Virtual Asset Regulatory Developments & Highlights From Mauritius

Find out more about this event on our website: https://bit.ly/3LbsvIW Mauritius, as an international financial centre and growing Fintech hub, is among the first countries in the Eastern and Southern African region to adopt a comprehensive legislation on virtual assets and initial token offerings through the Virtual Asset and Initial Token Offerings Services Act 2021 (VAITOS). The Act, which came into force in February 2022, regulates the new and developing business activities surrounding VAs and ITOs and makes provisions for, inter alia, managing, mitigating and preventing money laundering, financing of terrorism and proliferation risks associated with VA and ITO services. This webinar focuses on the latest regulatory and market changes, and aims to shed light on the practical implications of the ongoing initiatives on the virtual asset ecosystem. In this webinar, we will hear from expert speakers who will elaborate on: The VAITOS Act Authorisation and Supervision processes of VASPs Ongoing fintech / VA initiatives. Asset tokenisation and other opportunities Speakers: Mr Dhanesswurnath Thakoor is the Chief Executive of the FSC Mauritius since 18 May 2020. He holds a master’s degree in Information Technology, Electronics and Systems Automation from Polytech Lille-France and an MBA with specialization in Finance. Mr. Thakoor also has 25 years of Central Banking experience. In his capacity as Chief Executive, Mr. Thakoor represents the FSC Mauritius in a number of international regulatory bodies and committees including the IOSCO, the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), the International Organisation of Pension Supervisors (IOPS) and the Committee of Insurance, Securities and Non-Banking Financial Authorities (CISNA). The FSC Mauritius is the Africa/Middle-East Regional Committee (AMERC) representative in the IOSCO Board for the term 2022-2024. Mr. Thakoor spearheaded results-driven initiatives at the level of FSC Mauritius to complete the action items to address the strategic deficiencies identified by the FATF. These efforts have been instrumental for Mauritius to exit the FATF Grey List in October 2021. Mr. Thakoor has also been at the forefront in the establishment of a modern regulatory framework of a spectrum of innovative financial products and services such as Virtual Assets, VCCs, SILIB, Peer-to-Peer Lending, Crowdfunding and Guidelines for the issue of Green Bonds, among others. He also led a number of digitalization-driven projects among which the FSC One Platform and is now leading the National Insurance Claims Database project. Ms Teenoosha Boyjoo is an Acting Manager in the AML/CFT Directorate of the Financial Services Commission (FSC). She has more than 15 years of experience in the financial services regulation industry. She joined the FSC in 2007 and has served the institution with different responsibilities. Ms. Boyjoo is currently the chairperson of the Joint Coordination Committee (AML/CFT) between the FSC and the Bank of Mauritius Working Group on AML/CFT, and of the Working Group on AML/CFT between the FSC and Mauritius Finance. She is also a member of various committees and working groups with different organisations pertaining to AML/CFT. Mr Kamal Burun is Assistant Director and heads the Authorisation Directorate at the Financial Services Commission. He previously worked for a major international bank where he held various positions in Mauritius and in Hong Kong where he has served in local and regional tax advisory roles.