Mauritius' 2026-2027 Budget rests on three pillars: an 83-arpent tech zone at Côte d'Or open to 100% foreign ownership, a 220 MW solar tender, and a gold visa for investors committing $1 million in strategic sectors. The budget deficit is cut from 6.0% to 3.7% of GDP.
The Côte d'Or tech zone: a regional hub in the making
The flagship project is the creation of a high-technology special economic zone at Côte d'Or spanning 83 arpents. Companies will be able to establish there with 100% foreign ownership, benefiting from preferential electricity rates and significant tax exemptions under a 30-year lease renewable twice. Target sectors include artificial intelligence, digital services and advanced manufacturing. Mauritius is clearly signalling its intention to capture Africa's and the region's knowledge economy.
220 MW solar and coastal resilience
The government is launching tenders for 220 megawatts of solar energy with battery storage. Mauritius reached 17.8% renewable energy in 2025; the budget accelerates this with a 25% solar panel subsidy (capped at Rs 75,000) for households. Coastal resilience receives Rs 4 billion over five years to rehabilitate 11.5 km of eroded coastline across 17 priority sites — an environmental and tourism urgency.
Gold visa, agriculture and fiscal consolidation
To diversify FDI sources, Mauritius is introducing a gold visa requiring a minimum $1 million investment in strategic sectors. The "25by35" plan allocates Rs 100 million annually to rehabilitate 500 hectares of agricultural land, targeting 250,000 tonnes of sugar production by 2030. Macroeconomically, the deficit falls from 6.0% to 3.7% of GDP, with a 15% annual manufacturing tax credit over three years (45% total).
Why this matters
The combination of a tech zone, energy transition and gold visa frames Mauritius as a digital hub, green territory and premium destination for international capital. Progressive fiscal consolidation signals credibility to markets, while sectoral incentives target higher-value-added activities. A coherent bet, consistent with the island's two-decade positioning strategy.