Structuring Investment in

Africa:
Mauritius as Gateway
M. Mosafeer
Director
Large Taxpayers Department &
International Taxation Unit
Mauritius Revenue Authority
IFA, May 2012

Agenda
1.

Mauritius Comparative Advantage

2.

Mauritius
countries

3.

Objectives & constraints

4.

Way forward

treaty

network

with

African

Mauritius Comparative Advantage

Africa and Mauritius linked by close cultural,
business and bilateral ties.
Mauritius the only International Financial Centre
that is a member to all the major African
regional organizations (SADC, COMESA and
African Union)
Political stability, a robust banking system, a
pro-business environment, good infrastructure, a
relatively low cost of professional services, its
pool
of
highly
qualified
and
bilingual
professionals, its excellent telecommunication

Mauritius Comparative Advantage

(Contd.)

Leading position of Mauritius in the African

continent in many indicators and indices
1st out of 53 countries in Africa on the Mo Ibrahim Index of
African Governance, the Fraser Institutes Economic
Freedom Index and again first in Africa, in the World
Bank's Ease of Doing Business index, for the 4th year
running.

Wide network of DTA and IPPA

2.MAURITIUS TAX TREATY NETWORK WITH

AFRICAN COUNTRIES:
Where are we?

Double Taxation Agreements

Signed &
In Force

(13)

Botswana
Lesotho
Madagascar
Mozambique
Namibia
Rwanda
Senegal
Seychelles
South
(renegotiated)
Swaziland
Tunisia
Uganda
Zimbabwe

Signed &
Awaiting
ratification
(2)

Zambia
Republic of
Congo
Kenya

Africa

Treaties
Negotiated And
Awaiting Signature
(4)

Egypt
Nigeria
Ghana
South Africa
(renegotiated)

Treaties under
Negotiation

(5)

Algeria
Burkina Faso
Malawi
Tanzania
Yemen

INVESTMENT PROMOTION AND

PROTECTION AGREEMENTS:
Where are we?
Signed &
In Force

(5)

Signed &
Awaiting ratification

Treaties Negotiated
And Awaiting
Signature

(13)

Treaties under
Negotiation

(7)

(4)
Burundi
Madagascar
Mozambique
Senegal
South Africa

Benin
Botswana (under
renegotiation)
Cameroon
Chad
Comoros
Ghana
Guinea Republic
Kenya
Mauritania
Republic of Congo
Rwanda
Swaziland
Tanzania
Zimbabwe

Malawi
Uganda
Lesotho

Algeria
Burkina Faso
Egypt
Ethiopia
Tunisia
Yemen
Zambia

Botswana

3. Objectives & Constraints:

Where we want to be?

Expand the Mauritius network to 30 African

countries in the short to medium term

How?
Establishing treaties in priority with:
Countries of the SADC and COMESA groups Both
regional groups are finalizing model texts for the groups;
and
Emerging / growing economies and those that are in
transition to capitalise on the investment opportunities
they offer

Constraints

Countries not proceeding with signing /

ratifying agreements
Armed conflicts in certain countries
(difficult to arrange for negotiations /
signing)

4. Way Forward

The conclusion of DTAAs with other countries forms an integral

part of Governments action to improve the investment climate
and attract foreign investment and also to implement the most
enabling framework supportive of our Global Business Industry.

Government is committed to consolidate the position of Mauritius

as the jurisdiction of choice for investing into Africa.

3 important measures were announced in the 2012 budget speech

to enhance the Mauritius offering:
the widening of our network of DTA & IPPA African States;
the transformation of our airport into a new hub for the region, providing
interconnection between Africa and the rest of the World.
the appointment of two roving ambassadors to focus on further
developing our relationship with Africa and countries of the Indian Ocean
region;

Way Forward (Contd.)

Mauritius is already widely used for Indian outward investments

into Africa

China is equally using Mauritius as a base for expansion into the

promising African continent

Certain Development Financial Institutions also favor Mauritius as

the natural domicile for their investments in Africa (IFC, ADB etc.)

Major global companies with plans to expand their operations in

Africa have decided to do so by setting up their regional base in
Mauritius

These moves can only testify that Mauritius is rightly set to be the
future gateway for conducting business with Africa.

THANK YOU!