Edits & Curated by
Vishal Bhidu
The Economic Development Board, in partnership with the UK Government and Invest Africa, has unveiled the UK-Mauritius Investor Sentiment Survey, obtaining direct insights from UK investors and buyers while tapping into the role of Mauritius as an investment, trade and sourcing destination, as well as what distinguishes the jurisdiction from its competitors in a bid to boost commercial engagement.
The report, funded by UK International Development, provides UK and Mauritius stakeholders with evidence-based insights into investor sentiment, priorities, and perception gaps, helping to spearhead policy, strengthen investor engagement, and better align investment promotion strategies with market needs.
While Mauritius remains a broadly positive investor perception, underpinned by its governance track record, regulatory consistency, and established role as an African gateway, some investors hint at structural concern in the composition of GDP with concentration in cyclical sectors that can temper appetite for long-duration asset allocation.
It also advocated for the need to help strengthen the quality and accessibility of investment information, posing as a credible lever for improving investment interest and outcomes.
The analysis looks at investment sentiment toward the jurisdiction for the 2026 outlook, which has been broadly positive, with 60 percent expressing confidence while 3 percent accounts for minimal negative sentiment.
On the back of investor conversations, the data warns caution for the year ahead and interest surrounding the Government’s agenda, with the overall picture lending a calibrated view in terms of confidence in the country’s fundamentals alongside caution about the global outlook.
Looking ahead 3-5 years horizon, the survey reveals strengthening investor confidence, with 67 percent expressing a positive view in Mauritius’ ability to sustain competitiveness and deliver returns. It showcases a positive view of the jurisdiction’s ability to sustain competitiveness and deliver returns, which implies that investors are looking.
Today, Tourism, financial services, and real estate are considered key drivers, where their concentration in cyclical shock-exposed sectors continues to impact decisions. Investors stressed the need to diversify revenue streams and reduce reliance on tourism, while advocating attention to structural risks and future policy delivery.
In the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the island leverages a clear investment platform combining preferential access to Africa, armed with political stability combined with a strong legal and financial infrastructure.
The Gateway narrative is considered to be the highest-rated metric across the entire dataset, with 81 percent of respondents find Mauritius attractive as a gateway to investing in Africa in terms of Government promotion, followed by government engagement at 68 percent, and promotional effectiveness to the tune of 60 percent.
The Economic Development Board (EDB) in its analysis observed that Mauritius continues to be recognised for its stability, business environment, quality standards and regional positioning. While at the same time, the report advocated that stronger visibility, clearer communication of opportunities and more proactive market engagement will be increasingly important to convert positive perception into investment and trade outcomes.
Deputy CEO, Economic Development Board of Mauritius, Sachin Mohabeer, was quoted by the African-based publication APO Group: “This report gives us something valuable: direct, unfiltered feedback from UK investors. The confidence UK investors have placed in Mauritius is a strong endorsement of the work done to build an open, well-governed and connected economy. It also gives us a clear signal on where to sharpen EDB’s approach, particularly in how we communicate opportunities across our priority sectors.”
While the Chief Executive Officer of Invest Africa Chantelé Carrington, told the mentioned publication: “What struck us most in these conversations was how consistent the trust in Mauritius is. UK investors are not asking whether Mauritius is a credible destination, they have already decided that it is. What they are asking for is clearer sight of where the opportunities are. That is a solvable problem, and it is a far better problem to have than a confidence one. This report is intended to give Mauritius a precise map of where to focus next.”
