Estate Living Magazine Issue 30 Smart Environments June 2018 | Page 54

To successfully compete with other thriving global economies,
Mauritius needs to show the world that they have ideal conditions
for foreigners to work, live and invest. A total of eight cities
across the island have been earmarked for smart-ification –
transforming them into new intelligent cities, with all the bells
and whistles of other smart cities around the world.
The Mauritian version of the smart city is focused on urban
ecosystems in the form of mixed-use developments that help
integrate office, business, residential and leisure components.
It’s a coherent master plan focusing on innovation, sustainability,
efficiency and quality of life and, in essence, is the live, work, play
concept that many South Africans living in exclusive residential
estates have come to know and enjoy.
One city ripe for smart picking is Moka, situated at the heart
of the island, 12km from the capital city of Port Louis, and
strategically positioned near major highways for quick access to
the aerotropolis precinct. Historically speaking, Moka is both the
name of a district and of the local village, and it already attracts
almost 12,000 people who play a substantial role in progressing
the country’s economy. The Moka area is comparable to what
Canal Walk is to Cape Town city centre.
More than 70% of the purchasing power and 40% of the workforce
in Mauritius lives within a 10 km radius of Moka. As a result, the
area has experienced a real estate development boom over the
past few years. Moka is in the midst of an exciting growth period
as more and more residential and mixed-use estates are being
developed. Spearheading this revolutionary change is ENL, which
started farming sugar in 1821, and has been an important player
in Mauritius’ economic development for nearly two centuries by
constantly diversifying its economic activities – most recently by
turning to property development.
So what differentiates Moka Smart City from any other such city on
the island? For one, it already exists and is a much more attractive,
smarter and competitive place to be living and working. Brighter,
faster and better connected, this is smart living like nothing
Mauritius has ever seen before.
52 | www.estate-living.co.za