n in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anund Priyay NEEWOOR
chancery: Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie M. ALEXANDER
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [230] 208-9763 through 9767
FAX: [230] 208-9534

Flag: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and
green

@Mauritius:Economy

Overview: Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a
low income, agriculturally based economy to middle income diversified
economy with growing industrial and tourist sectors. For most of the
period annual growth has been of the order of 5% to 6%. This
remarkable achievement has been reflected in increased life
expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much improved
infrastructure. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land
area and accounts for 40% of export earnings. The government's
development strategy centers on industrialization (with a view to
modernization and to exports), agricultural diversification, and
tourism. Economic performance in 1991-93 continued strong with solid
real growth and low unemployment.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $9.3 billion (1993
est.)

National product real growth rate: 4.7% (1993 est.)

National product per capita: $8,600 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.4% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate: 2.4% (1991 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $653 million
expenditures: $567 million, including capital expenditures of $143
million (FY92/93 est.)

Exports: $1.32 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: textiles 44%, sugar 40%, light manufactures 10%
partners: EC and US have preferential treatment, EC 77%, US 15%

Imports: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: manufactured goods 50%, capital equipment 17%, foodstuffs
13%, petroleum products 8%, chemicals 7%
partners: EC, US, South Africa, Japan

External debt: $996.8 million (1993 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate 5.8% (1992); accounts for 25% of
GDP

Electricity:
capacity: 340,000 kW
production: 920 million kWh
consumption per capita: 777 kWh (1993)

Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, wearing
apparel, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment