable energy sources to support tech initiatives.

Another strategy is investing in research on energy-efficient AI. This could even position Mauritius as a leader in eco-friendly AI development, which would be great for our global image.

One idea could be to prioritize cloud solutions instead of building physical data centers locally. We could also look into partnerships that allow resource sharing, which would reduce local energy use.

Youth unemployment & education in Mauritius: future alternatives

Mathur: Youth unemployment remains a pressing issue in Mauritius. In Year 2023, the Youth Unemployment Rate (for those aged 15-24 years) was 20.87%, according to Statista, and 16.2% according to the World Bank Group; for the age group15-35, it was 17.3%, according to the African Development Bank Group. This is disturbingly high. As someone deeply involved with youth mobilization through Junior Chamber International (JCI), what immediate steps (including policy moves) would you recommend to the next government to ensure that this scenario improves through the next 3-5 years?

Jaumally: Reducing youth unemployment is a tough challenge, and we cannot approach it with a one-size-fits-all solution. Being part of the JCI, I can see the potential our youth have. The government could step up partnerships between the ministries and NGOs, which we are already doing to a small extent. For instance, the JCI of Curepipe is working with the National Youth Council on a youth mentoring program, and it is showing promise. Partnering with private education providers and industries could also help give young people—via research assistantships, for example—practical experience in fields with growing demand, like tech, green energy, and digital marketing.

We should also support young entrepreneurs through innovation hubs that bring together public and private sector resources. There is more to say on this matter but, above all, the government needs to build trust with young people—open dialogues, give them decision-making power, and encourage them to share knowledge.

Mathur: You have been a leader in the Honoris Education Network, which focuses on 'supported distance education' in management, administration, and law courses.  These are practical, job-oriented courses that directly respond to industrial demands.  Nothing wrong with that, especially given the high unemployment rate among Mauritian youth.  I tend to wonder, though, how out-of-the-box thinking, flexible intelligence that may also challenge industrial trends or pursue curiosities independent of (or indifferent to) them, will be nurtured in the coming decade in a tiny nation-state like Mauritius?

‘I do not want to say that no one is focused on the economic gap; but right now, people are more concerned about the technology itself, making sense of it, trying to understand it, trying to gauge the implications and potential ramifications.’

— Tasneem Jaumally

Jaumally: To really encourage creativity and independent thinking, we need an education system that pushes students to question things and experiment a bit more. Right now, our mainstream system keeps them in a sort of 'boundary'. Of course, practical, job-focused courses have their place—they get young people ready for work right away, which is important. But we also need to consider the mindset of students who are already working in an industry and now find themselves studying again. For these students, we need to add critical thinking exercises, real-world case studies, and scenarios that push them to adapt and think on their feet.

That said, our educational institutions have to operate within certain limits, and sometimes, those limits feel too tight! Young people today want big changes—more online options, for instance. But schools and regulatory authorities cannot always keep up at the pace these students want. But you are absolutely right—there is a significant gap, and young people are eager to break away from traditional roles and industries.

Female leadership in the emerging technologies sector in Mauritius

Mathur: A cross-sectional leader yourself, you work with other educational, corporate, and civic leaders—including women—of Mauritius and beyond. Based upon these interactions and involvement, would you say that female leaders of Mauritius have a strategy in place to ensure that the country's emerging technologies and cutting-edge research sectors will see more women in the top leadership positions?

Jaumally: Female leaders here are definitely working hard to get more women into tech and other fast-growing fields. We are seeing more networking events and mentorship programs aimed at supporting women, though of course, there is always room to grow. Over the past year especially, I have noticed a wave of support for women in tech, and I think this is laying the groundwork for future leaders.

Mathur:  So, it seems that the female leaders do not have a dedicated national strategy—say, as a composite programme—to help Mauritian women reach the top tiers of leadership in emerging technologies. And I suppose that there is no dedicated, national funding pool, either, that these leaders may have created to support such a strategy realistically. I mean, a variety of disjointed projects, programmes, and platforms is one thing, but to have a national-level, non-governmental strategy is quite another.

‘While Mauritius has made strides in promoting gender equality, there is currently no unified, national-level initiative that I know of specifically designed to elevate women to top leadership positions in emerging technologies.’

— Tasneem Jaumally

Jaumally: While Mauritius has made strides in promoting gender equality, there is currently no unified, national-level initiative that I know of specifically designed to elevate women to top leadership positions in emerging technologies. You are also right in saying that there is no dedicated national fund established. The absence of this strategy makes projects seem disjointed, as you mention.

But, although there is no composite programme, there are networks like the Board of Good, of which I am a member. It is mostly independent, and citizen-led. Their focus is to empower women leaders, especially to increase women’s participation on boards and leadership teams.

Mathur: That is nice to know. Let’s hope that other female leaders in Mauritius will read this interview and collaborate to articulate a national strategy, backed by a funding pool, to facilitate local women’s rise to the top in the emerging technologies sector!

Well, on behalf of Thoughtfox readers, let me thank you, Ms. Jaumally, for your precious time and first-hand insights into a range of correlated matters pertaining to Mauritius—insights that will be globally useful to savvy observers of the sectors that we have discussed, sectors that you lead.

Jaumally: Thank you, Piyush, for having me on this platform. I wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

Note: Soon after the publication of this interview, two references to a person were removed at that person’s request; as a result, a slight change was also made in the closing statement of the interviewer. — Editor

Author of the book Technological Forms and Ecological Communication: A Theoretical Heuristic (Lexington Books, 2017), Dr. Piyush Mathur tends to be interested in those who have something meaningful to share with others.

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