• GDP: US$6 billion.
• Main imports: Manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuff, petroleum products and chemicals.
• Main exports: Clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers and molasses.
• Main trade partners: Bahrain, China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, South Africa, UK and USA.

Sugar dominates Mauritius’ agricultural economy: raw and processed sugar accounts for one-quarter of the island’s export earnings. Tobacco and tea are the other main cash crops. Since independence in 1968, the government has deliberately sought to develop the industrial and service components of the economy. The island’s industrial capacity is centred on a number of Export Processing Zones whose main products are clothing and textiles, consumer and industrial electronics, flowers and jewellery. Mauritius’ service economy is based on tourism and financial services. Tourism is well established and now worth over US$500 million annually. The growth of financial services arose from a government initiative implemented in 1989; as a result, the island has since attracted more than US$1 billion of investment, mainly from South Africa and the Indian subcontinent. The overall economy grew at 4.6 per cent in 2004.
The government’s economic policy aims to counter the threat to the two largest sectors of the economy – sugar and textiles – from new regulations introduced by the World Trade Organization. The centrepiece of its strategy is the creation of a custom-built ‘cyber-city’, based on similar development in India, using high-speed communications links to offer e-commerce and financial transactions.
Mauritius is a member of the Indian Ocean Commission, which promotes regional economic cooperation, and of the Southern African Development Community.

Suits are often worn in business circles. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600, Sat 0900-1200 (some offices only).

Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry
3 Royal Street, Port Louis, Mauritius
Tel: 208 3301.
Website: www.mcci.org