Manisha Dookhony

Economist, with double master’s degrees in economics and Public Administration from Harvard University, Mrs. Dookhony has very strong linkages across both Francophone and Anglophone Africa. With over 20 years of relevant experience developing policies and strategies for business environment, she has extensive experience advising business leaders and high-level government officials at Presidential level. Her opinion is often sought for economics, regulatory affairs, and business-related matters.

As a seasoned board director, she serves on a range of for-profit and nonprofit institutions. She is the co-founder and director of Mauritius Society Renewal, vice chair for the women in Investment and Finance Association.

At the professional level, Manisha co-manages Africa Rise, an EU funded regional facility that covers 25 countries in Eastern and South Africa. She also acts as the senior advisor for the Namibian Investment Promotion and Development Board.

She is very active in negotiations: - leading the negotiations for Terra Joint Negotiation Panel; led the successful negotiations of land for the creation of a Light manufacturing Special Economic Zone in Madagascar; unlocking large PPP project in Mozambique; Energy related negotiation with the government of Tanzania. She has spearheaded the creation of mechanisms for Public Private Dialogue in Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. Manisha has been part of the high-powered negotiation panel for the negotiations of bilateral economic agreement between Mauritius and India, between Mauritius and Pakistan.

At the legal and regulatory level: - she has developed new laws to facilitate investment in Rwanda; leading the discussions for the creation of a commercial court in Mauritius; she has drafted the business facilitation Act of Mauritius, supported in the drafting of the Namibia Investment Promotion Act, supporting the regulatory review for the development of biopharma in Mauritius. She assisted the Rwandan and Namibian government in the review of its Bilateral Investment Treaties.