Invest in Mauritius

Aims

• Establish a competitive and attractive business climate
• Open the Mauritian market up to investors and foreign expertise
• Grant quality and viable investments
• Offer a straightforward and attractive tax platform
• Diversify investment opportunities
• Facilitate procedures through the Board of Investment

Board of Investment

The Board of Investment (BOI) is the national and governmental investment promotion agency of Mauritius, with the goal to promote and facilitate investment in the country.

Along with supporting the development of Mauritius as an International Business Centre, the BOI provides in-depth knowledge of the different economic sectors in Mauritius, while ensuring a personalised service to foreign investors so as to better assist them in the realisation of their investment projects. The BOI provides:

• Advice on the various opportunities for investment
• Information on the driving sectors of the economy
• Organisation and setting up of meetings, upon client request
• Identification of local partners for potential investors

The BOI is also responsible for the residence permits procedures in Mauritius and the realisation of real estate investment projects under the Property Development Scheme (PDS).

Benefits of investing in Mauritius

• Stable democracy
• Rule of law and an independent judicial system
• Strategic geographical location
• Bilateral treaties and favourable tax regime
• Skilled bilingual workers
• Quality of infrastructure (aerial, maritime, road, financial, and communication)
• High standard of living thanks to a pleasant climate and welcoming locals

Economic sectors

The BOI website provides a comprehensive list of the core business sectors in Mauritius.

Driving sectors

• Tourism and real estate
• Emerging technologies
• Business parks, health and travel, eco-tourism
• Medical and paramedical
• Biotechnology, medical equipment and consumables, pharmaceuticals
• Servicing international firms (telecommunications, information, computer technology)
• Human resources and logistics
• Marina, amusement parks
• Agro-industry

Emerging sectors

• Nature and environment
• Marine conservation
• Renewable energy
• Alternative sources of energy
• Water conservation and management
• Agro-industry
• Creative arts
• Art galleries
• Culture and leisure
• Fashion design

Freezone

The Mauritius Freeport was established in 1992, and is a dutyfree logistics, distribution, and marketing hub. It offers an exemption on customs duties, and also offers services such as storage, processing, and packaging to international companies that import goods into the Freeport Zone for export purposes.

There are three free zone areas in Mauritius in total; two of them are located at Mer Rouge in the capital city of Port Louis near the port area, and the third one is located near the international airport at Plaisance, offering a space of 120,000m² with modern infrastructures and logistics facilities.

Regulatory Sandbox License (RSL)

An initiative announced in the 2016/2017 Budget by the Government, the Regulatory Sandbox License (RSL) allows the possibility to corporations to invest in innovating projects that do not currently have the legal frameworks or proper provisions under existing Mauritian legislation. The RSL consequently helps corporate bodies to test pioneering products, services, and business activities, while simultaneously protecting consumers against potential risks. The BOI issues the RSL to eligible companies that are willing to invest in innovative projects, under agreed terms and conditions for a defined period.

Eligibility

For a project which does not have a legal framework or adequate provision, the investor would need to fill in an application to request the RSL. The investor should be able to explain the nature of the project and its innovative aspect at the local, regional, or international level.

Commercial real estate investments

Even if not registered with the BOI, foreign nationals are allowed to purchase an apartment or commercial space in a building to develop shopping centres, an office building or warehouse, or a project under the PDS or Smart City Scheme.

In order to purchase a commercial property, the following documents are required:

• An application form, completed and signed by the company's director
• The certificate of incorporation of the company and the shareholders' register
• A business plan containing details of the shareholders, the project, the execution time, and the financing of the project
• The site plan issued by a sworn land surveyor indicating the precise location and surface area of the property
• An evaluation report of the building issued by a surveyor or appraiser
• A Sale Agreement created in the presence of a public notary in Mauritius between the seller and the buyer
• Evidence that funds emanate from a bank (for the acquisition of the property and the implementation of the project)
• An Outline Planning Permission issued by the local authorities if construction work is planned
• A power of attorney in the case of an application by a third party
• A letter of intent issued by the Tourism Authority for tourism activities such as the development of a hotel or restaurant, the operation of recreational boats, or tour operators, amongst others.

Good to know:
The property can only be used for the purposes mentioned on the application.

Useful links:
Board of Investment (BOI)
Department for International Trade Mauritius
The Mauritius Freeport
BOI ' Property Development Scheme Guide
BOI ' Integrated Resort Scheme