Mauritius Economy

The economy of Mauritius has been characterized for over two centuries by the monoculture of sugar cane. In the seventies of the twentieth century, to reduce the dangers deriving from the almost total dependence on a single source of income, the government began an economic policy aimed at diversifying agriculture (with the strengthening of both other products destined for export, such as that of tea, and food crops necessary for the internal market, especially cereals), as well as to increase the industry. In the following decade, the country undertook, thanks also to aid from the IMF, to reduce public spending, to contain inflation and to promote tourism: GDP began to grow and in 2008 stood at US $ 8,738 million and GDP per capita it was, in 2008, among the largest in the continent (US $ 6,872). Today tourism is one of the main economic resources of Mauritius and, thanks to the ease with which it is possible to do business, the country has a huge flow of foreign investments, especially as regards manufacturing and hospitality and tourist infrastructures. § Cereals (corn, rice), cassava, potatoes, tomatoes and various vegetables, bananas are grown for local consumption; among the main industrial crops there are (in addition of course to sugar cane) tea, coffee, tobacco, coconut palm and vanilla. § Breeding plays a moderate role (cattle, goats, poultry), while fishing is rather limited. § The industry was strongly favored by the creation of a free zone (Port of Port Louis), involving customs and tax exemptions, and a whole series of other concessions, aimed at attracting foreign investments. There are sugar factories (Grand-Port and Flacq), a refinery and a fertilizer factory in Port Louis; the sector is centered on a strong specialization especially in the textile and clothing sector (highly developed). According to allcountrylist, the secondary sector thus supplies approx. one third of the gross domestic product, occupying approx. 32% of the workforce. § Mineral resources are completely absent. Electricity is mostly of thermal origin and produced with imported fuels. § As for the communication routes, the road system is good (2015 km in 2004), which connects the main centers of the plateau to the coast. Instead, the railways are missing. At the capital, in Plaisance, an international airport also operates.

International trade is quite lively; Mauritius imports large quantities of petroleum products, machinery and various industrial products, cereals and other foodstuffs, while it exports, in addition to sugar, textiles and clothing, electronic components and tea. Business partners are Hong Kong, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States. The trade balance is in deficit, but substantial currency contributions come from tourism. § The latter has been gaining more and more strength in the country’s economy since the 1980s: in 2006 Mauritius was visited by over 780,000 tourists. Foreign operators also invest in this sector, especially South Africans, French, British and Germans. § International trade is quite lively; Mauritius imports large quantities of petroleum products, machinery and various industrial products, cereals and other foodstuffs, while it exports, in addition to sugar, textiles and clothing, electronic components and tea. Business partners are Hong Kong, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States. The trade balance is in deficit, but substantial currency contributions come from tourism.

The latter has been gaining more and more strength in the country’s economy since the 1980s: in 2006 Mauritius was visited by over 780,000 tourists. Foreign operators also invest in this sector, especially South Africans, French, British and Germans. § International trade is quite lively; Mauritius imports large quantities of petroleum products, machinery and various industrial products, cereals and other foodstuffs, while it exports, in addition to sugar, textiles and clothing, electronic components and tea. Business partners are Hong Kong, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States. The trade balance is in deficit, but substantial currency contributions come from tourism. § The latter has been gaining more and more strength in the country’s economy since the 1980s: in 2006 Mauritius was visited by over 780,000 tourists. Foreign operators also invest in this sector, especially South Africans, French, British and Germans. cereals and other foodstuffs, while it exports, in addition to sugar, textiles and clothing, electronic components and tea. Business partners are Hong Kong, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States. The trade balance is in deficit, but substantial currency contributions come from tourism. § The latter has been gaining more and more strength in the country’s economy since the 1980s: in 2006 Mauritius was visited by over 780,000 tourists. Foreign operators also invest in this sector, especially South Africans, French, British and Germans. cereals and other foodstuffs, while it exports, in addition to sugar, textiles and clothing, electronic components and tea. Business partners are Hong Kong, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States. The trade balance is in deficit, but substantial currency contributions come from tourism. § The latter has been gaining more and more strength in the country’s economy since the 1980s: in 2006 Mauritius was visited by over 780,000 tourists. Foreign operators also invest in this sector, especially South Africans, French, British and Germans. but conspicuous currency contributions come from tourism. § The latter has been gaining more and more strength in the country’s economy since the 1980s: in 2006 Mauritius was visited by over 780,000 tourists. Foreign operators also invest in this sector, especially South Africans, French, British and Germans. but conspicuous currency contributions come from tourism. § The latter has been gaining more and more strength in the country’s economy since the 1980s: in 2006 Mauritius was visited by over 780,000 tourists. Foreign operators also invest in this sector, especially South Africans, French, British and Germans.

Mauritius Economy

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