03 June 2025
Governor Dr Rama Krishna Sithanen, G.C.S.K., has emerged as co-winner of the 2025 edition of the coveted “Central Bank Governor of the Year” Award bestowed by the highly respected African Leadership Magazine. The African Central Bank Governor of the Year award honours a visionary leader whose strategic and decisive stewardship has safeguarded monetary stability, reinforced financial resilience, and propelled sustained economic growth.
In the final stage of its rigorous selection process, the editorial board unanimously named Dr Sithanen as the co-winner of the African Central Bank Governor of the Year 2025, in recognition of his distinguished leadership and the remarkable impact he has made on Mauritius’ economic and monetary landscape within a short span of time.
The selection process involved public nominations, editorial board screening, a global public vote, and a final evaluation based on verifiable metrics—ensuring each honouree reflects the highest standards of African excellence, innovation, and impact. For the 2025 edition, the final score comprised 65% from the global online poll and 35% from verified documentation, including evidence of institutional growth, innovation, sustainability, and measurable outcomes.
The London-based magazine highlighted that since Dr Sithanen’s office in November 2024, the Governor has ‘demonstrated bold and decisive leadership—swiftly correcting policy imbalances, mopping up excess liquidity, and stabilizing the Mauritian rupee through prudent monetary tightening.’’
The African Leadership Magazine also underlined that Dr Sithanen’s ‘’immediate interventions not only arrested inflationary pressures but also restored public and investor confidence in the country’s financial system. With a statesman’s foresight and an economist’s precision, [Governor Sithanen has] positioned the Bank of Mauritius as a progressive, forward-facing institution. [His] championing of sustainable finance— through the establishment of the Climate Change Centre, a national green taxonomy, and support for over 400 clean energy projects—highlights [his] deep commitment to climate resilience and long-term development.’’
The African Leadership Magazine also paid tribute to the Governor’s “strategic engagement on the international front, particularly the landmark bilateral currency agreement with the Reserve Bank of India underscores [his] vision for enhanced regional cooperation, trade facilitation, and de-dollarization. Equally commendable is [his] advocacy for inclusive governance, exemplified by the gender-balanced reconstitution of the Bank’s Board and Monetary Policy Committee. [Dr Sithanen’s] leadership embodies the highest ideals of central banking—prudence, integrity, foresight, and inclusive progress. In aligning Mauritius’ monetary strategy with national priorities, Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, [he is] not only safeguarding economic stability but also laying the foundation for shared prosperity. This award stands as a testament to {Dr Sithanen’s] lifelong service, technocratic excellence, and emerging legacy as one of Africa’s most respected voices in economic governance.’’
In the wake of the announcement, Bank of Mauritius Governor Dr Rama Krishna Sithanen stated: “We are very honoured by this accolade, and I share this privilege with all my colleagues at the Bank of Mauritius. We will continue to accomplish our mandate of price stability, orderly and balanced economic development, and financial stability for the good of our country.”
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