Mauritius, an island located off the southeast coast of Africa, constitutes part of the volcanic chain of the Mascarene Islands. The population of Mauritius is 1.1 million consisting of five main ethnic groups, Hindus, Muslims, Chinese, Creoles and Franco-Mauritians. Most Mauritians are bilingual, being equally fluent in both French and English. Although English is the official language, French and Creole are widely spoken. Mauritius enjoys a literacy rate of over ninety per cent, and is one of the few countries in the developing world that is close to achieving universal literacy by the end of this century. The large pool of well-educated young people is a valuable asset for the country to meet the challenges of an ever-increasing competitive working environment.
Political stability has been one of the most significant factors that have helped Mauritius in its economic success. The Republic of Mauritius is a presidential democracy modeled on the British system of parliamentary democracy, and has been crucial in providing an economic environment that encourages foreign investment. Mauritius gained its independence from Britain on March 12, 1968 and became a republic in 1992. The 1968 constitution proclaims that Mauritius is a democratic state and that the constitution is the supreme law of the land. It guarantees the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people. Providing the right to hold private property and to be free from racial or other discrimination. Mauritius has a multi-party system, which it has maintained since its independence, and the government represents a coalition of several parties. .
From a sugar-based economy, Mauritius has successfully diversified its economy by developing the manufacturing and tourism industries. Full employment and a lower, established rate of inflation have accompanied the high growth rate generated by these two industries in the past five years.
