Mauritius Launches 6% State-Guaranteed Retirement Bond for Over-50s

The Bank of Mauritius has officially announced the launch of a new state-backed savings instrument designed specifically for Mauritians approaching retirement age. Called the "Fifteen-Year Government of Mauritius Retirement Savings Bond," it will be available for subscription from **15 October 2026** and matures on **15 October 2041**. ## Who Can Apply? The bond is open exclusively to **Mauritian residents aged between 50 and 65 years**. It is not available to corporations, trusts, or joint holders — this is strictly a personal savings product. ## How Much Can You Invest? The minimum investment is **Rs 100,000**, and additional amounts must be in multiples of Rs 100,000. The maximum any single subscriber can hold is **Rs 2 million**. This means the product is aimed at middle- to upper-income savers who have accumulated a lump sum and want a secure, predictable return over the long term. ## What Return Does It Offer? The bond pays a **fixed annual interest rate of 6%**, distributed in two semi-annual payments — on **15 March** and **15 September** each year. That works out to 3% of your principal every six months, guaranteed by the Government of Mauritius. To put this in context: a Rs 500,000 investment would generate Rs 30,000 in interest per year, or Rs 15,000 every six months, for 15 years. ## What Are the Restrictions? There is a **mandatory holding period of five years**. If you need to exit before the five-year mark, the interest you have already received will be **recalculated at either 4.5% or the prevailing market rate — whichever is lower** — and the difference will be deducted. Additionally, the bond **cannot be transferred, used as collateral, or held jointly**. These restrictions are significant: investors should treat this as locked-in capital rather than a flexible savings account. ## What This Means For Mauritians in their 50s and early 60s, this bond fills a gap between volatile equity markets and low-yielding bank deposits. A guaranteed 6% return backed by the state is notably competitive in the current environment, particularly for risk-averse savers looking to build a predictable income stream ahead of retirement. However, the five-year lock-in and the strict no-transfer, no-collateral rules mean liquidity is sacrificed. Anyone considering this product should ensure they will not need access to that capital before 2031 at the earliest. The announcement was made on **Tuesday, 6 October**, by the Bank of Mauritius — the country's central bank, which oversees monetary policy and financial stability. Source: ION News