Mauritius reforms offer blueprint for Zambia, says business review agency

The Business Regulatory Review Agency (BRRA) says reforms implemented in Mauritius provide valuable lessons for Zambia as it works to enhance its business environment.

BRRA Executive Director, Sharon Sichilongo, said the island nation had shown that with strong leadership, innovation, and collaboration, regulatory reform could be both impactful and sustainable.

She was speaking in Lusaka on Thursday during the dissemination of findings from BRRA’s benchmarking mission to Mauritius, conducted in February 2025.

“Some of the key reforms we learned about include the enactment of the Business Facilitation Act, which streamlined procedures across multiple laws; the implementation of business process re-engineering to cut inefficiencies and reduce the cost of doing business; and the launch of the National Electronic Licensing System, a centralized digital platform that automates licensing processes,” Sichilongo said.

She added that Mauritius had also introduced innovations such as the Info-Highway system, enabling real-time data sharing among government agencies, and a single-window system for trade facilitation, which simplified import and export procedures.

Other reforms included the promotion of risk-based regulation, allowing low-risk businesses to begin operations with inspections and licensing conducted after commencement.

In the tourism sector, Sichilongo noted that Mauritius had adopted omnibus licensing, which consolidates approvals for multiple activities under one license, making it easier for investors to operate.

“These reforms were supported by legislative changes and institutional capacity building, underscoring the importance of digitalization in regulatory transformation,” she said.

She further disclosed that BRRA had already begun engagements with the Ministry of Tourism and the Zambia Tourism Agency to explore the adoption of omnibus licensing in Zambia’s accommodation sub-sector.

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