Yearbook 2009
Mauritius. In June, the government promised to eradicate extreme poverty in the country. In its budget for the year, the government spent $ 47 million on measures that would lift the extremely poor, that is, people living on less than a dollar a day. The money would be used for social programs as well as for efforts to reduce unemployment. The number of unemployed had increased as a result of the international recession that hit tourism, one of the most important sources of income. According to countryaah, Mauritius is one of the richest countries in Africa, but a small part of the population still lives in poverty. See ABBREVIATIONFINDER for abbreviation MU which stands for the nation of Mauritius.
In February, Mauritius signed an agreement with China to provide the country with assistance, an interest-free loan and investments in, among other things, an extension of the international airport outside the capital Port Louis. Chinese President Hu Jintao, who visited Mauritius on a tour of Africa, also agreed with Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam to speed up the expansion of the large free trade zone Tianli. In addition to factories, homes and schools would be built in the area. The free trade zone is estimated to give about 34,000 jobs when completed. China also promised to build two agricultural schools as well as provide more Mauritanian scholarships for education in China. Mauritius’ economic relations with China have increased significantly in recent years.
Demography and economic geography. – African island state, located in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. With a per capita GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) of $ 17,888 (2014), Mauritius (1,249,151 residents, According to an estimate by UNDESA, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, of 2014) is among the highest-income countries in Africa and among those with middle-high income in the world. The place in the Human Development Index is also high (63rd): life expectancy of 73.6 years (2013), literacy at 91%, access to water at 100%. The economy (+ 3-4% in recent years) is based on tourism, the textile and sugar industry, and financial services. Foreign investments and exports (47% of GDP) are important, especially towards the European Union.