This is what emerges from the joint StraConsult/Afrobarometer study conducted last March on a sample of 1200 Mauritians. The study is based on the economic and political influences of these two major Asian countries on our island.
Most Mauritians, 68%, say that China’s economic activities in the country have “some” or “a lot” of influence on the economy.
On the question of the countries having the most positive influence on us, most citizens leaned towards the economic and political influences of India at 76%, which was followed by China at 70%. The perceived positive influence of France on Mauritius was at 55%, which is a decrease by 12 % points since 2020, while the perceived positive influence of the United States at 51% is on par with Japan.
Almost 3 in 10 citizens, or 28%, said they were aware of Japanese loans and development assistance to the Mauritian government, while 28% said they were not aware and 48% knew only little.
On a question about the requirements behind Japan’s loans and development aid, 43% said that Japan has about the same number of requirements to its aid as other donor countries.
