www.investmauritius.com budget2012 eng
TRANSCRIPT
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CONTENTS
1. Editorial
2. Investment Climate
3. Fiscal Measures
4. Sectoral Analysis
i) Manufacturing
ii) Financial Services
iii) Tourism & IRS/RES
iv) ICT/BPO
v) Logistics and Distribution
vi) Knowledge
vii) Healthcare
viii) Renewable Energy
ix) Seafood
x) Aviation Hub
xi) Creative Industries: Film Making
xii) Agro-Industry
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democratizing our economy with ease of access to nance for the development of the Micro/SME
sector, the greater empowerment of women and enhanced training schemes for our youth.
Investment is our engine of growth. The measures announced allow for continuity in our endeavor to
further open our economy in terms of foreign talents and investment.
At the same time, the scope of investment at home is being broadened, providing investors with more
opportunities. The creation of new sectors like commercial marinas and lm making will allow new
ventures. Specic measures aimed at revamping the nancial services, agriculture, sheries, tour-
ism, ICT/BPO, knowledge, construction and healthcare sectors equally provide for new investment
prospects. As a lever to boost investors condence, a total of MUR 21.2 billion will be injected in key
infrastructure projects.
The newly announced National Resilience Fund (NRF) totaling MUR 7.3 billion puts a special focus
on the promotion and internationalization of Mauritius as a preferred investment destination in both
our traditional as well as new markets including India, China and Africa. The commitment of the Gov-ernment to position Mauritius as the preferred platform for Africa is testied by its dedication to signing
more DTAAs and IPPAs with African nations like Tanzania, Algeria and Angola as well as positioning
Mauritius as the undisputed hub offering more connections with Africa and emerging economies.
The investment climate is rendered safer through the creation of more jobs, the launching of a more
inclusive housing programme and the implementation of strong social measures.
This budget is accompanied by a six-month implementation timetable which will allow us to monitor
our performance and progress.
I invite you to read through the analysis made by the BOI team concerning the measures announcedby Honourable Xavier-Luc Duval in this 2012 Budget.
Ken Poonoosamy
Managing Director
Dear Valued Investors,
Articulated around the concept of Growth For The Greater
Good, the 2012 Budget commissions the Board of Investmentto offer a unique experience for investors.
In this special edition of our newsletter we bring you the good
news, namely the consolidation of our competitiveness through
growth strategies and the abolition of a series of taxes, amongst
others the removal of the solidarity tax on dividends and inter-
est effective on 1st January 2012 and, with immediate effect,
the cancellation of the capital gains tax on immovable property.
Business facilitation, a determining factor in the investment
equation, has been given a special attention. In view of fur-ther increasing efciency, a new system aiming at reducing the
processing time for registering properties from 15 to 2 days
is being introduced by next week. The focus is on attractinghigher investment for the acquisition of advanced technologies
to achieve higher productivity and greater efciency, allow-
ing Mauritius to move towards increased prosperity by further
EDITORIAL
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Measure
The performance of Mauritius in several global
indices such as the Mo Ibrahim Index of AfricanGovernance, the World Bank Doing Business In-
dex as well as Fraser Institutes Economic Index
Freedom positions Mauritius internationally and
No 1 in Africa.
1) With a view to further improve the ease of
doing business and be among the best, a Joint
Public-Private Sector Business Facilitation Task
Force has been set up. The Task Force will ad-
dress the various bottlenecks and cumbersome
procedures faced by the business communityand devise policies that will further improve the
regulatory framework.
2) A new system has been implemented to further
reduce the time for registering property from 15
to 2 days.
Impact on economy
The above measure will contribute to further im-
prove the doing business environment and do
away with cumbersome procedures that result in
undue delays in the issue of permits and licenc-
es. The policies that will be devised will enable
Mauritius to be in the Top League of the Doing
Business Index and have the right conditions in
place to further attract trade and investment.
Measure
Government will appoint two roving ambassadorsfor Africa and the Indian Ocean.
Impact
The roving ambassadors will contribute to better
position Mauritius at the regional level and in-
crease the network of Double Taxation Avoidance
Agreements and Investment Promotion and Pro-
tection Agreements which is crucial to further pro-
mote trade and investment in the region. Theseinvestment agreements will provide more inves-
tor condence and use Mauritius as the platform
for investment structuring into Africa.
Tax Policy to boost Investment and Growth
Abolition of solidarity tax on dividends and
interest.
Abolition of Capital gains tax on immovable
property.
Abolition of municipal tenants tax
Removal of land transfer tax on the sale of
immovable property by nancial institutions.
Tax holiday of Freeport operators will be
carried forward indenitely.
Consolidating Agriculture
Full VAT refund on agricultural machinery, equip-
ment and tools that will be purchased in 2012.
Harnessing benets of our seas
VAT refund on shing gear, outboard and
inboard engines of up to 25 hp and VHF radios.
VAT refund on semi-industrial shing ves-
sels by cooperatives.
Medical Tourism
Restoration of VAT exemption on cosmetic sur-
gery
Supporting SMEs
Banks will be allowed to claim the deduction from
tax, in respect of SME bad debts without the need
to have recourse to the courts.
INVESTMENT CLIMATE
FISCAL MEASURES
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Sound and responsible scal stewardship
Extension of solidarity levy on telecommuni-
cation companies for more than one year to end
in 2013. The levy will also cover management
companies in the Global Business Sector. The
levy will be 10% of chargeable income and will
be applicable for 2 years ending in 2013. 40% increase of annual rental values for in-
dustrial leases of state land.
Removal of Annual double deduction for
marketing and promotional expenses granted to
a company in the tourism sector/engaged in ex-
port activities.
Tax administration
Extending coverage of Tax deduction at
source to: Fees paid to lawyers, doctors and dentists
Rental and other intermediaries on behalf of
property owners
Fees paid to minor operators
CSR will be computed as 2% of chargeable
income instead of 2% of book prots.
Increase of income exemption thresholds
by 15,000 for each of the six categories of in-
come tax payers.
Housing Units
Exemption on payment of land conversion
tax, registration duty and land-transfer tax.
Removal of land transfer tax for the next
two years on the construction of housing estates
comprising at least 5 units, at a maximum price of
2.5 million rs each.
Full exemption on registration duty for rst
time buyers under the scheme
Manufacturing
Measures
1. A Sponsored Pre-job Training Initiative is intro-
duced under the following conditions:
The duration of training should not exceed 6
months,
HRDC will pay 60 percent and the prospective
employer 40 percent of the training costs, and
A monthly stipend of 6,000 rupees per trainee
will be paid on a 50:50 cost sharing basis.
2. The banking sector has agreed to the release
of 3 billion MUR at an affordable interest rate of3% above the repo rate, that is 8.5 %.
3. New loans to SMEs at the DBM be capped at
the repo rate plus 3 %, that is 8.5 %.
4. To further support the SMEs as well as other
borrowers, Government is abolishing the inscrip-
tion fee leviable on registered loans.
5. Exemption of Registration duty ranging from
1,000 MUR to 10,000 MUR on loans not exceed-ing 1 million MUR.
6. An additional 175 units in industrial estates are
being developed at ve sites. They will be avail-
able to a wide array of SMEs, including mechan-
ics, carpenters, metal workers, manufacturers
and furniture makers.
7. Government is also granting entrepreneurs
seeking deserve assistance up to 20,000 MUR
monthly towards their expenses, subject to their
proposal being approved by the Mauritius Busi-ness Growth Scheme (MBGS).
8. All facilities under the LEMS will be extended
to December 2014.
9. A guarantee scheme under the NRF to enable
SMEs to get insurance cover on their exports as
well as on local sales is introduced.
SECTORAL ANALYSIS
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10. Access to crches to some 2,000 children
will be provided in Mauritius and Rodrigues to
children whose parents could not otherwise af-
ford it giving them the same opportunity in life
as for well-off children. To this end 1,500 rupees
per month for a child up to 3 years old will be of-
fered to poor families accompanied by a social
contract with the NEF.
11. Companies will now be able to use their CSR
fund, to provide free of charge, crche and kin-
dergarten facilities for their employees earning
less than 12,000 rupees per month.
Impacts
Capacity Building initiatives will mitigate the chal-
lenges caused by the shortage of skilled labour
by: 1. Increasing the participation rate of those
not involved in the workforce;
2. Increasing the value of work performed by
those already in the labour market;
3. Raising the skill level of those entering the
workforce.
It is expected that in 2012, some 8,000 unem-
ployed will be covered by these schemes.
Greater access to nance will enable SMEs to
cover new operations locally and overseas, in-
crease available resources for local investment
increase their productivity and enhance their
competitiveness.
The provision of modern industrial infrastructure
to operators will ensure efciency in production
but also help them receive and send products
to and from other companies in the supply chainand deliver their products to their end market.
The increased access to foster homes for chil-
dren will remove obstacles to employment, in
particular as concerns women.
Financial Services : The Linchpin of our
Economy
BOI is mandated to actively promote the export of
nancial services out of Mauritius as well as at-
tract new nancial players to invest locally. To this
end, BOI will further consolidate its presence in
key markets including the USA, Europe and India
as well as leverage on new and upcoming ones
including China, Africa and Middle East. We will
adopt an aggressive marketing strategy to en-
sure increased visibility of the Mauritius Interna-
tional Financial Centre (MIFC) in these markets.
Measures
1. Appropriate legal framework will soon be set
up to promote Foundations, Private Occupational
Pensions and New concept of Trusts.
2. The Government will continue to protect the
countrys best interest with regards to the India/
Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.
3. The Code Civil Mauricien will be amendedto allow for appropriate legal framework which
would govern leasing of both immovable and
movable property especially nance leasing.
4. With regards to insurance sector the legislation
allowing local assets to be insured with a foreign
based insurance company is being abrogated in
2013.
Financial Services is one of the major pillars of
the economy and will continue to be the linch-pin of our economy. The setting up of an appro-
priate legal framework to promote Foundations,
Private Occupational Pensions and New concept
of Trusts will further consolidate the product of-
ferings of the Mauritius International Financial
Centre (MIFC) and will enhance condence of
investors using the MIFC as a wealth and as-
set management jurisdiction. In addition, the an-
nouncement to repeal the Legislation that catered
for local assets to be insured with foreign based
insurance company by 2013 will no doubt give a
boost to local insurance and will encourage newinsurance companies to serve the sector.
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The proposed amendment to the Code Civil
Mauricien will provide more comfort to leasing
companies and entice international leasing com-
panies to enter the Mauritian market.
Key Facts
The Financial services industry contributed anextent of 13% to Mauritian GDP in 2010. The
sector grew by 4.3% last year. As at March 2011,
11,731 people are employed in this industry. In
2010, FDI in the nancial sector reached MUR
4.7 billion while domestic private investments
amounted to MUR 29.3 Bn.
Hospitality & Property Development
In line with stated aim in the budget of encour-
aging investment, government priorities in thisbudget for the hospitality and property develop-
ment sector are laser-focused on:
Fiscal Measure
The abolition of tax on gains from the sale of im-
movable property (capital gains tax) to reinstate
the competitiveness of the Mauritian real estate
sector in the international arena Abolition of mu-
nicipal tenants tax to ease the cash ow of en-
trepreneurs
Impact
The abolition of the capital gains tax will:
restore the image of Mauritius as a jurisdiction
with a stable scal platform
make the residential real estate sector compris-
ing of the IRS and RES more liquid and an attrac-
tive asset class for institutional investors
exempt small landowners transferring theirproperty in a company for RES project will not be
taxable
create positive spillovers and reposition Mau-
ritius as an attractive location to invest and own
secondary homes
Boosting investment in the construction in-
dustry
Reducing the time to register a deed on acquisi-
tion of an immovable property from 15 days to 2days using an electronic platform
Allowing holders of permanent residence permit
to buy an apartment so as to give a boost to the
construction industry
Impact
The central task of this measure is to lift the con-
struction industry and to attract more FDI through
the acquisition of apartment by non-citizens.
Bolster tourism industry and marina develop-
ment
Setting up the appropriate legal framework for
marina development and operations so as to po-
sition Mauritius as an attractive sailing destina-
tion in the region and to further diversify the exist-
ing tourism package
Development and adoption of an ofcial rating
system to grade hotel operators
Introduction of a green certication to label ho-
tels for sustainable management and operations
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Hotels and tourist residences running at a lost
will be not be liable to pay the environment pro-
tection fee in 2012
Impact
Mauritius being strategically located within the
Indian Ocean, having a beautiful coastline, anumber of small islands near the shore as well
as other islands much further away (Rodrigues,
Agalega), an ever expanding tourist industry, a
growing number of buyers for IRS villas and a
sizeable number of boats, a marina industry
would add to the existing offer to tourists, IRS/
RES buyers and local people. Mauritius has all
the prerequisites to become an attractive sail-
ing destination in the region. We are very keen
to diversify our existing tourism package, which
includes activities related to shopping, business,green tourism, health and golf, with a new prod-
uct, namely sailing tourism.
Key Facts
The contribution of Hotels and restaurants to
GDP in 2010 amounted to 7%. Last year, 915,000
tourists visited Mauritius and the projection is
980,000 tourists in 2011. Tourism receipts for
2010 reached MUR 39.5 Bn.
The number of residential units sold under IRS/
RES has been on a constant rise over the past
years to reach 577 units sold in 2010.
Giving a push to Emerging Sectors - ICT/
BPO
The ICT/BPO industry is one of the promising
sectors and the Budget has laid major emphasis
on the development of this key pillar of the Mau-
ritian economy. The Budget highlights that efforts
should be laid upon attracting investment and
enhancing our promotion capacity in this sector.
Focused and targeted promotion campaigns will
therefore be carried out in our traditional markets
such as Europe, India and South Africa as well
as in emerging destinations such as China and
Africa.
Measure
1. To address the shortfall in manpower in the
sector, foreigners earning a monthly salary of Rs30, 000 will be eligible for an Occupation permit
2. Government will open connectivity to give long
distance telecom operators the right of access
to connect to international gateways via our two
landing stations.
3. The ICT Act will be amended to allow the ICT
Authority to intervene more effectively to ensure
competition and competitive pricing of services.
4. A submarine bre cable will be laid to link Rod-
rigues to Mauritius.
Impact
The ICT-BPO industry is today facing a major
challenge in terms of availability of skilled man-
power. This issue is hindering the growth plans
of existing companies and also discouraging
entry of new companies. By relaxing the ceiling
of the Occupation Permits for workers in the in-dustry and also allowing foreign students to work
a maximum of 20 hours a week, companies will
be able to meet their immediate needs for skilled
and specialised resources. This will also allow the
ICT-BPO industry to surf the next wave of value-
addition and sustain its dynamic growth.
The Budget addresses the issue of connectivity.
Long distance telecom operators will have the
right of access to connect to international gate-
ways through the two existing landing stations.
This will enable businesses to be able to connect
to multiple service providers and enhance com-
petitiveness in the sector.
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Furthermore, through the amendment of the ICT
Act, the ICT Authority will be conferred more
power in ensuring that prices are competitive and
also as per international standards.
Rodrigues will also benet through connection to
a submarine bre optic cable thus ensuring ac-
cess to high and reliable bandwidth and triggeringthe development of a vibrant ICT/BPO industry.
Rodrigues can thus serve as a complementary
destination to Mauritius for back ofce services.
Key Facts
The ICT/BPO industry has witnessed a signi-
cant transformation over the last 10 years with
a GDP contribution averaging 6.4% in 2010. For
the year 2011, GDP contribution would increaseto 6.8% and it is forecasted that by 2015, GDP
contribution will average 8%. Over the last few
years, the ICT/BPO industry has witnessed dy-
namic growth rate averaging 25%. The indus-
try employs presently around 15,000 people.
Freeport sector
Measure
Tax holiday of Freeport operators which should
end in 2013 will now be carried forward inde-
nitely.
Impact
A zero per cent corporate tax as from 01 July
2013 will provide more certainty to Freeport oper-
ators and enhance Mauritius as a regional trade,
marketing and distribution platform. This meas-
ure will denitely give a strong boost to the sector
and help in further increasing cross border trade.
Key Facts
The logistics and distribution sector contributed
9.6% to Mauritian GDP in 2010. Its growth rate
for the past ve years has always been positive
(+2.5 % growth in 2010). As at date, the logis-
tics and distribution sector generates 4,500 direct
jobs and 13,000 indirect jobs. Last year, domes-
tic private investment in this sector amounted to
MUR 354M while its FDI amounted to MUR 58M.
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Education
Measures
Procedures have been reviewed to speed up is-
sue of student visas for foreign students. Foreign
students will be allowed to take up employment
on a part-time basis for up to 20 hours a week.
1. Infrastructure will be developed to increase ac-
cess to education.
2. Land will be earmarked by SLDC in Rduit for
the setting up of campuses of renowned foreign
tertiary education institutions.
3. Government will encourage the setting up of
private nursing schools.
Impact
Speeding up the procedures for granting of stu-
dent visas and allowing students to work part time
up to 20 hours will help to reinforce the image of
Mauritius as an ideal destination for foreign stu-
dents. This will result in a signicant increase in
the number of foreign students.
In the same vein, with students allowed to work
part time, critical shortage of manpower in grow-
ing sectors like ICT/BPO, nancial services and
tourism can be addressed.
The availability of serviced land for setting up
of campuses will give a boost to investment in
higher education and contribute towards Govern-
ment vision of transforming the education sector
into a pillar of the economy.
The setting up of private nursing schools will
further contribute towards making Mauritius a
Knowledge hub.
Key Facts
The knowledge sector contributed to over 4% of
GDP over the last four years (+4.3% expected
for 2011). This sector has grown by 4.1% in 2010
compared to 2009. As at end of December 2010,
total employment in the knowledge sector stood
at 25,486. FDI ows to this sector reached MUR
18M in the year 2010.
Healthcare
Measures
1. The VAT exemption on cosmetic surgery has
been reintroduced to give a boost to medical
tourism activities.
2. Employees will now be able to use their month-
ly NSF contributions made by their employers to
the National Savings Fund (NSF) as payment for
private health insurance.
3. The Medical Council Act will be amended toreview the criteria for registration of general prac-
titioners and specialists.
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4. Government has committed funds for the pre-
registration training of some 375 qualied medi-
cal graduates from both local and foreign univer-
sities.
Impact
The VAT exemption on cosmetic surgery willmake the cost of elective procedures for medical
tourism more competitive. Given that cosmetic
procedures account for a signicant share in ow
of foreign patients, this measure is expected to
signicantly increase the number of foreign pa-
tients travelling to Mauritius.
Contributions made by employers to the Nation-
al Savings Fund as medical insurance will give
a new impetus to the private healthcare sector.
Demand for private healthcare will increase thusresulting in more investment by private health-
care institutions.
The review of the Medical Council Act will help
to ensure that Mauritius has the appropriate tal-
ents to support the development of the growing
medical hub.
Key Facts
The Healthcare sector currently contributes to 3.7
% of the GDP and has witnessed a stable growth
over the last four years. The growth rate of the
healthcare sector in 2011 is 6.3% compared to
2010. Total number of people employed by the
Healthcare sector in 2010 is 13,654.
Medical Tourism sector
With a substantial increase of foreign patients,
from some 8,000 in 2009 to more than 10,000 in
2010, the Mauritian Healthcare sector is evolv-ing in a regional medical hub with a special focus
on cardiology, orthopedics and cosmetic & plastic
surgery.
Renewable Energy
Measures
1. A framework will be set up to enable productionof ethanol for blending with gasoline.
2. 318 MUR will be allocated to the MID initiative,
consisting of 118 MUR for renewable energy, 100
MUR for solar water heaters and 100 MUR for
the MID Fund.
3. The scheme for purchase of electricity from
Small Independent Power Producers is being ex-
tended from 2 megawatts to 3 megawatts as a
result of its success.
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4. Government will further encourage the com-
posting of solid waste by more than doubling the
amount of waste earmarked for this purpose from
90,000 to 190,000 tonnes a year.
Impact
The above measures t within the vision of Gov-ernment of Mauritius in line with the MID initiative
for sustainable development. The framework for
the production of ethanol for blending with gaso-
line will add value to the cane industry while at the
same time bringing environmental benets and
increase self-sufciency in energy and will lead
to additional investment and the use of new tech-
nology. Production of electricity from renewable
sources by individuals will help transform Mauri-
tius into a sustainable island. Investment will also
increase in recycling activities further contributingto the efcient and productive disposal of waste.
Fisheries / Seafood
Measures
1. Government will invest in cutting edge tech-
nologies to better harness the economic potential
of our marine resources.
2. Funds will be committed to:
Replenish lagoons by releasing at least 300,000
sh ngerlings, and thousands of sea cucum-
bers in various areas, including Bambou Virieux,
Grand Gaube, Albion and Pointe aux Sables; and
Encouraging the setting up of coral farms & reef
sanctuaries.
3. All registered shermen will henceforth benet
from VAT refund on shing gear, outboard andinboard engines of up to 25 hp as well as VHF
radios.
4. Fishermen grouped in cooperatives will also
benet from VAT refund on semi-industrial shing
vessels.
5. The 10 percent customs duty on refrigerated
vehicles is also removed.
Impacts
The introduction of state-of-the-art technology
and equipment will greatly optimize activities re-
lated to the shing industry. Replenishment of the
lagoon will increase the supply of sh in the mar-
ket.
The creation of coral farms for producing corals
and coral cuttings will spearhead the develop-
ment of a new export industry, creating jobs in
various elds as well as contribute to the replace-
ment of bleached corals in the reefs and ensurethe protection of the marine eco-system.
Aviation Hub
Measure
Position Mauritius as an aviation hub by increas-
ing connectivity to African countries.
Air Mauritius is exploring the possibility to expandits network of partnerships with other airlines.
Impact
The successful development of Mauritius as an
air hub will entail the following:
i) Improve connectivity to high growth economies
in Africa and Asia.
ii) Making it easier and more economical for tran-sit passengers to connect through Mauritius;
iii) Developing SSR International Airport as an
integrated retail and shopping paradise destina-
tion.
Creative Industries: Film Making
Measures
Government is introducing a lm framework to
encourage the setting up of a lm industry to
attract international lm producers of repute. A
rebate of 25 per cent on all qualied production
expenditure will be provided to stimulate the in-
terest of lm makers.
Impacts
The following benets are expected from this new
engine of economic growth:
1. Facilitate better synergies, transfer of know-
how and technology between local and interna-
tional lm makers;
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2. Facilitate the development of integrated lm
studios in Mauritius;
3. Provide a boost to the outsourcing of digital
lm animation industry;
4. Growth in ancillary sectors such as crafts,
transport and travel, catering and accommoda-tion (including out of season).
5. Showcase Mauritius as a world class tourist
destination especially in previously untapped
markets.
Agro-Industry
Measures
1. Small planters and breeders will obtain full VAT
refund on agricultural machinery, equipment and
tools that they purchased in 2012.
2. The payment of an 80 percent advance to sug-
ar planters as soon as their crops are sent to the
mill will be maintained.
3. Allocation of funds for continuing the pro-
gramme of re-grouping small planters, de-rock-
ing their lands and providing irrigation.
4. The Agricultural Marketing Board will nance
seed purchases.
5. Resources to improve market intelligence for
farmers.
6. Budget for food security is being increased by
about 50% to 150 MUR
7. A new freight rebate scheme will be introducedthat will involve a 25% cost- subsidy element to
be shared equally between producers and ex-
porters.
8. The Fair Trade certication facilities shall be
extended to all sectors of the economy, includ-
ing producers of owers, vegetables, fruits and
honey.
Impacts
The above measures will provide further boost toboth the sugar and non-sugar agricultural sectors
whereby VAT refund on agricultural machinery,
equipment and tools will benet some 23,000
sugar cane planters, some 6,000 horticultural pro-
ducers and some 5,000 animal breeders, includ-
ing cattle and pig breeders. Additional resources
provided for the re-grouping of small planters will
increase the land area to further improve agricul-
tural productivity. Seeds purchase nancing will
further contribute to attaining self-sufciency in
the supply of potatoes, onions and garlic to con-sumers. Improving market intelligence will be
crucial to avoid under-production which drives up
prices for consumers and over- production which
depresses farmers income and threatens future
output. The new freight rebate scheme will en-
courage farmers to produce quality fruits, vegeta-
bles and owers for the export market.
Key Facts
The contribution of agroindustry to GDP amount-ed to 3.6% in 2010. The sector employed 45,200
people as at December 2010. Domestic private
investment in this industry amounted to MUR 1.7
Bn last year. For the year 2011 and as at date,
FDI in agroindustry amounted to MUR 176M.
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Board of Investment
Level 10, One Cathedral Square Building
16 Jules Koenig Street
Port Louis
Mauritius
Tel: (+230) 203 38 00
Fax: (+230) 208 29 24
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.investmauritius.com