Mauritius

Relocation & Recruitment Advice

AP Executive consultants can assist you with jobs in Mauritius if you are interested in working in Mauritius please peruse the information provided for you below or contact us to discuss further options.

OVERVIEW

Mauritius is an island country strategically located between India, Africa and Asia. Mauritius has been an independent member of the Commonwealth since 1968 and became a republic in 1992. The mostly volcanic land area of 2,040 sq km lies east of Madagascar and has a population of approximately 1.2m (2014), concentrated mostly in the capital, Port Louis. The official language is English; the dominant ethnic group is Indo-Mauritian and the most popular religion Hinduism. The Government is presidential, with a single elected National Assembly and a Council of Ministers headed by a Prime Minister. The legal system reflects mixed French and British ancestry, and administration can be bureaucratic in the French style. Tourism is a major contributor to the economy, providing significant support in terms of generating employment, strengthening infrastructural standards and fostering bilateral ties.

Apart from encouraging tourism, the Government, in the recent past, has tried hard to create a manufacturing sector with a range of investment incentives, including free trade zones and a freeport. With a stable political and socio-economic environment, Mauritius serves as a competitive offshore investment destination, allowing businesses to thrive within a well-regulated and business-friendly environment. More recently, a financial services sector has developed exponentially, including a stock exchange, to take advantage of Mauritius' location offshore India and Africa. The finance sector is a major pillar of the economy, contributing nearly 10.3% to the island economy’s Gross Domestic Product in 2014. Although the island is small in size, the country’s well-developed sophisticated banking sector boasts around 23 banks, including reputed foreign banks such as HSBC, Standard Chartered, Barclays, Deutsche Bank. The Government is enthusiastic about e-commerce. To further strengthen the financial and commercial sector, the Mauritian government is investing in information technology operations and broadband penetration, thus enhancing operational efficiency and security regulations as well as offering better connectivity.

WHY CHOOSE MAURITIUS

As a leading offshore financial hub of Africa, Mauritius has established close trade links with India, China, South Africa and the United States. With a favourable taxation system and pro-business policies, Mauritius provides foreign investors with a competitive marketplace. A further advantage of doing business in Mauritius is that registration is hassle-free and less time-consuming. Mauritius has one of the most advanced financial sectors in the region, with modern infrastructure and streamlined access to banking resources. This promising sector is sophisticated and well-diversified, attracting highly-qualified financial and legal professionals globally. After recent liberalisation of the legal services market, foreign law firms are now encouraged to open local offices or enter into joint venture with Mauritian legal professionals.

As a vibrant cosmopolitan country with a rich historical background and multi-racial population, Mauritius, often known as the rainbow nation, offers a fascinating place to work and live. The island boasts a safe, peaceful environment along with an exciting social scene. There are plenty of recreational and leisure opportunities, ranging from adventurous water sports and hiking and mountain biking to operas, concerts and clubbing. Mauritius provides high-quality and affordable healthcare and educational facilities. The island has an extensive road network with an easy availability of public and private transportation. The airport has good connections with a wide range of countries, making it convenient for business travellers to get direct flights to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia.

REQUIREMENTS TO SET UP A COMPANY

As in most other countries, Mauritian government also focuses primarily on the employment of citizens. Therefore, employers have to give first preference to locally qualified Mauritian. Nevertheless, companies do bring in highly-qualified professionals from abroad especially in areas where there is a skill shortage. In order to work and reside in Mauritius, one needs to first secure an Occupation Permit, which combines work permit and residence permit. It is generally valid for a period of three years.

REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYEES WISHING TO RELOCATE

For more comprehensive guidelines on starting a business in Mauritius, please click here.

More information on Mauritius

Owing to the Mauritian government’s initiatives to encourage entrepreneurs to do business in the Island, setting up a company has become relatively easier and streamlined.

The most commonly used business structures are: opening a branch office, entering into a partnership and sole trading

* Mauritius Freeport is a commercial-free zone with advanced logistical support and infrastructural facilities. Businesses operating within this zone also have several tax-related benefits.