Mauritius welcomes investment and embraces business. Globally recognised as a safe, stable and easy environment to conduct business, Mauritius is a great place to invest, work, live and retire, with future ready infrastructure, global connectivity and world class talent.
Invest in a project of at least Rs 500 million and take advantage of incentives, rebates, exemptions and preferential rates.
Leverage on our unparallel preferential market access to 68% of the world’s population and benefits from a panoply of Free Trade Agreements.
Mauritius’ residence program allows foreign nationals to make a real estate investment into the country and apply for a residence permit to live, work, and retire in Mauritius.
Live and work remotely from Mauritius and experience a long stay or retire in a picture-perfect tropical paradise.
Leverage on our unparallel preferential market access to 68% of the world’s population and benefits from a panoply of Free Trade Agreements.
Mauritius is today globally recognized as an established location for global services delivery thanks to its quality, multilingual workforce, flexible business environment, diversity in connections and sustainable financial attractiveness. The country has over the years successfully demonstrated the flexibility and multicultural understanding to be a global strategic location, bridging the gap between Europe and Africa.
The ICT/BPO industry, which is more than a decade old, has exhibited rapid evolution in terms of geographical expansion, new client acquisition and adoption of innovative models to offer a considerably wider spectrum of services. Today, the sector which comprises of some 900 companies, employs more than 32,000 people. It is considered as a major pillar of the economy with a GDP contribution of 5.6% in 2023. Multinational companies and organizations benefit from leveraging on the country not only as a hub for their global services delivery but also as an ideal location to access Africa, Asia and Europe.
The country is now moving towards the development of newer technologies such as Fintech, blockchain, cybersecurity, AI and IOT amongst others by giving players in these areas the opportunity to experiment with new business models.
The ICT sector offers several opportunities of investment in high-end, value-added services with a global reach, leveraging the availability of skilled labour, the strong Telecommunication infrastructure and the outstanding living and working conditions.
Below are some key business opportunities:
The digital transformation of the Mauritian economy was recently accelerated by the COVID pandemic and is reshaping existing segments while propelling creation of new ones. This, together with the recent deployment of 5G and forthcoming 4th optical cable, offers a noteworthy occasion for companies to explore the array of opportunities that have arisen in this context.
The innovator OP which is a combined work and live permit for foreigners was launched to allow innovative businesses to set up a business in Mauritius which will spur productivity and economic competitiveness under the following 2 possibilities: (i) submission of an innovative project to the Economic Development Board (EDB) which will be assessed on its own merit or (ii) no investment but incubated by a MRIC registered/accredited incubator -under the National SME Incubator Scheme (NSIS).
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:
Qualifying expenditure includes:
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:
Through a panoply of schemes and unique incentives offered, EDB Mauritius supports the expansion and growth of business operations as a way to enhance substantive and value-added economic activities in Mauritius.
Mr Victor Bohbot, Chief Executive Officer
Setting up in Mauritius means joining a long list of world-class businesses that have chosen our country as their regional base of operations. These exceptional businesses include: