Mauritius offers an endless range of opportunities to Malaysian investors. The Government of Mauritius is fully committed to facilitate the flow of investments into the country by promoting opportunities in a wide range of priority sectors.

The island nation has a robust, diversified and stable economy, anchored on the agro industry, export-oriented manufacturing, tourism, financial services as well as the information and communication technology sectors. The Government has identified and developed these sectors to offer the highest growth potential to investors.

Hospitality and Real Estate Development 
The enchanting beauty of the island and an investor-friendly business climate are the main factors behind the thriving performance of this sector in the Mauritian economy. Over the years, Mauritius has seen remarkable growth in the construction of beach resorts by international hotel groups.

Investment opportunities in this sector include the construction of beach resorts, business hotels and boutique hotels; entertainment and leisure activities, eco tourism, casinos; marina, beach and water-related attractions; real estate developments: residential, retail, commercial, industrial and lifestyle estates; and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions).

Information and
Communication Technology
The ICT sector achieved a 38% growth in 2006 – an impressive performance which is expected to improve even more in the coming years. Within this sector, there are burgeoning opportunities for investors in value-added Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) activities in financial and accounting, hospitality and tourism, health and medical, human resources, legal; call and data-processing centres; disaster recovery and business continuity planning; and software development.

Seafood and Marine Industry
The strategic position of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, one of the main fishing zones in the world, makes it the ideal location for the development of seafood and other marine-related activities. The country has a 1.9 million square km Exclusive Economic Zone that is abundant with seafood resources. The Mauritius Freeport provides sophisticated logistics services and excellent facilities for the storage of fresh, chilled and frozen products.

Investment opportunities include trans-shipment, tuna fishing (Mauritius has the second largest global tuna stock), seafood processing, auxiliary services and aquaculture with five lagoon-based sites already identified.

Land-based Oceanic Industry (LBOI)
Mauritius is well-positioned to tap the enormous economic values of the Great Conveyor Belt comprising deep seawater currents which carry centuries old seawater. LBOI activities include the desalination and bottling of water obtained from the Global Conveyor Belt, from a depth of 1,000 meters. This water is also used for the air conditioning in hotels, residences and commercial buildings. Opportunities also exist for the use of this water in the manufacturing of bio-medical and pharmaceutical products as well as in aquaculture for high value seafood products.

Bio-medical and Health Services Industry
Mauritius offers the Malaysian investor many interesting opportunities to provide medical services, facilities and treatment to local and international patients in a variety of specialty areas. The Government encourages investment in the setting up of multi-specialty medical centres, cosmetic surgery and dental clinics, diagnostic centres, convalescence centres, health and wellness centres as well as clinical centres.

Knowledge Industry
Mauritius has a dynamic programme in place to attract internationally renowned educational institutions, universities and training centres to establish off-campus branches, colleges and training centres on the island to cater to the regional and international student community.

Opportunities exist for investors to set up universities, subsidiary and off-campus branches of reputable universities, science and technology centres, business schools, research & development centres and other centres of excellence.

Media & Entertainment Industry
The Government of Mauritius has a vision for the country to become a regional film shooting and production centre. Therefore, many opportunities are available for investors in the setting up of production houses and film processing centres as well as in financing and distribution.

Financial Services
There are about 30,000 companies operating in this sector including multinationals, banks, non-bank financial intermediaries, trusts and insurers. In fact, 10% of the country’s GDP is attributed to the financial services sector. The Mauritius Stock Exchange is a member of the World Federation of Exchanges and is one of the fastest growing in the region.

The opportunities that exist in this sector are in private banking, trusts administration, management companies, global businesses, private equity and credit rating.

Textile & Fashion Industry
The textile & fashion industry has spearheaded economic growth in Mauritius for over 30 years. Today, the country is home to some of the most modern businesses in both cotton and woolen wear. Opportunities that would be ideal for Malaysian investors include cotton spinning, knitting and weaving mills; home textile miles; beach and swim-wear manufacturing; design & fashion centres and institutes; and buying offices for the Africa-Asia regions.

Logistics & Distribution
This sector revolves around the Mauritius Freeport, a commercial free zone that was created to diversify the economic base of Mauritius. It aims to offer a competitive logistics and distribution platform for international trade. Specialised logistics facilities and services are available for transshipment, consolidation, goods storage and value-added activities like processing and light assembly of goods.

Value-added Manufacturing and Light Processing
Mauritius has a skilled labour force that will meet the needs of value-added manufacturing activities such as jewellery and diamond cutting & polishing, the assembly of electronic products, the manufacture of medical devices and the assembly of computers.

Biotechnology
Mauritius has extensive experience and expertise in the agro industry, especially in research and development (MSIRI, AREU, etc.) and sector industrialization. With its strategic location, infrastructure and vast resources, Mauritius has all the makings of an advanced biotechnology centre for the region, with significant market access through COMESA and SADC.

For more information on investing in Mauritius, please log on to:
Discover Mauritius: www.mauritius.net/general_info/offices.php
Board of Investment Mauritius: www.boimauritius.com