S E C T I O N S

In view of the growing importance of electronic transactions in Mauritius, the National Assembly passed the Electronic Transactions Act 2000 on the 1 August 2000. The Act provides for an appropriate legal framework to facilitate electronic transactions and communication by regulating electronic records and electronic signatures and the security thereof.

The objects of this Act are, inter alia, to:

(a) establish the legal infrastructure necessary to implement secure electronic commerce and to remove uncertainties over writing and signature requirements;

(b) regulate electronic commerce and other electronic transactions by means of secure and reliable electronic records;

(c) provide for electronic filing of documents with public sector agencies and to promote efficient delivery of public sector services by means of reliable electronic records;

(d) foster the development of electronic commerce through the use of electronic signatures;

(e) establish the authenticity and integrity of correspondence in any electronic medium;

(f) help establish uniformity of rules, regulations and standards regarding the authentication and integrity of electronic records;

(g) prevent the incidence of forged electronic records and fraud in electronic commerce and other electronic transactions; and

(h) promote public confidence in the integrity and reliability of electronic records and electronic commerce.

Since the passing of this Act, several private investors have shown interest in setting up Internet banks.