Mauritius Continues On Road To IT Success

Mandy Robinson, Tax-news.com, London

12 March 2001

In a further step strengthening the already close ties between Mauritius and India, Mauritius' Minister for IT and telecommunications, Deelahchand Jeeha, has announced that India-based major software company Infosys Technologies will invest US$280 million in Mauritius in the process of setting up its new venture on the island. Jeeha told reporters that the Mauritius government had already allocated 50 acres of land to Infosys which currently supplies its enterprise banking solution to three major banks in Mauritius.

In addition, the Indian government has awarded a credit of US$100 million to Mauritius for the development and promotion of IT in the island which will go towards computer-aided IT education, computer equipment, software and other resources to create Mauritius' first 'cyber city.'

The cyber city is part of Mauritius' plan to create an IT free-trade zone which was announced by Prime Minister, Anerood Jugnauth earlier in the year. At the time he said: 'The year 2001 will be marked by the relaunch of the Mauritian economy. We want to make Mauritius an information technology free trade zone with digital parks.'

The digital parks will offer all the latest available technological facilities to meet the needs of IT business, and the government aims to provide a series of fiscal incentives to both domestic and foreign businesses operating in Mauritius. Jugnauth also announced the launch of an official body to promote the IT sector in Mauritius as a major centre for foreign businesses. It is expected that the IT free trade zone will create thousands of jobs on the island.

The Mauritius government is also planning to implement a 'green visa concept' which allows Indian companies looking to set up a venture in Mauritius to bring in as many IT experts as they need without complicated red tape procedures.

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