Introduction
My Mauritius Life doesn’t claim expertise about the economy, taxation, residency, job hunting, business opportunities, etc., each the domain of specialists. Also, in a fast transforming economy, information ages in a blink. We connect you with the clearest, most knowledgeable, and well-maintained sites we’ve researched so you can do your homework. These are among the most credible private sector, or authentic governmental sites we’ve found, not the only ones.
Latest articles, interesting perspectives
State of the economy
Economic strategy and business opportunities
Taxation
Residency
Job hunting
Registering a business
Legal and accounting services
Useful publications and media
Latest articles, interesting perspectives
- https://www.lemauricien.com/actualites/societe/budget-2020-21-pierre-dinan-economiste-un-equilibre-instable/354812/ (right-click on article and click on “translate into English”
- https://www.penresa.com/the-secret-behind-mauritius-resilient-economy/
State of the Economy
Mauritius hasn’t encountered a recession since independence in 1968. By midyear, the country had shown a 52,4% drop in exports and a reduction of 53,1% in tourist arrivals. Job losses hover, unemployment predicted at 129 000 by year-end. It’s not surprising Mauritians are anxious. They’re not alone, the World Bank predicts that 167 countries will show negative growth in 2020; however, in a small economy, a ripple can overturn the boat.
The current gloom shouldn’t overshadow the country’s dynamic rise in the past fifty-two years. It’s time to brainstorm alternative models. A massive and unexploited blue economy is up for grabs; tourism continues to flog an outdated model: the need to refresh is obvious. There’s room to expand local manufacturing and grow a pharmaceutical industry, and the circular sector needs attention. On a practical level, you can’t go wrong with food security and green energy. The country must respond, rebuild, and reboot.
- ECONOMIC COMMENT: The Mauritius Commercial Bank issues a regular comment on the budget and the broader economy. Click here to read the latest Focus journal and past editions: https://www.mcbgroup.com/en/investor-centre/mcb-focus
- PWC TAKE ON THE 2020-2021 BUDGET: https://www.pwc.com/mu/en/events/budget.html
- ECONOMIC RANKINGS: The following pre COVID-19 table, updated and adapted from the Economic Board of Development (EBD) places Mauritius in a global economic and socio-political context against African and international benchmarks. It will be updated once the virus’s ravages are more widely known.
| Index | No. of countries | Global Rank (Mauritius) | Africa Rank (Mauritius) | Africa Rank (RSA) |
| World Bank Doing Business 2020 | 190 | 13 | 1 | 4 |
| Global Competitiveness Index 2019 | 141 | 52 | 1 | 2 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index 2019 (Transparency International) | 180 | 56 | 5 | 7 |
| International Property Rights Index 2019 | 126 | 40 | 1 | 3 |
| Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance 2018 | 54 | – | 1 | 7 |
| Index of Economic Freedom – 2019 (Heritage Foundation) | 180 | 25 | 1 | 11 |
| Human Development Index 2019 | 189 | 66 | 2 | 5 |
| Environmental Performance Index 2018 | 180 | 90 | 7 | 20 |
| Travel and Tourism Competitiveness 2019 | 140 | 54 | 1 | 2 |
Economic strategy and business opportunities
From a mono-crop sugar economy pre 1968, Mauritius has transformed itself into a robust, diversified, knowledge-driven economy in the 21st century. The government is adept at building bridges with partner nations. It continuously fosters a conducive business environment to strengthen the island’s position as a leading investment destination. Bilingual, situated in favourable time zone in relation to its major business partners, Mauritius deserves a closer look. Sectors to consider are green energy, the circular and ocean economies, ICT, and manufacturing, with emphasis on pharmaceuticals. Scan the links below to gather a sense of the business culture in 2020.
- MAURITIUS VISION 2030 : https://www.un-page.org/files/public/mauritius_jan-feb_2017_reprint_compr.pdf
- SOME SECTORS TO CONSIDER:
https://www.edbmauritius.org/opportunities/
- DELOITTE’S COMMENT ON BUDGET, THE ECONOMY AND OPPORTUNITIES:
https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/mu/Documents/tax/mu-tax-budget-2020-noexp.pdf
- AXY’s: TRANSLATION OF THE BUDGET:
https://www.axys-group.com/downloads/National-Budget-2020-21-Analysis.pdf
Taxation
ROGERS CAPITAL GUIDE TO TAXES (early) 2020.
This Roger’s Capital Guide to Taxes is written with insight and clarity. Click here to access the guide: www.rogerscapital.mu
MAURITIUS REVENUE AUTHORITY:
https://www.mra.mu/index.php/taxes-duties/overview-of-taxes
DELOITTE – Tax highlights for 2020: (updated February 2020: there have been changes since)
https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/Tax/dttl-tax-mauritiushighlights-2020.pdf
Residency
The Economic Development Board provides a comprehensive guide to the permits and schemes available for persons wishing to live in Mauritius. https://www.edbmauritius.org/work-and-live-in-mauritius/
Job Hunting
As a rule of thumb, don’t apply for jobs on corporate websites. They are seldom serviced; you are likely to become frustrated and demotivated. In a country the size of Mauritius, personal contacts are required. If you have no prior connection with Mauritius, start with LinkedIn or friends’ friends.
When attending an interview for a position in Mauritius it is worth bearing in mind that the dress code in the workplace is usually formal.
The following recruitment agencies advertise career positions which give you an understanding of the job market in Mauritius:
| Deloittes – local job search | https://www2.deloitte.com/mu/en/pages/careers/careers/jobsearch.html?icid=top_jobsearch |
| My Job – local agency | https://www.myjob.mu/ |
| Career Hub – local agency | https://www.careerhub.mu/careerhub-team-recruitment-specialists-mauritius/ |
| Michael Page – international Agency | https://www.michaelpageafrica.com/jobs/mauritius |
| Expat.com – international Agency | https://www.expat.com/en/business/africa/mauritius/1_jobs/recruitment-agencies/ |
You could be looking for a corporate job, in which case it is better to contact the companies of your choice directly. Below is a list of the 10 top companies according to the Top 100 Companies Index (2019), produced by La Sentinelle annually.
| Company | Turnover | Principal activity | Contact | Subsidiaries |
| IBL Ltd | Rs37 074.4m | Conglomerate with wide ranging interests in commerce & investment | +2302032000 iblinfo@iblgroup.com | Over 250 |
| Ciel Ltd | Rs22 608m | Textiles Agro and property Hotels and Resorts Finance Healthcare | +230 4042200 info@cielgroup.com | Operating in Mauritius, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Maldives, Madagascar, Seychelles, Botswana, Seychelles: Alteo, Ferney (Agri) Laboratoire International Sun Resorts, Four Seasons Anahita, Shangri-La, Le Touessrok (hotels) CIEL Finance, Bank One BNI Madagascar, MITCO IPRO Investment services, KIBO Capital Partners, KIBO Funds I and II (Finance) CIEL Healthcare (Health) Welkin Hospital |
| Air Mauritius | EUR 499.8m | National airline | +230 2077070 contact@airmaritius.com | Airline |
| Eclosia Group | Rs16,276m | Food Commerce Logistics Education Business services Hotels and leisure | +230404900 communication@eclosia.com www.eclosia.com | Operates in Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Kenya. Maurilait (Dairy) KFC Franchisor Branded chickens (several brands) Avipro (poultry, eggs) Charles Telfair campus Odysseo (Oceanarium) |
| ENL Limited | Rs14 602m | Agro-industry Hospitality Real estate Commerce & industry Logistics Fintech | +230 404 9500 info@enl.mu www.enl.mu | Over 100 brands and businesses in the listed activities |
| Vivo Energy Mauritius | Rs12 849m | Vivo Energy Shell licensee | +230 206 1234 www.vivoenergy.com | Filling stations, Gas, lubricants, etc. |
| Mauritius Telecom Group | Rs10 605m | ICT public sector with fibre optic and full telecommunications packages | +230 203 7000 ceo@telecom.mu www.telecom.mu | Fixed line, internet, TV, mobile money Partner with Google, Facebook & Netflix for cache servers My.t brand |
| The Leal Group | Rs10 214m | Automotive Pharmaceutical & Dist. FMCG distribution IT cluster Engineering Tourism Energy Logistics | +230 207 2400 leal@leal.lealgroup.com | United Motors Leal Reunion S.A.S. Luxury Automobiles PNL Health; Consumer: Retail: Chemical Leal Comms & Info Ltd (LCI) SOLINFO Elytis Leal Equipment Cie Ltd Various car hire brands Leal Energie Ltd Ariva |
| New Hotels Mauritius | Rs10 106m | Tourism & hospitality | +230 601 9000 beachcomber@bchot.com www.beachcomber-hotels.com | Beachcomber Resorts |
| Princes Tuna | Rs9 914.2m | Tuna processing | +230 206 9000 ptm@princesmauritius.com | Cluster of tuna brands, frozen, pouched, canned |
| Quick list of other profitable Companies within the Top 100 | ||||
| Rogers and Company Ltd | International services & investments; Fintech; hospitality; logistics, property. | www.rogers.mu | ||
| SWAN | Financial solutions, insurance, assurance, pension and actuarial services, pension administration, investment advisory, wealth management and stockbroking | +230 207 3500 info@swanforlife.com www.swanforlife.com | Operates in Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar, Zambia and Rwanda. | |
| Phoenix Beverages Ltd | Beer, soft drinks: Brewer, bottler. Distributor of wines and spirits | _230 601 2000 contact@phoenixbev.mu www.phoenixbev.mu | Phoenix beer brands, Schweppes, Coca Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Crystal mineral water, Orangina, Eski, Five Alive | |
| Aptis Group | Distribution of tobacco products Commerce Property | +230 249 2409 | TNS tobacco Floor to Roof Ltd Rasco Company Resiglas Co. Ltd Aptis Property | |
| The Currimjee Group of Companies | Telecoms, media, IT Real Estate Tourism & Hospitality Commerce Financial services Energy Food & Beverages Home & Personal care | +230 650 6270 secretariat@currimjee-secretaries.com | Emtel Currimjee Informaticcs Digital paid TV Currimjee Real Estate Island Life insurance Total Mauritius shareholder Quality Beverages (QBL) Margarine Industries Central Distributors Co Soap & Allied Industries | |
| ABC Group of Companies | Automobile Banking Financial and insurance Food Shipping & Logistics | +230 405 1308 info@abcgroup.mu | Car dealerships, rentals maintenance franchises ABC Banking Private banking ABC Academy ABC Capital Chue Wing & Co carries a number of food brands ABC Shipping & logistics | |
| Gamma Group | Contracting Building materials Lottery Hospitality Real estate | +230 403 8000 headoffice@gamma.mu www.gamma.mu | Gamma Construction Gamma Materials Ltd Lottotech Ltd Morning Light Co. Several properties | |
| Compagnie Mauricienne Textile Ltee | Vertically integrated textile and apparel manufacturers. | +230 601 8888 info@cmt.mu | Headquartered in Mauritius, design and marketing offices in UK and France. | |
| Terra | Conglomerate: Sugarcane Sugar milling Energy production Distillation Commercial distribution Leisure Property development Construction Financial services | +230 204 0808 terra@terra.co.mu www.terra.co.mu | Operates in Mauritius, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi and Seychelles. | |
| Scott & Co. Ltd | Importers and distributors of FMCG, pharmaceuticals and healthcare products | +230 206 9400 www.scott.mu | Food; beverages; household & personal care; wines and spirits Pharmaceutical laboratories equipment; wide range of pharmaceuticals Retail pharmacies. | |
| Banking, Insurance and Financial sectors | ||||
| Mts Commercial Bank Group | Rs386 370 | |||
| State Band of Mauritius | Rs226 374 | |||
| HSBC Holdings PLC | Rs135 450 | |||
| Afrasia Bank Limited | Rs121 961 | |||
| Barclays | Rs111 187 | |||
| Investec Bank (Mts) Ltd | Rs 59 571 | |||
| Standard Bank (Mts) | Rs 55 027 | |||
| The Swan Group (Insurance) | Rs 7 530 | |||
| MUA (Insurance) | Rs 4 399 | |||
| SICOM Group (Insurance) | Rs 2 801 | |||
Registering a business
The three links below are your starting blocks into the Mauritian business world, from deciding where to invest, to the process of registration and the maintenance of your business
https://www.edbmauritius.org/getting-started-old/setting-up/
Legal and secretarial services
Useful publications and media
- https://www.businessmag.mu/ (French)
- https://investorsmag.net/
- https://www.lexpress.mu/ (Right-click anywhere on Page and click on “translate to English”)
- https://www.amazon.com/Mauritius-Investment-Business-Opportunities-Yearbook/dp/0739713094
2 comments
Hi Catherine.
Love your new website! As a new investor in property in Mauritius, I’d love to read a blog from someone in the Mauritius property market on how COVID 19 is affecting the Mauritius property market and what is their outlook for 2021.
I’d also be interested to read an overview on which parts of the economy are doing well and which ones are struggling. For example, have any hotel groups gone out of business, is online shopping booming and how are the call centre and financial services industries doing?
Most importantly how and when is Mauritius planning to re-open to visitors without requiring quarantine? This requirement must surely be hampering most businesses in Mauritius. Without open borders, how can the country recover?
Just some ideas on topics I would love to read more about.
All the best,
Jenny
Thanks so much for taking the time to send me your comments. I’m on to them!
I’ll have to work out where to put current affairs, will chat to my blog designer, but your ideas are really good. Keep in touch!