GENERAL

Status: Democratic
Location: South west of the Indian Ocean, 800km east of Madagascar and 2,600km from the east coast of Africa.
Area: 1,860km2
Capital: Port-Louis
Population: 1,063,446
Business languages: English (with French, Hindi and oriental languages also spoken).
Currency: Mauritian Rupee
Time zone: GMT +4
Business hours: Mon-Fri 9am to 4pm
Climate: Tropical.
Average temperature of 25ºc.

IMPORTANT CONTACTS

The Mauritius Chamber of
Commerce and Industry
3 Royal Street
Port Louis
Mauritius
Tel: + 230 208 3301
Fax: + 230 208 0076
email: mcci@intnet.mu
Web: www.mcci.org

British Embassy in Mauritius
King George V Avenure
Floreal
Mauritius
Tel: + 230 686 57995/6/7/8/9

Mauritius High Commission
32-33 Elvaston Place
London SW7
Tel: + 44 207 225 331

Mauritius Sugar Syndicate
Grosvenor Gardens House
Grosvenor Gardens
London
SW1W OBS
Tel: + 44 207 834 3381

EXPAT EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

Visas and work permits are required.

COMMUNICATIONS

Flights to Europe, Australia, South Africa and the Far East from Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. Mauritius has good shipping connections with the UK, France, Singapore, Germany and South Africa. Mauritius Telecom is presently running ISDN and a packet switched public data network called Mauridata which is connected to other packet networks through the Noeud de Transit International (NTI) in France.

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STABILITY

The procedural law both in criminal and civil litigation is mainly English, whilst the substantive law is based on the French Napolenic code. The company law is modelled on the English law and the system still looks to the Privvy Council for its ultimate Court of Appeal.

KEY ACTIVITIES

  • Export Processing Zone.
  • Pioneer Status Enterprise: activities involving technology or shill which will enhance the industrial and technological development of Mauritius.
  • Strategic Local Enterprise: projects of national interest promoting industrial and technological advancement in Mauritius.
  • Modernisation and Expansion Enterprise: investment in new techniques involving CAD/CAM, automation equipment and environmentally friendly activities.
  • All Enterprises: Grants of up to 75% for approved vocational training programmes.

ADVANTAGES OF MAURITIUS

  • Strategic time zone.
  • Geographical position as a bridge between eastern and southern Africa and the Far East.
  • Reputation for political stability.
  • Sophisticated infrastructures services.
  • State of the art telecommunications facilities.

The content of this factfile is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances

This factfile also appears in the 'International Offshore and Financial Centres Handbook 1999/2000'. For further information about this highly informative guide to offshore centres, or to order your copy, please phone +44 (0) 207 820 7733 or send an email to iofch@mondaq.com