LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Mauritius: South Africa
built 628 days ago
Estimated at $16.28 billion for 2005, Mauritius has the second highest GDP per capita in Africa. It is only exceeded by Equatorial Guinea, which derives most of its revenue from oil exports. The economy is mainly dependent on sugarcane plantations, tourism, textiles, and services, but other sectors are rapidly developing as well. Mauritius and Seychelles are the only two African nations with a "high" Human Development Index rating.
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Considered part of Africa geographically, Mauritius has friendly relations with other African states in the region, particularly South Africa, by far its largest continental trading partner. Mauritian investors are gradually entering African markets, notably Madagascar and Mozambique. Mauritius coordinates much of its foreign policy with the Southern Africa Development Community and the African Union.
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Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low-income, agriculturally based economy to a middle-income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial, and tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been in the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in more equitable income distribution, 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 25% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on expanding local financial institutions and building a domestic information telecommunications industry. Mauritius has attracted more than 9,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India and South Africa, and investment in the banking sector alone has reached over $1 billion.
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Mauritius is mostly of volcanic formation and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs. A coastal plain, widest in the north, rises sharply to a 1,500 ft high plateau bordered by three mountain ranges - the Black River Range, the Grand Port Range, and the Moka Range. The longest river is the Grand River South East,, about 25 miles in length.
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Mauritius is a paradise for the senses, not only for the eyes with its beautiful landscape, but ... for the palate. Gastronomes will find a variety of flavours and aromas inherited from the different migrations through its history. Culinary traditions from France, India, China and Africa, the best-known and appreciated cuisines in the world, have been passed on through generations.
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RascomStar-QAF, a private company registered in Mauritius, is in charge of implementing and exploiting the first satellite telecommunication project dedicated to the African continent, under an agreement with RASCOM (Regional African Satellite Communication Organization). The Board of Directors controls and manages the company. The Board's twelve directors include representatives of RASCOM, GPTC, LAIP, and THALES ALENIA SPACE; and the Board is open to third-party investors aiming to join the company. RascomStar-QAF is responsible for the financing, design, procurement, construction, installation, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of the Space Segment, as well as for launching the satellites, all at the company's own cost and risk. The company ... must design and develop the Ground Segment to address Telco's Integrated Communication Services and Thin Route Trunking business.
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