Government Type and Legal System: Mauritius is a Republic governed by a parliamentary democracy with elections being held every five years, and is composed of an independent judiciary. It is a hybrid legal system based on English and French laws. The highest Court of Appeal is the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.
Business Environment: Mauritius has realized a remarkable economic transformation from a mono-crop sugar-dominated economy to a diversified economy resting on, inter alia, export-oriented manufacturing, property development, tourism and financial business services sectors. Mauritius is a small economy with booming financial services and offshore sectors.
Official National Language: English.
Population: 1,26 Million (July 2016).
Currency: Mauritian Rupee (MUR).
GDP: USD 11 Million (2016) ; growth rate of 3.9 % for 2016.
Foreign Direct Investment ("FDI") Inflows: MUR 7.96 billion (January to June 2016) ; increase of 69 % from the first semester of 2015.
Free Trade Treaties: Preferential market access to the EU under the Cotonou Agreement; to the US under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act ("AGOA"); and to Africa under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa ("COMESA") and under the Southern African Development Community ("SADC").
Originally produced by Juristconsult Chambers for DLA Piper.
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