Economic Development and Labor Management at the Heart of Discussion

Economic planning and development in both countries were at the center of discussions during the meeting between Jyoti Jeetun, Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning of Mauritius, and Lim Ming Yan, Non-Resident High Commissioner of Singapore to Mauritius, on July 10, 2025.

Mauritius and Singapore are two small islands that gained their independence at roughly the same time. Yet, their paths to development are different. Singapore has made significant progress thanks to a clear vision and sound long-term planning. This particularly concerns urban planning, transport, and infrastructure. In Mauritius, economic planning has not always been a priority in recent years.

The new government now wants to change this. Planning has once again become an important task for the Ministry. The Ministers discussed the difficulties faced by traditional sectors such as sugar, textiles, and tourism. These sectors are no longer sufficient to grow the economy. The island therefore wants to focus on new sectors to move the country forward. This is the objective of Vision 2050 and the National Development Plan for the next ten years, according to the official press release.

Another important topic concerned the labor market. The skills shortage among Mauritian workers poses a challenge. Managing the arrival of foreign workers must support the economy while respecting the local population.