The project is a joint venture between ENL Property and Atterbury Property Developments and will be jointly leased by local property managers Foresite and South African property company Broll.

“The first phase of the project will take another year to complete,” says Dave Bennie, retail-leasing director of Broll. “The shopping centre was first commissioned because even with 1,2million residents, Mauritius still had no regional mall.”

The mall will be adjacent to a major motorway in the heart of the island, between the capital, Port Louis, and the newly developing Cyber City.

It will be within walking distance of the University of Mauritius and close to the affluent suburb of Moka.

The 10km radius around the mall is one of the most densely populated areas on the island, and home to 530000 people, almost half of the entire Mauritian population.

Developers project that in addition to this local source of income, tourists will bring in an average spend of R15712 per person.

“Bagatelle is set to become the Indian Ocean’s premier shopping, lifestyle and entertainment destination,” says Mr Bennie.

With 1-million tourists visiting Mauritius annually, and the number projected to double by 2015, the Mall of Mauritius is expected to profit from the budding local economy.

“The mall will be the first of its kind in the Indian Ocean and the perfect extension of the colourful indulgence Mauritius is so well-known for.”

The mall will boast six cinemas, 150 shops and 2500 parking bays.

Top South African retailers will be there, including Pick n Pay, Dis-Chem, Truworths, Identity, Ocean Basket, Nando’s, Steers, KFC, Debonairs, Billabong and Mugg & Bean. The Platinum Group will also bring popular South African designer brands such as Jenni Button, Aca Joe and Hilton Weiner to the mall.

“Popular US retailers will also be available to shoppers,” says Mr Bennie. “We have secured tenants such as the high-fashion brand Hugo Boss and the US sports store giant City Sports. Leaseholders will also include quality local suppliers like the Mauritian furniture retailer Vivere Living.

“The Mall of Mauritius will possess a multicultural atmosphere with a real tropical ‘sense of ease’ that caters to both local and tourist markets. The centre will offer a host of shopping experiences, including entertainment, department stores, speciality food and beverage shops with a lifestyle food court and retail business offices.”

The development will later expand to include large-scale businesses, hotels, schools, residential, educational and civic land components.

“The design of the mall has provided for a 150-bed international hotel to be built next to the centre. This will offer the kind of synergy between hotels and shopping centres that has proven so successful in Dubai,” Mr Bennie says.