[1] (202) 966-0983

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Cesar CABRERA
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US
mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, US Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-2450
telephone: [230] 202-4400
FAX: [230] 208-9534

Flag description:

four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green

Economy
Mauritius

Economy - overview:

Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a
low-income, agriculturally based economy to a middle-income
diversified economy with growing industrial, financial, and tourist
sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been in the order
of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in more
equitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, lowered
infant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure. The economy
rests on sugar, tourism, textiles and apparel, and financial
services, and is expanding into fish processing, information and
communications technology, and hospitality and property development.
Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and
accounts for 15% of export earnings. The government's development
strategy centers on creating vertical and horizontal clusters of
development in these sectors. Mauritius has attracted more than
32,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India, South
Africa, and China. Investment in the banking sector alone has
reached over $1 billion. Mauritius, with its strong textile sector,
has been well poised to take advantage of the Africa Growth and
Opportunity Act (AGOA).

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$14.27 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$6.959 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$11,300 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.8%
industry: 25%
services: 70.1% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

574,000 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture and fishing 9%, construction and industry 30%,
transportation and communication 7%, trade, restaurants, hotels 22%,
finance 6%, other services 25% (2007)

Unemployment rate:

8.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

8% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10