ICT/BPO unlocks opportunities for expats living in Mauritius

The number of expats living in Mauritius has increased recently because of the country’s strategy to expand its economic activities into the ICT/BPO sector. This expansion depends on foreign skills and talents. The fields of technology and innovation, as well as information and communication, have become lucrative career paths for expats living in Mauritius. And more growth opportunities are shaping up fast.

Tech-driven job opportunities for expats began to grow in the early 2000s. This was when Mauritius launched its strategy for the ICT/BPO sector along with a slew of incentives for foreign investors to buy in real estate developments.

Global players in the mix

Almost two decades later, the island nation has become home to some 800 ICT/BPO enterprises. These include major global players such as Accenture, Allianz, Ceridian, Convergys, Huawei, and Orange Business Services.

Many tech startups have also set up shop in Mauritius to provide global clients with innovative, high-quality solutions. They offer digital services, e-commerce, applications development, and support desks, among others. In 2019, the Mauritian ICT/BPO industry accounted for 5.8 percent of the country’s GDP, with employment moving towards the 25,000 mark.

For expats living in Mauritius and working as a techie or digital executive, the typical workplace would be at Cybercity in Ebene. This development sprawls across 64 hectares in Plaines Wilhems, south of the country’s capital, Port Louis. The Mauritius Cybercity serves as a vital link between the African and Asian markets.

Shaping a digital economy

The government has succeeded in substantially reducing the local price of bandwidth. This creates superb network connectivity to the outside world, and makes the Ebene Cybercity quite competitive. Cybercity is so well connected that it hosts the internet registry platform for the entire African continent, which is more than 2,000 kilometres from Mauritius.

More tech job opportunities are likely to open for expats in Mauritius. The government provided several measures to attract outside talents in its 2020/21 budget. These form part of its recovery efforts post- COVID-19.

The government also provided for fresh resources to digitise most of its operations and services. A Mauritius Digital Transformation Agency under the Prime Minister’s Office will spearhead this transformation.

Significantly, the government is opening a new Data Technology Park at Côte d’Or. The park will comprise 12 specialised centres that will establish a platform for a data-driven Mauritian economy.

Indeed, the Mauritius digital transformation is moving forward fast. It already has a dynamic ICT/BPO sector that has become central to expats living in Mauritius. In addition, ongoing support from government underpins its commitment to maintaining a digitally driven economy.

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