Subject:ย ๐Ÿฅ‚Cheers to an absolutely fantastic 2024 together! ๐ŸŽ‰

Helloooooo thereeee People!


As we wrap up another remarkable year โœจ, there's a deep sense of gratitude ๐Ÿ™ when looking back at everything we've accomplished together. From tackling challenging projects to celebrating shared victories ๐ŸŽฏ, it's been brilliant seeing how our teams have grown stronger through collaboration and mutual support.


What truly stands out this year isn't just the impressive numbers or completed milestones ๐Ÿ“Š โ€“ it's the countless moments of colleagues stepping up to help one another, sharing knowledge over a cup of tea (or coffee) โ˜•, and turning potential roadblocks into stepping stones. The way everyone has pitched in and supported each other, often going above and beyond ๐Ÿ’ซ, has made our workplace feel more like a community than ever before.


Walking through the office, you can feel the positive energy that comes from genuine teamwork. Whether it was lending an ear during tough times ๐Ÿ‘‚, offering fresh perspectives on projects ๐Ÿ’ก, or simply sharing a laugh during our team catch-ups ๐Ÿ˜Š, each one of you has contributed to creating an environment where collaboration isn't just a buzzword โ€“ it's who we are.


Happy New Year!

TECHNICAL NEWS

Special Allowance Act 2024


The Special Allowance Act 2024 has been published, marking an important legislative update. Please find attached the full document attached for your reference.


AfrAsia : Cut-Off times during festive seasons


The AfrAsia Bank team has issued an important notice to inform clients about the public holidays and early cut-off times during the upcoming festive season.


The Bank will be closed on the following dates in observance of public holidays:


Wednesday, 1 January 2025 (New Year)

Thursday, 2 January 2025

In case additional public holidays are declared during this period, a communiquรฉ will be shared on the bank's website.


The central bank, stock exchange, depository, and other financial institutions will also remain closed on these dates. Consequently, no securities transactions, foreign exchange deals, or transaction requests will be processed or settled during this time. These will be handled on the next working day.


Early Branch Closure and Cut-off Times :

AfrAsia Bank's counters will close at 15:00 (Mauritius, GMT+4) on the following dates :


Tuesday, 31 December 2024


The cut-off times for specific services on these days are as follows:


Service Cut-off Time (GMT+4)

Special clearance 11:00

Cheque clearance 11:00

Manual Funds Transfers (MUR & FCY) 13:00

Trading and Custody Operations 13:00

Internet Banking Transactions 14:00


Clients are encouraged to submit payments before the respective cut-off times to ensure same-day value processing. Any instructions received after the cut-off times will be processed on the next working day.


For further details, you can contact your Relationship Manager.


South Africa's progress in strengthening measures to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing


Since the 2021 assessment of South Africa's measures to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing and the 2023 Follow-Up report, the country has taken a number of actions to strengthen its framework. In line with the FATF Procedures for mutual evaluations, the country has reported back to the FATF on the action it has taken since their mutual evaluation. Overall, South Africa has made progress in addressing most of the technical compliance deficiencies identified in its MER and has been upgraded as follows:


โ€ข Recommendation 2 is re-rated from partially compliant to largely compliant

โ€ข Recommendation 6 is re-rated from partially compliant to largely compliant

โ€ข Recommendation 15 is re-rated from partially compliant to largely compliant


Today, South Africa is compliant on 5 Recommendations and largely compliant on 32. The country has 2 Recommendations rated partially compliant. South Africa will next report back on remaining deficiencies in its 5th round mutual evaluation. You may refer to the report on: https://www.fatf-gafi.org/content/dam/fatf-gafi/fur/South-Africa-Follow-Up-Report-2024.pdf.coredownload.inline.pdf

๐Ÿ’Œ๐ŸŒŸ Secret Santa at Work๐ŸŒŸ


Last Monday, Level 2 was filled with holiday cheer as our Secret Santa gift exchange brought smiles and surprises to everyone involved! It was wonderful to see the thoughtful presents being unwrapped and the genuine delight on everyone's faces.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this Secret Santa exchange such a joyful experience!๐ŸŽ„

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EOY Party: See you tonight in your white and silver best!


Here are some quick updates for tonight's End of Year Party at Ile Des Deux Cocos. ๐ŸŒด


๐Ÿ• Boat Transport


-First shuttle departs at 17:30

-Return boats available from 21:00, running every 30 minutes


โš ๏ธ Important Safety Reminders


-Ladies: Please avoid heels due to terrain

-Transport schedules have been shared by the Human Capital Team

-Respect your assigned pick-up time and van captain

-For everyone's safety, please remain seated during the boat journey and follow all instructions from the boat crew


See you tonight for our End-of-Year celebration at the beautiful Ile Des Deux Cocos! ๐ŸŒดโœจ

Christmas Deco Competition: And the Winner is.....


What a spectacular display of holiday creativity we've witnessed throughout the office! After much anticipation, we're delighted to announce that Internal Accounting has clinched first place in this year's Christmas decoration competition! Their enchanting winter wonderland transformation truly captured the magic of the season.

Congratulations also to our runners-up:


  • Team Aqua/Citrine securing second place with their dazzling display

  • Team Onyx claiming third with their innovative decorations

  • OneLink rounding out our top four with their festive contribution


A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated. Your enthusiasm and creativity brought warmth and joy to our workplace during this holiday season. Each team's unique interpretation of festive dรฉcor made our office a more cheerful place to be.


Until next year's competition, let's continue enjoying the beautiful decorations that surround us!

โš ๏ธ Set Your Out of Office Message Before the Holiday Break


As we approach the end-of-year break, please remember to set up your out-of-office message in Outlook before leaving. This helps ensure clear communication with our clients and colleagues during the holiday period.


For your convenience, here's a simple template you can customise:

"Thank you for your email. I am out of the office from [date] until [date], returning on [date]. During this time, I will have limited access to emails. For urgent matters, please contact [name] at [email/phone].


Happy Holidays!"


Remember to activate your out-of-office message before you leave, and don't forget to set it for both internal and external recipients.

IN THE NEWS

Perigeum Capital in Eco Austral


Shamin A. Sookia, Managing Director of Perigeum Capital shares valuable insights in Eco Austral's latest edition regarding Mauritius's strategic position in African finance. He emphasises the region's significant potential within the African continent and advocates for continued roadshows by authorities to showcase these opportunities.


As highlighted in the feature, the future of Mauritius as a financial centre rests firmly on its reputation, with a clear focus on maintaining its standing as a stable and transparent jurisdiction.


Click on the attachment to read more!

HAPPENINGS

๐Ÿ’Œ๐ŸŒŸ Secret Santa at Work๐ŸŒŸ


Last Monday, Level 2 was filled with holiday cheer as our Secret Santa gift exchange brought smiles and surprises to everyone involved! It was wonderful to see the thoughtful presents being unwrapped and the genuine delight on everyone's faces.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this Secret Santa exchange such a joyful experience!๐ŸŽ„

Ending the Year with a Strike! ๐ŸŽณโœจ


As we approach the end of the year, itโ€™s time to reflect on our accomplishments and celebrate the moments that made 2024 truly unforgettable. ๐ŸŽ‰


Weโ€™re thrilled to share that our very own Ashive secured 1st place at the Fun Tribeca Single Handicap Tournament, showcasing incredible skill, precision, and determination. Not far behind, Kong clinched an impressive 3rd place at the same competition, demonstrating grit and excellence on the lanes. This tournament, organised by the Mauritius Bowling Federation, brought together some of the best talents and our ITLians shone brightly, making us proud.


A massive congratulations to Ashive and Kong for their fantastic achievements! Your dedication and passion continue to inspire the entire ITL family. Letโ€™s carry this winning spirit into the new year and keep striking down challenges, both on and off the lanes. Stay tuned for more exciting updates and events as we gear up for an even brighter 2025.


Wishing everyone a fantastic year-end filled with joy, celebration, and success. Letโ€™s finish strong!


The ITLians Bowling Team

๐Ÿ† QuizzGenic Results: ESG Team Takes the Crown!


The QuizzGenic challenge was a fantastic display of technical knowledge and quick thinking! After two rounds of mind-bending questions, Team ESG emerged victorious!


Thank you to all teams who participated, making this event both competitive and enjoyable. It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm and team spirit displayed by all participants.

A special Thank You to the TechGenic Team for organizing this gathering for Level 4.

Sweet treats and belly laughs - Christmas made perfect ๐Ÿ˜‹


Team Amethyst came together recently for its annual end-of-year diner at Smokey Joe, Tribeca.

Special mention to the lovely December babies who celebrated their birthdays - you lot certainly added an extra sparkle to the evening!

Here's to more spectacular gatherings in the new year! Cheers, everyone! ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ”ฅ

Sweet treats and belly laughs - Christmas made perfect ๐Ÿ˜‹


Here's to a festive season full of cherished moments and beautiful memories! ๐Ÿ˜ โœจ

The Onelink Team wishes you the merriest and happiest year with the most amazing Christmas!๐ŸŽ„๐ŸŽ…

#Joyful moments, Lasting memories ๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ”ฅ

BIRTHDAYS

Happiest birthday to you! ๐ŸŽ‰

โ€ข Sarah Chan

โ€ข Veenella Ramsamy

โ€ข Amiirah Haulkhory

โ€ข Nousrat Rossaye

KI BON PLAN

Sounds of Africa

  • Lagoon Attitude Hotel

  • Saturday 28th  Dec

  • 03:00 PM to 10:30 PM

La nuit Sega

  • Henessy Park Hotel

  • Saturday 28th Dec

  • As from 08:30 PM

Jam dan Tamarin

  • Tamarin Bay

  • Saturday 28th Dec

  • As from 06:00 PM

New Year's Eve

  • Henessy Park Hotel

  • Tuesday 31st Dec

  • As from 06:00 PM

New Year's Celebrations

  • The Cloud - Rooftop & Lounge Bar

  • Tuesday 31st Dec

  • As from 08:00 PM

New Year Brunch

  • 2Beach Club

  • Wednesday 1st Jan

  • 11:00 AM to 03:00 PM

So before we head off for the holidays ๐ŸŽ„, we wanted to say a massive thank you to each and every one of you. You've made this year absolutely fantastic โญ, and we're already chuffed about what we'll achieve together in the coming year ๐Ÿš€. Have a brilliant break โ€“ you've more than earned it! ๐ŸŽ‰


๐Ÿฅ‚ Happy New Year ! ๐ŸŽŠ


Hasta La Vista People ! ๐Ÿ™‹โ€โ™€๏ธ



Crazily Yours,


The Gazette Committee