ICT/BPO: Mauritius as the Basis for Investment in Africa

It is the purpose of the first investment forum for the sector launched yesterday by President Kailash Yage with ministers Tassarajen Pillay Chedumbrum (ICT) and Arvin Boolell (Foreign Affairs).

Mauritius ambitions are clear - positioning as a basis for investment in Africa, taking advantage of its economic, historical and cultural connections with Asia and Africa. During the various speeches this morning at the opening of the high level forum at the Intercontinental Hotel by the Ministry of ICT in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry and the Board of Investment (BOI), it appears that Maurice has strengths and an ideal business climate for foreign investment, the meeting, which ends tomorrow, the theme Leveraging Mauritius as a hub for business growth and new markets, bringing together foreign investors and delegates from India, Australia , Malaysia, the United States, Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Chad and Uganda.

For Tassarajen Pillay Chedumbrum, Africa is well on course to an economic revolution. "It is an undeniable fact that the continent of Africa has known remarkable growth during the past years and is now home to tantalising economic and commercial prospects" said the Minister of ICT in his speech quoting a phrase from the World Bank that Africa is in the process of economic takeoff, like China 30 years ago and India 20 years ago.

Ministers Boolell and Chedumbrum highlighted Mauritius as an attractive destination for investment, especially for activities in the ICT / BPO. Arvin Boolell presented Mauritius as a country holding an enabling environment in terms of investment climate, investment protection through its extensive network of agreements for the promotion and protection of investments, tax efficiency or the preferential access to the markets of regional trading blocs such as SADC and COMESA.

Tassarajen Pillay Chedumbrum for his part stressed the right notes on the international scene, including ranking 19th of Doing Business Report 2013 of the World Bank, 47th globally in the Nework Readiness Index and first at the same time in Sub-Saharan Africa. He also cited several initiatives and measures taken by the authorities on the one hand facilitate business and promote the development of the sector.

Launching a direct appeal to foreign investors, the ICT Minister said that they "should not be afraid invest in a country as far away on the world map, "while relying on the advantages of Mauritius for investment. Authorities, namely the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said, stepping up their efforts and initiatives, both at regional and global level to promote and strengthen economic ties with friendly countries and blocks regional. He also reported on the ongoing negotiations with the European Union under the Economic Partnership Agreement, and at the World Trade Organization for negotiations for a plurilateral agreement with about 50 members on the expansion of Information Technology Agreement. This agreement, said Mr. Chedumbrum will be finalized next month and aims to promote trade and eliminating taxes on IT products. Mauritius has also signed an agreement in principle with the United States, the largest market in the world in terms of ICT and outsourcing, the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).

President of the Republic Kailash Purryag for his part, expressed confidence in the sector, he said, is on the right path of progress.