Share

Mauritius aims to be ICT hub

Port Louis - Mauritius wants to turn its economy into a regional information and communications technology (ICT) hub in the next few years, according to an official national strategic plan.

Targets in the 2007-2011 plan include "a 7% contribution into Mauritius gross domestic product from offshore ICT export services".

The plan, posted on the government website, did not say how much the sector contributes at present to the Indian Ocean island's roughly $6.7bn economy.

"The government's vision is to make ICT the fifth pillar of the economy and transform Mauritius into a regional ICT hub," it said.

With the traditionally important sugar and textile sectors threatened by the liberalisation of global trade, the nation of 1.3 million people is developing alternatives such as tourism and financial services.

Other targets in the plan include doubling the number of foreign investors in ICT and developing at least 29 000 jobs in the sector.

But with a workforce of less than 600 000, a restricted supply of quality ICT workers could prove a constraint, the paper added.

Rated by the World Bank as the best African country for doing business, the paper said Mauritian strengths were its historical and cultural relations with Europe and Asia, the ability to speak English and French, and political stability.

- Reuters

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.93
+0.0%
Rand - Pound
23.90
+0.0%
Rand - Euro
20.40
+0.1%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.33
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.0%
Platinum
908.05
+1.2%
Palladium
1,014.94
+1.3%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders