Budget 2018-19 : making Headway on our Africa Strategy

Concerning the Africa Strategy, Government will enable new cross-border investment opportunities for our entrepreneurs. Last December, the Prime Minister had launched the Twin Technology Towers project in the Technology Park in Grand Bassam, Côte d’Ivoire.

Driven by the Mauritius-Africa Fund, this landmark project is being realized through Mauritian private sector investment exceeding USD 50 million. The construction of the towers is due to start in October this year.

The development of Phase 2 of the “Parc Industriel International” in Senegal will also start this year. Such realisations take time. To build momentum into the Process, the Prime Minister has announced some measures:

• A 5-year tax holiday for Mauritian companies collaborating with the Mauritius
• Africa Fund for the development of infrastructure in the Special Economic Zones. The tax holiday will cover investments in SEZ infrastructure development and will benefit two eligible categories of firms: project developers and project financing institutions;
• Government is working with EU on the setting up of a loan guarantee facility to support cross border investment within our Africa Strategy; and
• SBM and Mauritius Africa Fund have set up an Africa Infrastructure and Industrialisation Fund to assist Mauritian investors to execute projects in the SEZs on the African continent.