Mauritius is an island located in the Indian Ocean. It is situated some 2,000 km off the south-eastern coast of Africa. The island is of volcanic origin and covers an area of approximately 1,865 sq km.

Mauritius has a sub-tropical climate. Because of its volcanic origin it has a central plateau of about 400 m above sea level. There are mountains, rivers, waterfalls, tropical forests and plants all over the island.

The summer season is from October – May with temperatures averaging 27°C. During the winter months, temperatures average 22°C. The central plateau is more humid and cooler than the coastal regions.

Towards the end of December 2002 the population was estimated at approximately 1.2million.

The population of Mauritius is made up of descendants of immigrants principally of European, African, Indian and Chinese origin. The multicultural society, living in harmony, makes Mauritius unique in the world.

Most Mauritians are bilingual. Whilst English is the official language, French and Creole are widely spoken daily. There are also many oriental languages such as Hindi, Mandarin and Urdu spoken and taught at school.

Discovered by the Portuguese in 1505, the first settlers on the island were the Dutch who named the island after their ruler Prince Maurice van Nassau. The island was then inhabited by the French and later fell under the governance of the British from 1810 until independence was attained in 1968. Agricultural development expanded under the British rule with the arrival of Indian Indentured labourers who were brought in to work in sugar cane fields. On 12 March 1992 Mauritius became a Republic, still forming part of the British Commonwealth.

Mauritius is a presidential democracy. The President is the Head of State. Full executive power rests with the Prime Minister - Head of Government of the Republic of Mauritius. His constitutional power allows him to advise the President to appoint or remove Ministers. The Members of Parliament are elected every five years by popular vote.

The success of the Mauritian economy is a result of a strong commitment to democratic principles coupled with political stability, good governance, clear policy orientation, and consistency in the management of the economy and a staunch belief in free enterprise. Today, Mauritius is considered to be an upper-middle-income economy with an annual per capita income of US$ 3,589 and the island is poised to become the business hub of the Indian Ocean and a major gateway to Eastern and Southern Africa. A broad-based economy by African standards, Mauritius continues to enjoy good growth.

The country can boast one of the best track records on human rights in Africa. Preservation of the environment is also a priority for government and the island`s natural beauty has been maintained despite the high rate of economic development and industrialisation during the last decade. Despite the economic downturn, which affected most industrial nations in the early 1990s, Mauritian entrepreneurs have demonstrated a sense of resilience and flair to keep the economy alive and performing. This success is seen as a clear signal to foreign investors on the reliability of the economic fundamentals in Mauritius.

When Mauritius gained independence in 1968, its economy was based in mainly subsistence agriculture. The economy has grown into a diversified entity with growing financial, industrial and tourist sectors. Annual growth has been fairly consistent in the realm of 5 to 6 percent during this period of development. This economic development has had a positive influence on many aspects of Mauritian society, including an increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a drastically improved infrastructure.

With a stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa`s highest per capita incomes.