ICT

• Mauritius offers a cost savings of around 60 -70% on operating costs for outsourcing activities
• Mauritius hosts 4 of the world’s leading ICT / BPO companies
• Mauritius is 1st country in Africa with 100% fiber coverage
• Mauritius is a pioneer in the mobile telephony sphere by having the first operator in this segment in the Southern Hemisphere in 1989

• Government AI Readiness 2023: Mauritius is the regional leader in Sub-Saharan Africa and 61th globally.
• Global Innovation Index 2023 – Mauritius is the regional leader in Sub-Saharan Africa and 45th in the world.
• Kearney Global Services Location Index (2023) – Mauritius is 27th globally and among the top 25 nations and 1st in Africa in the ‘digital resonance’ ranking
• Global Index of Good Governance 2023 – Mauritius is 38th globally and the regional leader in Africa
• UNCTAD B2C Ecommerce Index 2020 – Mauritius is 1st in Africa and 69th Globally

The NSIS encourages the creation of innovative businesses for the socioeconomic benefit of Mauritius through a nurturing and training process in a conducive environment provided by accredited incubators driven by the private sector. The accredited incubators select, coach and mentor innovative business start-ups as early as the idea stage. The NSIS will fund (on a 50:50 matching grant basis) accredited private sector incubators at different incubation phases through accredited incubators funded by the NSIS. These phases are as follows: Pre-Incubation phase, Incubation Phase and Acceleration Phase.

The Regulatory Sandbox Licence has allowed a shift in the regulatory mindset, from one based on bureaucracy, friction, and permission to one based on accountability, transparency, and innovation. The Mauritian Regulatory Sandbox License offers the possibility for an investor to conduct a business activity for which there exists no legal framework, or adequate provisions under existing legislation in Mauritius. The EDB works in close collaboration with regulators to provide the adequate framework for these activities.

Under the Innovation Property Box Scheme, a company set up on or after 1 July 2017 and involved in innovation-driven activities for intellectual property assets which are developed in Mauritius can benefit from an exemption of 8 income years as from the income year in which the company started its innovation-driven activities.

Mauritius allows e-Commerce operators to conduct commercial transactions through electronic networks including the provision of information, promotion, marketing, supply, order or delivery of goods or services. A company can consider domiciliating its electronic platforms and related ancillary activities in Mauritius and take advantage of the 5 years tax holiday under the e-Commerce scheme. The scheme provides e-Commerce operators with the comfort of a favourable business regime, whilst positioning the Mauritius jurisdiction as the ideal platform for internet entrepreneurship.

Mauritius has introduced additional new fiscal regime for Research and Development allowing innovative companies to use Mauritius as a platform to start their operations. This includes:

• • Accelerated depreciation of 50% in respect of capital expenditure incurred on R&D, that is the investment cost is fully amortized in 2 years.
  • A double deduction in respect of qualifying expenditure on R&D directly related to the entity’s trade or business and provided the R&D is carried out in Mauritius.

Qualifying expenditure includes:

• Expenditure incurred on innovation, improvement on development of a process, product or service;
• Staff costs, consumable items, computer software directly used in R&D and subcontracted R&D.

The Mauritius Research Innovation Council also offers numerous Innovation and Commercialization Schemes with the aim to boost creativity, innovation and research in Mauritius. The funding ranging from Rs 1M to Rs 10M.

Grant of upto a maximum of Rs 150,000 to companies wishing to continuously invest in Technology and automated production capabilities and create technology based integrated and sustainable systems.

The SME Refund Scheme caters for a maximum refund of Rs 200,000 annually on the cost of participation, airfare and accommodation with respect to participation in International Fairs.

Set of incentives under the Investment Certificate, issued by the Economic Development Board (EDB) to enterprises in eligible new, innovative, and strategic sectors.

New incentive allowing companies investing at least Rs 500 million and involved in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and medical devices to benefit from bespoke incentives.

The following ICT company has been issued with a Premium Investor Certificate:

• Emtel Technopolis Ltd – Development of an integrated technology park at Union Vale