Business opportunities
Austrade's business development specialists have prepared a select range of market profiles with potential business opportunities and to assist in your exporting investigations. Please see the list of industries at the end of this profile that you may be interested in.
In conjunction with the market profiles, the Opportunities Online website may be a useful addition to your information sources. The database established by Austrade aims to deliver international sales leads ('export opportunities'), including tenders, generated by our overseas network to Australian businesses.
Registering is simple and once this is done you will have the option of accessing a weekly newsletter featuring the most recent opportunities uploaded onto the system in industry sectors of interest to you. Another feature is the ability to view, and also print, the complete page of opportunity details.
For general inquiries concerning Austrade’s services, please contact Austrade Direct on 13 28 78.
Business etiquette
Business hours in Mauritius:
- General business hours are Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
- Government offices are open between 9.00am to 4.00pm.
- Banks (main branches) are open between 9.00am to 3.15pm Monday to Friday and are closed on Saturday and Sunday. Some banks are open til 5.00pm on Fridays.
- Shops are usually open between 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Saturday and half day on Sunday morning. Some shops in towns such as Curepipe and Quatre Bornes also close half day on Thursdays whereas shops in Port Louis generally do not open on Sundays.
Business practices:
- Mauritians are more formal than Australians, especially in the public sector. First names should be avoided on first contact (unless you have corresponded in the past). Handshakes are freely used and are the standard form of greeting, although in certain orthodox circles this may not be practised with women.
- Titles can be generally disregarded without offence, but it is preferable to use them (in abbreviated form) in correspondence. Where someone has more than one name (eg. Peter Chan Sui Ko), he is usually addressed as Mr Chan Sui Ko or Mr Chan.
- Exchanging business cards is common practice, therefore have plenty with you.
- Exchanging gifts is not widely practised in business, however, corporate gifts may be exchanged at Christmas time.
- Mauritians prefer to be provided with brochures and CIF price lists.
- Be punctual for a meeting although it may happen that your client/contact is some minutes late. If you are running late, however, do phone and advise that you will be late for your meeting.
- Dinners and lunches with local representatives and customers help develop networks.
- Government purchases over a set threshold value are effected through the Central Tender Board and this process can be lengthy at times. In the case of the business community (private/corporate) this is not the case as they are free to shop around for the best deal.
Please also note: Bribery of foreign public officials is a crime. Australian individuals and companies can be prosecuted in Australia for bribing foreign officials when overseas. For more information, go to the Attorney General's Department on foreign bribery.
Tariffs and regulations
Import restrictions
Import permits are required from the Ministry of Trade and Industry for certain selected food products such as:
- salted fish
- fresh milk
- maize
- rice
- certain oils
- sensitive items (eg. Portland cement, petroleum oils, acrylic acid, fireworks, pharmaceuticals and certain vehicles)
Prior approval may be required before an import permit is granted for some products (such as animals and animal products) from the Ministry of Agriculture and other products from relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Fisheries and the Ministry of Health. The maximum validity period of an import permit is 12 months.
The importation of certain goods is prohibited for health and safety reasons, including:
- sugar cane cuttings or plants
- ball valve bottles
- explosive caps for toy pistols
- fire crackers called 'petards rapes'
- ivory and tortoise shell
- rubber tyres which have been remoulded, recapped or regrooved
- kerosene stoves
- sugar confectionery in the form of cigarettes
- various second-hand motor vehicle spare parts and accessories
All imports must be accompanied by a certificate of origin signed by one of the three following authorities in the exporting country:
- ministry of commerce (or equivalent)
- government customs service
- chamber of commerce
Importation of food, drink, pharmaceutical and certain chemicals requires the approval of the Ministry of Health.
Commercial banks are authorised to make payments overseas without restriction, except for goods which are subject to an import permit. The importation of certain selected fresh vegetables, such as onions and garlic, is carried out by the Agricultural Marketing Board.
The State Trading Corporation is responsible for the import of products such as flour, rice, and petroleum products.
Tariff
Mauritius has a three-column tariff based on the Harmonised System. Most duties are ad valorem, assessed on the CIF value and specific rates are assessed according to the specified unit of measure. Australian goods are subject to the aggregate of the duties indicated in the Fiscal and Preferential columns.
Customs and excise duties are charged on goods entering Mauritius. Customs duties vary depending on the category of the product, ranging from zero per cent to 80 per cent. Excise duty ranging from 17 per cent to 400 per cent is levied on selected goods such as petroleum products, motor vehicles, spirits, aerated beverages, tobacco, etc.
Preferential rates apply to imports from certain countries, including the USA, European Union, Commonwealth countries and many developing countries. There are also different conditions that apply to goods originating from COMESA member states, and SADC. To be eligible for the preference rate, goods must be accompanied by a certificate of origin.
Customs authority contact details:
Comptroller of Customs and Excise
Customs and Excise Department
IKS Building
Port Louis
Packing, marking and labelling
General information:
- Use of straw (excluding artificial straw) is prohibited.
- Gross and net weights should be shown in kilograms.
- Origin of the goods must be shown on labels or on the goods themselves.
- In January 2000, the Food Act was introduced, which lists requirements to be met by all players in the food industry.
Weights and measures
The metric system.
Insurance
Normal commercial practice.
Methods of quoting and payment
Quotations should be CIF in Australian or American dollars. Payment is usually by irrevocable letter of credit with an internationally reputable bank (see also 'Import restrictions' above).
Public health requirements
An import permit is essential for livestock, plants, vegetables, fruit and parts thereof (except dried beans and similar items).
Plants are subject to special instructions.
Livestock is quarantined for up to three weeks.
The Mauritian Ministry of Health is responsible for the import of pharmaceutical products.
Recommendations set out in the Food Act 2000 need to be followed.
Strict regulations govern the import and sale of pesticides.
Documentation
Note: It is important that shipping documents should arrive before the goods. All merchandise must be fully entered within three days of its arrival.
Commercial invoice
No prescribed form.
Customs require two copies and the invoice must indicate the usual full details, including the HS number of the goods. The FOB and CIF values (Incoterms 2000) must be shown separately.
Fax signatures, other than those of rubber stamps, are acceptable.
For cotton piece goods, show volume in square metres.
Certificate of origin
All goods should be accompanied by an appropriate certificate of origin issued by the competent authority in the country of export. The statement need not be in French but can be in English, which is the official language.
Translation of French statement: 'It is hereby certified that the above-mentioned goods have been manufactured in .............. where their final process of manufacture has taken place and that no less than 50 per cent of their value, under the form of labour, materials and other manufacturing costs, originates in that same country. Signature of exporter.'
Bill of lading
A copy of the bill of lading covering the goods mentioned in the import entry document must be attached to the entry. This copy will be retained by the Comptroller of Customs, so shippers must ensure that they forward copies to their importer.
If a copy of the bill of lading is not available, or is incomplete, a certificate from the agent of the importing vessel giving the required data is to be reproduced and submitted instead.
It must show the tonnage of the goods, or their weight and measurements, and also the freight paid or payable on such goods.
Special certificates
As listed in the Food Act 2000.
Seeds, plants, fruit and vegetables require phytosanitary certificates issued by the approved authority in the country of origin. They also require a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture which lists the certificates to be produced and the conditions to be filled
Quick-frozen fruit and vegetables require additional certification stating: 'The fruits or vegetables were blanched at 90 - 95°C prior to being deep-frozen.'
Livestock, meat and offal require a signed health certificate issued by a veterinary officer of the approved authority in the country of origin. In Australia this is usually the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry-Australia.
The certificate accompanying meat, meat products and offal must carry an endorsement stating that: 'The meat was derived from animals, which originated in an area which after due enquiry and to the best of knowledge and belief of the government of Australia was found free for the past six months from major contagious/infectious diseases particularly anthrax, blackleg, bluetongue, swine fever and swine erysipelas.'
Taxation
Goods and services imported and supplied in Mauritius are charged with a Value Added Tax of 15 per cent, which is refundable when the product is exported. Quotas would apply on importation of a small number of controlled products.
The excise tax system has also been reformed and excise duty introduced on a number of imports, including spirits, gasoline, cigarettes, cars and cement.
Products which are subject to 55 per cent or more of customs duty have an additional 10 per cent duty imposed on them if they come from non preferential countries (Australia is classified as preferential). It should be noted that no additional surcharge is applicable for goods already attracting a duty of 80 per cent. The 10 per cent surcharge applies to goods at 55 per cent customs duty.
Exemptions include basic foodstuffs; animal feeding stuffs (other than prepared pet food); printed books, brochures, leaflets and periodicals; water and ice, not treated or mixed with any other goods; medicines, fuels and fertilisers.
An import duty of 80 per cent is levied on sugar products.
Mauritius runs a self-assessment system based on the global system of taxation. Income tax is assessed on the preceding year basis from 1 July to 30 June:
- For residents, it is world income.
- For non-residents, it is income derived from sources in Mauritius.
Residents of Mauritius are eligible to foreign tax credit in respect of foreign source income. The foreign tax credit includes tax-sparing credit and in case of dividends credit for underlying tax charged on profits out of which the dividends are paid.
A special tax regime offering interesting tax incentives exists for companies in the offshore sector.
Although many financial centres have flourished without any tax treaties, Mauritius being a tax-planning jurisdiction has focussed the development of its offshore centre on the use of its growing network of Double Taxation Agreements. The expanding network of Double Taxation Treaties reinforces the seriousness of Mauritius as a tax efficient offshore jurisdiction for structuring investment abroad. No agreements exist with Australia.
Many multinational corporations use Mauritius to route their investments into emerging regions such as India, China and Pakistan. The various tax treaty benefits are aimed to attract investors wishing to minimise their costs when repatriating income from their investment in the treaty country where they have invested. Substantial foreign investments are channelled through Mauritian offshore vehicles and this is expected to increase as the Mauritius tax treaty expands and as investment prospects in the region flourish. An illustration of this would be the surprising result that Mauritius was the top investor in India for August 2001. Foreign investment worth US$530 million destined for India was channelled through the Mauritian Offshore sector.
Corporate tax of 25 per cent generally applies to the following bodies:
- Companies
- Trusts
- Trustees of Unit Trust Scheme
- Non-resident Societies (partnerships)
Some companies (tax-incentive companies) benefit from a lower corporate tax rate (15 per cent) depending on the status conferred to them, offering various other incentives as well in the following sectors:
- Manufacturing
- Services
- Financial services sector
- Stock exchange
Business travel
Air Mauritius offers a direct flight from Melbourne, Sydney or Perth, once a week. Alternatively, you can fly to Singapore and then choose either Air Mauritius or Singapore Airlines flights to Mauritius.
Sir Seewoosagar Ramgoolam (Plaisance) airport is about 48 kilometres from Port Louis. Travelling time by road to the capital is about one hour. An airport tax around A$25 is payable on departure at the airport, but is normally included in the price of the air ticket.
Two Air Mauritius Bell-Jet Ranger helicopters are available for transfers between the airport and the hotels and for sightseeing tours.
You may also check with your travel agent for coach transfers from the airport to different hotels around the island.
Car hire companies are also represented at the airport and can be hired upon arrival. Taxis are also readily available from the airport. A trip from the airport to Port Louis centre should cost around A$40.
There is a bus service in Mauritius that covers the whole island. The hours of service are 5.30am to 8.00pm in towns, and 6.30am to 6.30pm in rural areas.
Taxis can be hired from hotels or taxi stands. They are also available for half-day or full-day tours. You must always agree on the taxi fares before undertaking a journey. Tipping is not necessary.
Car rental is also available. Driving in certain parts of the island can be a challenging exercise as you may not find signs easily and roads are sometimes narrow (especially in remote areas).
|