Budget 2026-27: Keeping Graduates in Mauritius

As Mauritius prepares its 2026–2027 national budget, economist Daneshwar Damry has placed a pressing issue front and centre: the growing exodus of young, highly qualified Mauritians seeking opportunities abroad. In a post-budget briefing, Damry argued that without concrete and targeted policy interventions, the island risks accelerating a brain drain that could undermine its long-term economic ambitions. The concern is not new, but the urgency is mounting. Mauritius has invested heavily in expanding access to tertiary education over the past two decades, yet too many graduates are finding greener pastures in Europe, Canada, and Australia rather than contributing to the local economy. Damry's position reflects a broader anxiety among Mauritian economists and policymakers: the country is producing talent it cannot retain. The challenge is structural. Entry-level salaries in Mauritius often fail to match the aspirations of graduates who have studied internationally or locally in competitive programmes. Meanwhile, the cost of living — particularly housing — has risen sharply, making the financial case for staying increasingly difficult to justify for young professionals. While the specific budget proposals Damry referenced were not detailed in the original briefing summary, his intervention points to a set of well-established remedies debated in Mauritian economic circles: graduate employment incentive schemes, tax relief for young professionals in key sectors, stronger public-private partnerships for job creation, and investment in innovation hubs that could make Mauritius a regional destination for tech and finance talent rather than merely an exporter of it. What makes this debate particularly significant ahead of the 2026–2027 budget is the timing. Mauritius is at a crossroads — navigating post-pandemic economic recovery, a shifting global financial landscape, and increasing competition from regional economies for skilled labour. The editorial angle worth noting here is this: retaining graduates is not simply an economic issue — it is a social contract. If Mauritius funds education through public resources but fails to create conditions where graduates can thrive locally, it is effectively subsidising the workforce of wealthier nations. The 2026–2027 budget represents an opportunity to rewrite that contract with bold, youth-focused policy. Whether Finance Minister will heed voices like Damry's remains to be seen. But the conversation is now firmly on the table. Source: Le Defi Media