Mauritius

Brief Fact File

Capital	Port Louis
Currency	Mauritian Rupee (MUR)
Language(s)	Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4% (official), other 3.7%, unspecified 0.3% (2000 census)
Local time	GMT + 04:00
Telephone code	230
Major cities	Beau-Bassin

Economy
Mauritius has emerged from a low-income agricultural based economy to a middle-income diversified economy with a rapid growth in industrial, financial, and tourist sectors. It is one of the soundest economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and it accounts for 25% of export earnings. The development strategy of the government are expansion of local financial institutions and building a domestic information telecommunications industry.

Major Exports:

• Clothing And Textiles
  
• Sugar
  
• Cut Flowers
  
• Molasses
  
• Machinery and transport equipment
  
• Chemicals and related products
  
• Food and live animals

Major Imports:

• Capital Equipment
  
• Foodstuffs
  
• Mineral fuels, lubricants and related products
  
• Chemicals and related products
  
• Machinery and transport equipment
  
• Food and live animals
  
• Crude materials (inedible) except fuel

Business Practices

Business Dress
Mainly formal.

Business Hour
9.30 am to 5.00 pm - Businesses (Monday to Friday)
9.00 am to 4.00 pm - Government Offices (Monday to Thursday)
9.00 am to 3.15 pm - Banks (Monday to Thursday and Friday until 5.15 pm)
10.00 am to 5.00 pm - Shops (Monday to Friday)

Important Contacts

Associations / Ministries
The Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry
3, Royal Street, Port-Louis
Mauritius.
Tel.: +(230)-208-3301
Fax: +(230)-208-0076
E-mail: mcci@intnet.mu
Website: http://www.mcci.org

Indian Embassy / Counsulate

Embassy of India
High Commission of India
6th Floor, L.I.C. Building
Pres. John Kennedy Street
Port Louis
P.O. Box 162
Tel.: +(230)-2083775/6, 2080031
Telex: 4532 Hicomin IW
Fax: +(230)-2086859 (High Commission)
        +(230)-2115817 (Business Centre)
        +(230)-6972925 (Indira Gandhi Centre)

Visiting this Country

Business Visa Rules for Mauritius
The following documents are required for obtaining business visa for Mauritius:

• Two recent passport size photographs.
  
• Photocopy of a non-negotiable and non-refundable air tickets - both way.
  
• Photocopy of the first and last three pages of the applicant's passport.
  
• Photocopy of the confirmation received from the hotel, where the applicant will stay. The applicant should also show the evidence of economic capacity of paying for the accommodation.
  
• The applicant also need to show evidence of funds to cover his living expenses in the country.
  
• The applicant need to show evidence that he/she is eligible to re-enter the country of his origin.
  
• The applicant should have a comprehensive health and medical insurance policy for his duration of stay.
  
• A letter of invitation from a company incorporated in Mauritius. The letter should be addressed to the applicant. The Mauritius' company should send a copy of it to the Mauritius consulate. A copy of this letter should also be enclosed with the visa application.
  
• A letter from the applicant's company is also required, stating the purpose of visit.
  
• An evidence is also needed to show that the applicant has a running business entity.

Public Holidays

Festival	Date	Detail
New Year	January 1	Celebrated for 2 days
Thaipoosam Cavadee	January	Date Varies
Abolition Day	February 1
Chinese New Year	February 9
Maha Shivaratri		Date Varies
Independence Day	March 12
Ugadi		Date Varies
Labour Day	May 1
Ganesh Chathurthi		Date Varies
Diwali		Date Varies
All Saints' Day	November 1
First Labourers' Day	November 2
Eid al Fitr		Date Varies
Christmas Day	December 25

Travel Tips

• 10% tipping is usual in most hotels and restaurants. For taxi drivers, tips are not customary.
  
• Mauritius is a left-hand side drive. Foreigners are allowed to drive on the basis of their home country's driving licence.
  
• The electricity is on 220 volts.
  
• Free public medical facilities are available in Mauritius. Private clinics also provide medical services for free.
  
• There is no departure charge.
  
• Passenger above 18 years can carry without incurring customs, 200 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco products or 50 cigars. 250ml of eau de toilette and 100ml of perfume, 11 of spirits and 21 of wine or beer.