Mauritius has a solid reputation as an international financial centre which promotes good governance and the ease of doing business. It enjoys political stability, and sustained economic growth. Due to its world class services and attractive legal/tax regimes, Mauritius has been an increasingly attractive destination for investors.
Main attractions and advantages are:
- Strategic geographical location: Located in the Indian Ocean, the time zone (GMT+4) enables business to be conducted with Eastern and Western countries on the same day. It also has airlinks to major European, African and Asian cities.
- Political stability: Parliamentary democracy is based on the Westminster model. Furthermore, it is the only African country with “full democracy”.
- The country has a hybrid legal system derived from both French civil law and English common law, with the UK Privy Council as the final Court of Appeal. This guarantees an appeal process that is independent of any form of bias.
- Mauritius has a robust regulatory system aligned with internationally-accepted financial norms and guidelines in respect of anti-money laundering, transparency and exchange of information. The country cooperates with international bodies such as the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), FATF (Financial Action Task Force), International Organisation for Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and the UN.
- Efficient means of resolving business disputes though mediation or arbitration.
- Extensive network of DTAs, making the country known as the “Gateway to Africa”. Companies incorporated in Mauritius are able to benefit from this network given that no capital gains tax is levied in Mauritius.
- Competitive and favorable tax environment: no withholding tax on dividends/interest and royalties, no capital gains tax, free repatriation of profits, no estate duty, no inheritance tax or gift tax, Income and corporate tax capped at 15%, Global Business companies subject to a maximum effective tax rate of 3%, Income derived from exports is taxed at 3% without the requirement of landing goods in Mauritius, ACs are not subject to any tax in Mauritius.
- 100% foreign ownership of companies allowed
- Mauritius has a pool of skilled and highly-educated, multi-lingual staff and professionals in the legal, accounting and financial industry.
- Preferential market access to the EU (under the Cotonou Agreement), the US (under AGOA, the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act) and Africa (via COMESA, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and SADC, the Southern African Development Community)
- Foreigners can invest in the Mauritian real estate industry to acquire a resident permit under the different investment schemes introduced by the Government.
- Reliable global banking and financial services to corporate, institutional and private clients.