I have been asked to write down my views on Mauritius as a foreign expatriate but to be honest as an Indian who has worked and lived here for nearly three years, I have never felt that I am anywhere away from home. I suppose for any Indian expatriate Mauritius is truly a home away from home, a lot cleaner and hugely greener than Mumbai but very much a home!

As a Tourism and Financial Services industry professional I am extremely bullish about the potential of both of these industries in Mauritius. Prime Minister?s vision of 2 million tourists within the next five years is a stretched but an achievable target. In fact, had we aligned our accommodation capacity with the increased air capacity we would easily have cross the 1 million tourist milestone in 2007 itself.

Mauritius as a tourism destination is truly indeed the paradise island for the sun, sand and sea seekers. This beauty in combination with intelligent, friendly and hospitable people makes the island worth any number of visits. Mauritius is well positioned to benefit from the expected developments in Africa and emergence of India and China as giant economic powers. I believe we now have a fantastic team political masters and ministers leading Mauritius to a transformed economy. An economy that is self-sustainable, world-class and globally competitive especially in the area of Tourism and Financial Services industry.

Improving infrastructure, judicial reforms and privatization of public sector are three areas crucial for improving the economic efficiency and thus the quality of life for an average Mauritian. These changes will make Mauritius an attractive destination for Foreign Direct Investment generating substantial economic activity and prosperity for its people. Labour laws need to be simplified to encourage people to seek right education and skills and align the interest of the workforce with that of entrepreneurs. There is room too for law and order machinery to improve its efficiency and dissuade anti-social behaviors. My three years in Mauritius are full of wonderful memories. I have lived in the UK and Philippines and travelled the world extensively but Mauritius stands out as my favorite destination. I have learnt many new skills here and I love the place and its people. Finally, if I were to list the unforgettables about Mauritius, it would be my genuine Mauritian friends who have always gone out of their way to help, Cricket at Vacoas Gymkhana and Anjale stadium, green chilli chutney and most importantly its the birthplace of my second daughter Hana.