The Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB), a regional finance leader, has clearly identified a key strategic partner to bring its ambitious Vision 2030 to life: the African Centre for Competitive Intelligence (ACCI), led by Dr Guy Gweth. The recent strategic mission of Dr Gweth to Port-Louis, from 20 to 27 September 2025, confirms the strength and longevity of this privileged partnership, which began in 2020.
The stakes are high: strengthening MCB’s capabilities in holistic knowledge of African markets. This approach is deemed crucial by CEO Jean Michel Ng Tseung, whose five-year plan aims to position MCB as “a leading Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB) and Private Bank (PB) in Africa.”
The ACCI: A Benchmark and Sign of Continental Trust
For a decade, the ACCI has established itself as the benchmark for authentic African competitive intelligence. Its creation in 2015 by Dr Guy Gweth marked a turning point, and the Centre is now regarded by major African banks as an indispensable partner. Dr Gweth and his team are capable of collecting, processing, and disseminating highly strategic information—expertise that MCB, with over 4,200 employees worldwide, has fully integrated to refine its expansion strategy.
MCB’s adoption of ACCI services highlights the growing trust of leading African economic actors in local expertise. By relying on the ACCI, they gain deeper insights into the complexities of African markets, which in turn enhances competitiveness.
The ACCI’s success rests on unique capabilities: comprehensive market monitoring (including competitive, financial, and political intelligence), precise strategic insights, and a team able to legally access sensitive information. The approach goes beyond raw data, encompassing analysis, advisory services, and client team support—critical elements for a bank like MCB, whose ambition is to excel in Corporate and Investment Banking and Private Banking, serving specialised ecosystems and Africa’s high-net-worth individuals.
A Strategic Partnership Serving Africa’s Ambitions
MCB’s ambition is clear: to be “relevant, meaningful, and impactful” in Africa beyond its domestic markets. Its strategy focuses on hubs (Nairobi, Lagos, Dubai, Johannesburg, and potentially London and Abidjan), rather than an extensive branch network.
Support from the ACCI is therefore essential to provide a comprehensive and detailed view, allowing MCB to establish a strong presence in Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa. By relying on the ACCI for Vision 2030, MCB integrates a complete suite of solutions to position itself among leading CIB and PB institutions.
The trust of major players speaks for itself: over ten years, the ACCI’s model has earned over fifty references across fifteen countries. This impressive list includes leading financial institutions such as Afriland First Group, BEAC, BGFI Group, BNP Paribas Fortis, the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations of Senegal, and Ecobank, as well as public-sector actors (Presidencies of Côte d’Ivoire and Togo, etc.).
Choosing to entrust their competitive intelligence to the ACCI is the clearest proof of Dr Guy Gweth’s success in delivering authentic African competitive intelligence that effectively meets the challenges of market competitiveness across the continent.
The Editorial Team
