Back in 2010, we learned that Mauritius was setting up a new sovereign wealth fund to stabilize its forex market and facilitate inter-generational savings. The fund, it was indicated, would invest in a range of asset classes around the world.
At the time the SWF was announced, I had the following reaction:
“I’d like to personally welcome Mauritius to the SWF club. And when I say, “personally”, I mean I’d like to come to Mauritius, in person, for some sort of SWF launch event or conference or whatever. We can call it ‘field work’ or ‘close dialogue’ or whatever passes enough muster to get me a week “working” in this remarkably beautiful country. Have you seen this place? Amazing.”
Well, friends, here’s my chance!
Apparently, Mauritius is hiring a new “Technical Advisor” to help the government make the necessary “...operational decisions with regard to the management, governance and legal structures for the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).”
This would be a remarkably fun job; not only would the Advisor get to help the country design a new SWF from scratch (cue pensive look with slow chin rubbing), but he or she would also get to spend nine months in Mauritius (cue eyebrows, slow head shake and silently mouthed ‘Wow’). So, there’s really nothing left for me to do but...
To Whom It May Concern in Mauritius: Please consider this my formal application for the position Technical Advisor, Sovereign Wealth Funds. I think I can really help you out on this project; I’m pretty much up to speed on how governments set these funds up. I recognize that I don’t quite have all the qualifications you require (i.e., at least 7 years hands-on experience in the management of SWFs, experience working in Pacific island states or Extensive experience of working at a government / ministry level), but I do have deep knowledge of international best practice governance and legal structures. Will that cut it? Oh and I’m quite cheap. All I really require is a wifi-connected-four-post-hut with glass floors over the clear blue Mauritian ocean...
