From 15 to 17 September 2026, DC member Felix Zuckschwerdt, Head of Mission East & Southern Africa of the Diplomatic Council, travelled to Prague with a delegation. The visit took place at the invitation of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Pretoria, in collaboration with the Fintech Hub Mauritius. Its purpose was to explore investment opportunities in the Czech fintech sector and to discuss the latest agreements between the Czech Republic and the Republic of Mauritius.
The programme
- Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic: a briefing on a very open, export-driven economy. Exports account for about 75% of GDP, growth was 2.6% in 2025, and unemployment has stayed between 2.6% and 2.8% for years.
- Czech National Bank (CNB): a visit to the central bank and its Visitor Centre, with insight into the European System of Financial Supervision (ESFS, with the EBA, ESMA, EIOPA and the ESRB). For businesses regulated under MiCAR and DORA, this predictability is a key location factor.
- Banking sector: discussions on cross-border payments, including payment rails for exotic currencies such as the Mauritian rupee and many African currencies.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Czernin Palace: talks on the bilateral framework, including the new Czech–Mauritius double taxation agreement. The Warsaw Pact was formally dissolved in the same palace on 1 July 1991, a fitting place to discuss new partnerships. With the Ministry’s Africa department, Felix Zuckschwerdt also discussed educational and university exchange between the Czech Republic, Mauritius and East and Southern Africa, drawing on his experience as an entrepreneur in education, including leading an international school in Mauritius.
- CzechInvest and the Czech Fintech Association: talks on investment, incentives and cooperation, and a meeting with members of the fintech association in Prague.
From industrial economy to knowledge economy
Almost every meeting returned to one challenge: transforming one of Europe’s most industrialised economies into a service-driven knowledge economy. Industry still contributes around 30% of GDP, and a third of exports go to Germany. Automation, the energy transition and pressure on automotive supply chains call for new sources of growth in financial services, software and innovation. The Czech side was open about what this requires: talent, capital and international partners.
Outlook
“The Czech Republic offers EU-regulated infrastructure and strong engineering talent, and Mauritius is the financial bridge into Africa. Connecting these strengths, in business as well as in education, is a concrete task for economic diplomacy,” said Felix Zuckschwerdt. The Diplomatic Council will continue to support the dialogue between Prague, Port Louis and partners across East and Southern Africa.
Our thanks go to the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Pretoria, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CzechInvest, the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, the Czech National Bank, the Czech Fintech Association and the Fintech Hub Mauritius.
