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PRESENTATION
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The
Republic of Mauritius
is a volcanic island, measuring 58 km (36 mi) from North to South and 47 km (29
mi) from East to West. Located in the Indian
Ocean in Southern Africa, 800 km (500 mi) Southeast of Madagascar;
3860 km (2400 mi) Southwest of India and 220 km (135 mi) Northeast of its nearest
neighbor, the French territory of la Reunion. It
has a total area of 1,860 sq km (land: 1,850 sq km; water:
10 sq km); included are: Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon),
and Rodrigues some 560 km (350 mi) to the Northeast. The
total coastline of the main territory (Mauritius
Island) is: 177 km Population:
1,182,212 (1999); 1,210,447 (July 2003 est.); with a population growth rate of:
1.18% (1999); 0.84% (2003 est.). Independence
from United Kingdom
March 12, 1968.
National holiday:
March 12
Agriculture
production: sugarcane,
tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish. Industrial
production: food
processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing; chemicals, metal products,
transport equipment, nonelectric machinery; tourism. Industrial
production growth rate:
5.8% (1992) Since
independence in 1968, in comparison to many other African countries, Mauritius
is an economic success story. Mauritius
benefited from the political vision and economic development strategy deftly implemented
by its founder and first Prime Minister - Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam.
He negotiated a very
good selling price for the then main and quite sole export earning (90%) industrial
production of the country - cane sugar - to the European Union market.
The flux of money generated by the deal was for quite two decades - from
1960 to 1980 - the monetary cushion used by the country's leaders to develop a
diversified economy; establish sound communication, administrative, legal and
financial services to attract foreign investments.
Agriculture' share in the GNP is steadily dwindling.
10% in year 2000 and 6% in year 2003 (Sugar represents 25% of the total of Mauritius'
exports and sugarcane cultivation 90 % of arable land). It had been outclassed
by services (61% - in which tourism accounts for
16%) and industrial production, which is developing
at a steady growth rate of 5-6% per year. Since
1992, Mauritius' authorities are promoting offshore activities
with the ambition to position the country as a major player in financing business
and transshipping activities between Southeast Asia and Africa. Their
developing strategy attracted more than 6,400 offshore business concerns end of
year 2000; to totaling around 18,000 end of 2002 - for a global investment amounting
to US$ 15.77 billions.
Click
here for listing of exporters from Mauritius
Click
here for the speech delivered by Mauritius's prime minister Anerood Jugnauth
to the opening session of the Private Sector Forum / second African Growth
and Opportunities Act - AGOA - between USA and Africa / January 13-17,
2003, Port Louis, Mauritius. A remarkable synopsis of the strategy that lifted
Mauritius from the developing world to the group of countries enjoying medium
per capita GNP in the range of US$ 4,000. Since
the independence, average annual economic growth rate has been in the range of
5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in increased life
expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much improved infrastructure.
However, the globalization
of the world economy and the Uruguay Round Agreement are one of the roadblocks
on this remarkable development path. Mauritius
is reorganizing its development strategy to cope with the new challenge of trading
without the safety net of bilateral commercial preferential agreements.
In order to be in the
position to compete with Asia new tigers that can bank on a reservoir of low salary
workforce, there is an urgent necessity to restructure the sugar cane industry;
implementing capitalistic mergers in order to scrape some profit gains; the same
for the textile industry which need to turn to high quality production.
Performance
in 1990-95 was achieved with solid growth and low unemployment (less than 2%).
Since then, due to the implementation of the reorganization scheme, unemployment
has worsen to reach 10% in 1998; as Mauritius' entrepreneurs are recruiting more
and more workers from China in order to overcome the local high salary level.
That unemployment
situation was highlighted from October 1999 to March 2000 when the country experienced
civil disturbances due to the malcontent of those (10% of the population) which
have missed the wealth train and felt left over the economic success track.
There is no doubt that
the leadership of the country is brainstorming about these hindrances and will
find solutions in order to continue the remarkable developing experienced by Mauritius.
A prospective plan - Mauritius
VISION 2020
- has been drafted and will be implemented during the coming
two decades.

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|
SOME
FIGURES |
GNP:
US$ 4.57 billion (2000); 4.91 billion (2001); 5.16 billion (2002); 5.43 billion
(2003) GNP-
growth rate: 7.5% (2000);
5.2% (2001); 5.2% (2002)
5.2% (2003) GNP-per
capita: US$ 3,866 (2000);
4,449 (2003)
Click
here for the difference between GNP and Parity Purchasing Power GNP-composition
by sector
-
agriculture:
6%
- industry:
33%
- services:
61%
Exports:
US$ 1.6 billion
(f.o.b. 2000); 1.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) Commodities:
clothing and textiles
55%, sugar 24% (2000) Exports - partners:
UK 27.7%, France 25.5%, US 16.4%, Madagascar
6.2%, Belgium 5% (2002)
Imports:
US$ 2.3 billion
(f.o.b. 2000); 1.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) Commodities:
manufactured goods
37%, capital equipment 19%, foodstuffs 13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7%. Imports
- partners: France 18.4%, South
Africa 13.5%, India 7.8%, China 4.5%, UK 4.2% (2002) CURRENCY
EQUIVALENCE
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| ENTRY
POLICY / HEALTH POLICY | |
No visa is required for a stay of up to three months if passport valid for six
months accounting from date of arrival; and if tickets and documents for return
or onward travel are shown at entry point. International
Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever is required if arriving from an infected
area within five days. Fore more, consult one of the following addresses
Passport
Office Line Barracks Lord Kitchner Road Port Louis Tel : +(230) 208 1212 Fax : +(230) 212 2398 |
Representation
in the US Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Tel: +(1) 202 244-1491/ 1492
Fax: +(1) 202 966-0983
| |
AIR-LINKING
/ TRANSSHIPPING |
Mauritius
has multiple daily air connections to Europe and India through international big
carriers; and to South-Africa with South Africa Airways. The national flag carrier:
AIR MAURITIUS is active on Europe (six flights per week from Paris - France)
and India. Main
harbor: Port Louis the capital-city. Merchant
marine: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 178,846 GRT/236,308 DWT (ships by
type: cargo 6, combination bulk 2, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 1, refrigerated
cargo 2)
Mauritius is promoting
a flag of convenience registry. For
more about said registry, please contact one of the addresses below mentioned
in the "Investors Contacts" section
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|
INVESTOR
CONTACTS |
Mauritius
Export Development and Investment Authority
MEDIA 25 Pope Hennessy Street Port-Louis,
Mauritius For
more click here |
Mauritius
Standards Bureau Moka, Mauritius Tel: +(230)
433 3648 Fax: +(230)
433 5150 msb@intnet.mu |
Mauritius
Offshore Business Activities Authority - MOBAA 5th floor, Block A
Wharf le Caudan Waterfront Old Pavillon Street Port Louis Mauritius
Tel: +(230) 210 7000
Fax: +(230) 212 9459 / 211 3398
mobaa@intnet.mu |
| |
| ACCOMMODATION |
Mauritius is an excellent holiday destination.
"God created Mauritius and then heaven."
Dixit American
author Mark Twain. There
are plenty of accommodation infrastructures serviced up to international standard.
Travellers can choose between a budget hotel or room (US$ 10-30); a mid-range
hotel (US$ 30-60); and five stars resorts and palaces (from US$ 60). No need to
single one out. Nevertheless here are some addresses; for
more
click here
|
La
Pirogue Sun Hotel Wolmar Tel: +(230)
453 8441 Fax: +(230)
453 8494 | Le
Meridien Paradise Cove Paradise Cove
Tel: +(230) 262 7983
Fax: +(230) 262 7736
| Merville
Beach Hotel Royal Road Tel: +(230)
263 8621 Fax: +(230)
263 8146 | Berjaya
Le Morne Beach Resort Le Morne Tel: +(230)
683 6800 Fax: +(230)
683 6070 |
Mont
Choisy Hotel Route Royale Tel: +(230)
261 6070 Fax: +(230)
261 6749 | Le
Mauricia Hotel Route Royale Tel: +(230)
263 7800 Fax: +(230)
263 7888 | |
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