Mauritian retail property giant Ascencia has announced plans to develop two new shopping centres in the east of the island. The projects, Flacq Mall and Bel-Air by Ascencia, are being undertaken in partnership with the Alteo group. The investments are part of Ascencia's upcoming CAP29 strategic roadmap, which will succeed the current CAP26 strategy.
The flagship Flacq Mall project represents a Rs 2.6 billion investment. Scheduled to open in July 2027, the retail destination will offer 25,000 m² of gross lettable area and is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs. The site will also house a 3,300 m² medical centre operated by C-Care, valued at Rs 258 million, which is slated for opening in June 2028.
In Bel-Air, Ascencia is planning a commercial development valued at Rs 976 million. Named Bel-Air by Ascencia, the project will feature 8,500 m² of lettable area and is scheduled to open during the 2028 financial year. The new projects come as Ascencia reports robust operational metrics across its existing portfolio, including an occupancy rate of 99% and an average of 2,154,244 visitors per month.
Alongside its eastern developments, work is underway at Bagatelle Mall, where the former cinema area is being converted into a 6,000 m² leisure and dining hub. Representing a Rs 472 million investment, the space will feature British leisure park operator Flip Out and retail chain Krispy Kreme, with opening planned for November 2026.
Ascencia has made significant progress across environmental management. Existing solar installations with a 6 MW total capacity produced 4.5 million kWh. The company has also collected 435 tonnes of cardboard and diverted 38.8% of waste from landfill during the FY2026 financial year.
Ascencia aims to achieve over 65% sorted waste, strengthen circular economy principles in operations, and secure recognised environmental certifications across all shopping malls by 2030. The company has also launched an interactive microsite titled A Vision in Motion to raise awareness among partners, tenants, and stakeholders regarding responsible practices.
On the operational front, Ascencia is upgrading its enterprise resource planning system, automating reporting using Business Intelligence, and deploying AI-driven autonomous cleaning robots across its malls. The group has also reduced staff turnover from 32% to 6% and achieved an employee engagement rate of 92%.
Key points
- Ascencia to invest Rs 3.576 billion in two new shopping centres in eastern Mauritius.
- Flacq Mall and Bel-Air by Ascencia to create over 1,000 jobs and offer 33,500 m² of lettable area.
- Ascencia aims to achieve over 65% sorted waste and secure environmental certifications across all shopping malls by 2030.
