The American diaspora in Mauritius is relatively small. Other developed countries like the UK and France easily surpass U.S. immigrants to the island.
The United States, nonetheless, has a profound influence on Mauritius. McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken, both American fast food chain icons, notably have many franchises across the 2,040-square-kilometre island. And their menus are just for starters.
All told, there are over 200 American companies with presence in Mauritius. About 30 of these have Mauritian offices catering to the local and/or regional market.
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Key U.S. players on the island
These companies include key players in strategic sectors contributing growth to the Mauritian economy. For instance, three major U.S. firms—Microsoft, IBM and Oracle—are participants to the development of information technology in Mauritius.
American companies enjoy a firm foothold in Mauritian business hubs like the Ebene Cybercity.
Caltex Oil and Esso, both Texas-based, likewise have subsidiaries in the island. The island’s vibrant travel and trade is a playing field too for American hotel brands Hilton and Holiday Inn. A household name in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, the Ohio-based Convergys, also operates in the Ebene Cybercity of Mauritius.
The clout of the American presence in Mauritius further manifests in U.S. investments in the island. In 2019, American investments in Mauritius amounted to MUR138 million, up from MUR58 million in 2018.
American academic model in Quatre Bornes
Higher U.S. education has also emerged as a new frontier that could add some impetus. In 2015, The American Campus (TAC) opened, in the town Quatre Bornes in the Plaines Wilhems District. It offers courses in business and technology moulded after the American model of applied and active academic learning.
A coalition of educators with a broad background and varied experience in the U.S. academe is behind the TAC’s establishment. Mauritian-born Spalding Jugganaikloo who led this group as TAC founder is notably a U.S. immigrant. He pursued his studies in America, and his successful career there in higher education and IT inspired him to establish TAC in Mauritius.
Bustling trade ties
The vibrant American-Mauritian trade relations provide another springboard for the American diaspora in Mauritius. In 2019, Mauritius exported USD201.78 million worth of products to the U.S.
Significantly, the U.S. under its African Growth and Opportunity Act, allows duty-free and quota-free entry of Mauritian products that meet the act’s rules of origin. Mauritian exports to the American market include apparel, sugar, non-industrial diamonds, jewellery, live animals, sunglasses, rum, and cut flowers.
On the other hand, imports of Mauritius from the U.S. mostly include machines, equipment, and industrial chemicals. In 2019, the country’s American imports were valued at USD116.11 million.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Mauritius is one of the facilitators of the U.S. Mauritian trade. It’s likewise a key for helping advance. The chamber believes that robust trade relations work as a catalyst for broader interests and opportunities.
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