Sneha Shah: “Smart tools that simplify the analysis and decision-making processes become key”

Thomson Reuters has recently renewed its presence in Mauritius for the provision of intelligent data services. This move is part of a broader strategy to tap into the potential of emerging markets such as Africa, highlights Sneha Shah.

BUSINESSMAG.Thomson Reuters is setting up camp in Mauritius once again after a three year hiatus. What is the idea behind this move?

Thomson Reuters’ association with Africa goes right back to the 19th century when Reuters esta-blished a dedicated news bureau in Egypt in 1866. We have also had a presence in East Africa for close to 100 years through our news and information service.

Like many organisations, we now have a renewed focus on emerging markets, including the fast-growing and increasingly sophisticated markets in Africa. With our Africa growth strategy, and the ambitions of Mauritius to be the financial gateway into Africa, we realised the need to increase our local presence in the East African region.

We have created a regional hub for East Africa based in Nairobi, Kenya. Our staff headcount in East Africa has increased from three to fourteen persons in the last six months, which includes two persons in Mauritius, Jerry Lobine and Trishen Chetty, who are based in Quatre-Bornes. Thomson Reuters now employs a total of 398 persons across Africa, with operations that span South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Mauritius, Senegal, Zimbabwe and Ivory Coast.

Our aim is to continue growing our presence in Africa in the coming years, and that includes our operations in Mauritius.

BUSINESSMAG. Your Mauritian activities will also serve as a data provision centre for the Indian Ocean Region. What is the potential of this market for data provision services?

Thomson Reuters, as the leading provider of intelligent information for professionals in the financial, legal, tax, accounting and intellectual property and science arenas, is keen to help develop capital markets and information economies around the world.

Putting it simply, the more sophisticated these markets become, the more demand there is for our solutions. With rising levels of professionalisation, the return of members of the African diaspora as well as surging foreign direct investment and improved access to financial products across the East Africa region, there is huge potential for tools and solutions that simplify the increasingly complex decision-making processes in these markets...

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