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AfrAsia Bank Limited and its Group Entities
Annual Report 2015
page 43
well and we have avoided many international and local credit
issues that have ensnared our competitors. Cost income ratio
remains very well managed despite the heavy investments in
people, premises and products.
Investing in the Future
During the year, we made substantial investments in new IT
systems including core banking, treasury, automated money
laundering detection, prepaid cards and the new digital branch
and office spaces in Ebène. We are now poised to leverage these
for several years.
Heavy investment was also made in marketing of, which AfrAsia
Bank Mauritius Open was the largest. With our international
reach and now that we are part of the largest domestic banks,
we can say that AfrAsia as a brand and a business is now well
established and winning all manner of international accolades,
which then turn into deep business referrals and relationships.
Our total staff headcount increased to 234, with excellent
gender diversity of 52% female. Out of the Executive Committee,
four [31%] are female and hold vital roles as Head of Marketing,
Credit, Finance and Human Resources.
Where do we go from here?
I remain firmly convinced that the strong African investment
trends we are seeing will continue. AfrAsia Bank Limited and
Mauritius are uniquely equipped to be the key capital and
liquidity solutions providers for these investors. This should
drive our growth at similar levels for several more years to come.
As such, with our new partners from Canada and our continued
building of the brand, our people and infrastructure in Mauritius,
we have gained insight, remain innovative and are inspired to
pursue our strategy.
THIERRY VALLET
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Launch of
VISA Platinum
Prepaid card
Significant
investments in IT,
treasury, automated
money laundering
detection
Setting up a
new corporate
finance team
Opening of a
flagship digital
branch in
Ebène