Mauritiusʼ position within the global division of labour has changed considerably since the country gained its independence from Britain in 1968. This reflects change in the countryʼs employment structure and a re-articulation within global chains of production. In a transformation led by the state, the formerly plantation-based economy has become a predominantly service- and manufacturing-based one. Mauritius has since set its sights on becoming a ‘cyber-island’, a regional hub for computer-based service provision. In charting this developmental route, the Mauritian state has had recourse to favourable socio-historical conditions. By highlighting these cultural influences on the globalisation of the Mauritian economy, this study affirms the value of analysing new divisions of labour as an aspect of the centuries-old process of globalisation.