Information and communications technology to Mauritius

(Last updated: 12 Jul 2007)

Trends and opportunities

The market

Mauritius is pursing a program to become a diversified, hi-tech country, fully integrated in the world economy. Mauritius is seeking to position itself as a high value services hub for Africa and India and to become to its own region what Singapore is to Asia. As a key player in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Mauritius can act as a platform for companies to enter Africa.

As part of the overall program, the government has articulated a vision of Mauritius as a ‘cyber-island’ – a hi-tech computer and telecommunications centre – with the investment, infrastructure and skills-base to provide call centres, remote data-backup facilities and, eventually, software development services.

In 2003, Mauritius completed the laying of an undersea fibre-optic cable that provides reliable phone links and broadband Internet capacity. ADB Networks, the countries major ISP, is providing wireless access across the whole island at a capacity to service the entire population, including business requirements. 

The government is investing in computer equipment and IT training in secondary schools. With its ethnic diversity, many Mauritius citizens are bilingual or trilingual. The common languages spoken include English (the official language), French, Chinese and Hindi.

Over 40,000 local Mauritians (including rural inhabitants) have received training in computer basics conducted at evening classes. Online shopping is becoming popular.

Mauritius Telecom, and its subsidiary Telecom Plus, were the sole public telephone operator and Internet service provider (ISP). The industry has been liberalised and to-date some 29 licences have been granted to private companies to operate telecommunications services (Internet, international long distance, public land/mobile, etc).

There are some barriers to overcome for the country to succeed in its endeavours including:

• A small existing pool of IT professionals
• Relatively high telecommunications costs
• Limited diffusion of ICT technologies

Opportunities

Mauritius is making a transition to the new economy and will require a well-developed and efficient infrastructure, a strong knowledge base and the requisite technical and business skills to support start-ups. There are several opportunity areas Australian companies can explore, including:

• Training
• Call centres
• Web-based applications
• E-education
• E-governance
• E-commerce
• Consulting (eg. legal advisors and human resource consultants)
• Applications for banking and financial sectors

The government has budgeted A$5.8 million to implement e-government projects including improving the computerisation of government departments and enabling ministries and departments to operate computerised registry, stores systems and the central personnel system.

Competitive environment

The government of Mauritius offers numerous incentives to attract investors in the ICT industry including the Regional Headquarters scheme. Microsoft, IBM, Accenture and Infosys Technologies have a presence in Mauritius, in some cases as a regional base.

There are approximately 80 ICT-related companies operating in Mauritius, employing 5000 people.

Tariffs, regulations and customs

The two main bodies regulating and promoting the ICT industry in Mauritius are the Information and Communication Technologies Authority and the National Computer Board.

Mauritius belongs to a number of international organisations (eg. the International Telecommunication Union), which deal with policies on telecommunications. As a member of these organisations, Mauritius systematically carries out reforms that accelerate the modernisation of its ICT sector.

The following legislation exists to ensure that companies can conduct online business securely:

• Data Protection Act 2004
• Electronic Transactions Act 2000 (for e-commerce)
• Information and Communication Technology Act 2001 (for regulation of the ICT sector)
• Telecommunications Act
• Copyright Act 1997 (for the protection of intellectual property)
• Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act 2003

The Independent Broadcasting Authority is the organisation regulating broadcasting.

Mauritius is going through a four-year program, beginning in 2005, to become a duty free country. This policy is aimed at creating significant investment across the entire economy, developing new economic endeavourers and stimulating entrepreneurship. The initial objective is for Mauritius to increase tourism by offering wide-ranging duty free shopping.

The government is implementing the program incrementally to allow new revenue sources to be developed and to allow Mauritius business to prepare for increased competition.

Industry standards

Mauritius conforms to international standards and models rather than having its own ICT standards.

The government has adopted ISO/IEC 17799 IT Security Standards for the civil service.

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications is the government agency responsible for administering ICT standards in Mauritius.

Marketing your products and services

Market entry

The recommended approach would be to visit Mauritius and introduce products and services to the key companies, or contact Austrade to obtain assistance in promoting your product. The private sector and the government are open to any serious propositions. A local IT company can be engaged to provide product support.

Mauritius is eager to learn how operators around the world have succeeded and, if the process could be replicated – albeit with some modifications – they will be interested in your products and services.

Local IT companies often seek to have an exclusive distribution agreement or to enter into a joint venture with a foreign partner.

E-commerce adoption in Mauritius is expected to be a catalyst that will help propel the country to become a service-based economy.

Distribution channels

The best way to distribute your products in Mauritius would be to have an agreement with a local company which can assist in promoting your products and providing after-sales support.

The market is small (1.2 million inhabitants) and normally a strategy such as contract manufacturing is not justified.

Transport

Mauritius has one international airport, the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in south eastern Mauritius (at the opposite end of the island from the capital, Port Louis).

Air Mauritius is the national carrier, providing passenger and cargo services to over 30 destinations worldwide including Perth, Sydney and Melbourne in Australia.

Port Louis is the major commercial port for the country.

The island has a road network of approximately 2000km of paved roads.

Links and industry contacts

ICT–related resources

Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications – www.gov.mu/portal/site/telcomit
Information and Communication Technologies Authority – www.icta.mu

Mauritius Telecom – http://mt.intnet.mu
Telecom Plus – www.telecomplus.net

National Computer Board – www.gov.mu/portal/site/ncb

Independent Broacasting Authority – www.gov.mu/portal/site/iba

Servihoo.com – www.servihoo.com

Government, business and trade resources for Mauritius

Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry - www.mcci.org

Government of Mauritius - www.gov.mu

Contact details

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) is the Australian Government’s trade and investment development agency, operating as a statutory agency within the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio.

Austrade assists Australian businesses contribute to national prosperity by succeeding in trade and investment, internationally, and promoting and supporting productive foreign investment into Australia.

Austrade:

• Delivers services that assist Australian businesses initiate, sustain and grow trade and outward investment.
• Promotes Australia as an inward investment destination and, with the States and Territories, supports the inflow of productive foreign direct investment.
• Administers the Export Market Development Grants scheme.
• Undertakes initiatives designed to improve community awareness of, and commitment to, international trade and investment.
• Provides advice to the Australian Government on its trade and investment development activities.
• Delivers consular, passport and other government services in designated overseas locations.

A list of Austrade offices (in alphabetical order of country) is available.

More information

For further information please contact Austrade on 13 28 78 or email info@austrade.gov.au

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