SME & Startup Ecosystem — Mauritius

Macro overview • Updated: 2025
Active SMEs (≈)
127,000
Share of GDP (GVA) by SMEs
~38%
Target 52% by 2026 (policy)
Employment in SMEs
~54%
Incl. micro-entrepreneurs
New business registrations
13,055 (2024)

New Business Registrations (2022–2024)

Registrations
Source: Corporate & Business Registration Department (CBRD). 2022: 7,812 • 2023: 10,876 • 2024: 13,055.

SME Composition

Micro 81% Small 18% Medium 1%
Stats Mauritius (Census of Economic Activities): micro/small/medium distribution.

Sector Distribution of SMEs

Shares (approx.): Trade 27%, Agriculture 27%, Transport 12%, Manufacturing 9%, Construction 8%, Other Services 17%.

Exports & Innovation

SME share of domestic exports ≈ 12% — most SMEs serve the local market.
  • High-growth pockets: Fintech, ICT services, niche agro-processing, creative tech.
  • Innovation funding via MRIC (PoC, NSIS incubators), but R&D intensity remains low.
FintechICT/SaaSAgro-processingCreative Industries

Key Challenges

  • Finance: Collateral-heavy lending; limited venture/angel capital.
  • Skills: Gaps in digital, managerial & technical capabilities.
  • Scale: Small domestic market; export readiness uneven.
  • Productivity: Tech adoption and process efficiency lag among micro-firms.
Policy focus: streamline schemes, upskill workforce, catalyze innovation, and boost SME internationalization.

Institutions & Support (Snapshot)

SME Mauritius DBM Loans MRIC & NSIS EDB & Sandbox Business Mauritius Chambers & Incubators
Use cases: modernization grants, export refunds, incubator programs, credit guarantees, and procurement linkages.

Notes: This dashboard summarizes figures cited in your ecosystem report (2022–2025). Values rounded for clarity.