Mauritius says foreign investment flows up 16 pct in first half of 2013

By Jean Paul Arouff PORT LOUIS (Reuters) - Foreign direct investment in Mauritius rose 16.1 percent in the first six months of 2013 to 4.736 billion rupees from 4.077 billion a year ago, the central bank said on Friday. Investment flows to the Indian Ocean island, which markets itself as bridge between Africa and Asia, climbed 33.9 percent in 2012 from the previous year to 12.66 billion rupees. The central bank said investment in the first half was directed mainly to the real estate sector, attracting 2.94 billion rupees, followed by construction, which got 638 million rupees. France was the biggest source of foreign direct investment with 1.31 billion rupees followed by South Africa which put in 725 million rupees. Famed for its white sandy beaches and luxury spas, Mauritius is shifting an economy traditionally focused on sugar, textiles and tourism towards offshore banking, business outsourcing, luxury real estate and medical tourism.