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Mauritius To Become Free Trade Zone For IT Businesses

Mandy Robinson, Tax-news.com, London

05 January 2001

Prime Minister Mauritius Anerood Jugnauth has announced plans for Mauritius to become a free trade zone for the IT industry.

In his New Year's address the Prime Minister 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 government hopes to emulate the success of its Export Processing Zone (EPZ) which has established itself as a prosperous commercial base in relation to India and South Africa. The EPZ offers a range of fiscal incentives, as well as duty-free importation and re-exportation.

Freeport facilities were also established at the port and airport under the Freeport Act 1992. Although numerous licenses were issued under the Act, lack of storage facilities limited take-up of the benefits for some years. The incentives offered are broadly similar to those available in the EPZ, see above, and in addition there are reductions in port handling charges for re-exports.

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