During the past decade, some positive steps have been taken in favor of a more modernized legal framework for international arbitration. For instance Mauritius acceded to The New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards in 1996 and it was proclaimed by Parliament in 2004. This Convention has been adopted by more than 110 countries and is said to be the most important pillar on which is set up international commercial arbitration. It provides for an arbitral award made in one state to be readily recognised and enforced in another.

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Moreover, the International Arbitration Act proclaimed in January 2009 is another important step forward in terms of placing Mauritius on the map of major venues for international commercial arbitration. The Act is based on the UNCITRAL Model Law on arbitration and Mauritius hereby becomes the only country in the SADC region to have adopted this law to date. The Law Practitioners Act was also amended to facilitate the setting of foreign law firms in Mauritius, which can bring valuable expertise and know-how as well as boost competition for better quality of service in the field.

International Arbitration Act 2008

The New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards Act