Record Rs 48 Billion Foreign Investment Flows into Mauritius in 2025

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Mauritius surged to a record high of Rs 48 billion in 2025, rebounding from a notable dip the previous year, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Navin Ramgoolam told Parliament on Tuesday, 19 May.

Answering a question from Labour MP Farhad Aumeer, Mr Ramgoolam revealed that gross FDI inflows fell from Rs 37 billion in 2023 to Rs 33 billion in 2024, before spiking to the 2025 record.

“FDI inflows dropped from Rs 37 billion in 2023 to Rs 33 billion in 2024, before bouncing back to a record level of Rs 48 billion in 2025,” the Prime Minister stated.

While the real estate sector maintained its position as the primary recipient of foreign capital, the government highlighted a massive surge in financial services.

Inflows into the financial sector skyrocketed from Rs 974 million in 2024 to Rs 18.7 billion in 2025.

This dramatic growth was primarily driven by a substantial investment in AfrAsia Bank by Access Bank UK.

“While the real estate sector remained the main beneficiary of FDI, foreign investments in financial services rose sharply,” Mr Ramgoolam affirmed, adding that the figures clearly demonstrate an overall upward trend in direct investment flows.

Sectoral Growth and Capital Origins

Several other sectors recorded significant investment growth between 2024 and 2025:

• Information and Communication Technology (ICT): Rose from Rs 192 million to Rs 985 million.
• Energy: Progressed from Rs 352 million to Rs 1 billion.
• Agriculture: Increased from Rs 507 million to Rs 807 million.

France and South Africa remain the principal sources of FDI for the Indian Ocean nation, accounting for an average of 22% and 10% of total flows respectively over the last three years.

The geographical landscape of major investors has shifted annually. In 2023, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates were among the top contributors.

In 2024, Switzerland, the UK, and Germany held prominent positions, while Germany and the US stood out in 2025.

The government also noted a significant increase in British investment in 2025, largely linked to the banking sector.

A New Economic Model

Despite the positive figures, the Prime Minister stressed the urgency of redirecting capital toward high-value-added industries.

“It is necessary to further increase these investments, with a stronger focus on productive and high-value-added activities,” Mr Ramgoolam declared.

He reminded the House that “our new economic model will be focused on investment, productivity, and exports,” in line with the directives announced in the 2025-2026 Budget.

To attract further investment into emerging sectors, the government has already implemented several measures.

These include boosting the international promotion of the “Mauritius” brand, improving the local business climate using recommendations from the World Bank’s B-Ready report, expanding economic and trade agreements, and reforming the work permit system to ease the recruitment of skilled foreign workers.

Geopolitical Mitigations and Future Projects

In response to global economic uncertainties stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, the executive branch is planning further mechanisms to attract investors and high-net-worth individuals.

Plans include the introduction of a “Golden Visa Scheme,” a fast-track service within the Economic Development Board for wealthy investors, and accelerated licensing procedures within the financial services sector.

Furthermore, authorities are working to establish a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Côte-d’Or, designed to host international tech firms specializing in artificial intelligence, data, and disaster recovery centers.

“We are developing a special economic zone in Côte-d’Or to attract global technology companies,” the Prime Minister said. He concluded by outlining ambitions to modernize port infrastructure to “reposition Mauritius as a major transshipment hub in the Indian Ocean.”

Source: Defi Media