Six weeks before its official opening, the Côte d'Or Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is shaping up as the most emblematic project of Mauritius's 2026-2027 budget. Announced by Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam at the National Assembly sitting of 28 April 2026, the zone represents an investment of nearly one billion Mauritian rupees — Rs 882 million funded by the State and the balance by Landscope Mauritius — across an 83-arpent site. Infrastructure (roads, electricity, water and sanitation) is to be delivered by December 2026.
An investment offer designed to attract global tech players
The SEZ targets artificial intelligence, data centers, fintech, digital services and technology solutions aimed at African markets. The incentive package is among the most competitive in the region: 100% foreign ownership, preferential electricity tariffs for data centers, tax benefits, fast-track work permits, and long-term land leases. Startups also benefit from a ten-year tax holiday and innovation grants of up to Rs 500,000, under an accelerator programme overseen by the Economic Development Board (EDB).
Landscope Mauritius Limited has already prepared 20 serviced plots at Côte d'Or to host the first high-tech investment projects. This plug-and-play approach aims to shorten the time to operation for foreign companies, which can set up without managing the complexities of site development.
AI at the heart of national economic strategy
The Côte d'Or SEZ is part of a broader digital strategy. The 2026-2027 budget allocates Rs 25 million to a national AI learning platform and AI startup support. In parallel, 25,000 Mauritians are to be trained in digital skills, 8,000 secondary-school teachers introduced to AI, and 5,000 civil servants trained in its responsible use. The digital economy now accounts for 5.7% of GDP, with a mobile penetration rate of 173.6% and internet access at 180.5%.
Why it matters
Mauritius has long positioned itself as the gateway for investment into Africa. The Côte d'Or SEZ is the concrete expression of that ambition in the digital domain. For Indian Ocean players — Réunion startups, Malagasy operators, Comorian fintechs — Mauritius is becoming a regional tech hub for co-developing solutions for the African continent. The December 2026 infrastructure delivery is a crucial test: its success will determine the credibility of the Mauritian model in the regional competition to attract technology investment.