The island has attracted a number of international companies to set up holdings and operational head-offices. Approximately 50% of all foreign direct investment into India is channelled through Mauritius.
BA Investment holds majority shareholding in most of our investments, which combined have more than 30 offices across the country and employ more than 2000 managers and staff.
The major part of our investment portfolio is in financial services, including leading life insurance company BAI, market-leading publicly listed leasing company Mauritius Leasing, and the Bramer Banking Corporation. Other equity holdings include companies engaged in asset management, stockbroking, insurance broking, international money transfer and currency trading.
Holdings in transportation are in the Iframac Group of companies, a market leader in Mauritius with a number of dealerships in passenger and commercial vehicles, yachts and boats, power generation, agricultural and construction machinery. The dealerships represent world-famous brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Princess Yachts, Case, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Chrysler, Cummins, and Saab.
In the trade and commerce sector, our investments are concentrated in the Courts Group, the leading household and electronic goods retailer in both Mauritius and Madagascar with more than 20 branches. In addition, investments are also held in the QLC Group of companies, with several niche retailers of designer brands of furniture, gifts and accessories.
Construction and property development sector investments are in Ireko, a vertically integrated group of companies with construction, property development, design and finishing. We also hold a majority shareholding in a number of prime development properties.
Holdings in the hospitality and leisure sector in Mauritius provide tour operation, car rental, yacht charter and airline ticketing. In addition we have minority stakes in several beach resorts.
The 200-bed Apollo Bramwell Hospital and its associated companies in medical training, pharmaceutical supplies and medical tourism, all due to come onstream in 2009, is a sizeable investment in the burgeoning healthcare sector.
In the services sector, BA Logistics Global is the exclusive franchisee for Mauritius and the Indian Ocean islands of global transportation solutions provider Aramex. Established in 1982, Aramex specialises in courier services; it is the fifth largest courier company in the world with more than 6,000 employees and 240 offices on five continents.
Mauritius is an ideal platform for regional development as it has modern infrastructure, an educated and bilingual workforce, a stable political environment and a well developed and regulated economy. Some of the major advantages include: