Global Headquarters Administration
Global Headquarters Administration in Mauritius
As the leading Financial Services hub in the region, Mauritius is increasingly being used by international firms to establish their global headquarters for pan-African investments. Companies investing into Africa can benefit from using Mauritius to structure their trade and investment activities. African players, more particularly, the South African companies which are known to be the most active cross-border investors in Africa are also taking advantage of setting up their corporate offices in Mauritius.
The main benefits for setting up a regional headquarter in Mauritius are:
- Wide network of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements;
- Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements;
- Fiscal incentives available;
- Under the Business Facilitation Act, a regional headquarter may start its activities, and expatriate staff can obtain occupation and residence permits within 3 working days;
- Sound regulatory framework;
- Social and Political Stability;
- Bilingual Workforce; and
- Proximity to mainland Africa.
Framework
An applicant which proposes to provide global headquarters administration service under Section 16 of the Financial Services Act 2007 (FSA), shall provide at least 3 administrative services as defined under Part III of the Second Schedule of the FSA to at least 3 of its related corporations.
The FSA defines administrative services to include the following:
- Administration and general management;
- Business planning and development and coordination;
- Administration of e-commerce;
- Economic or investment research and analysis;
- Services related to international corporate headquarters in Mauritius.
A Global Headquarters Administration licence is granted by the Financial Services Commission (FSC), Mauritius, to an entity to provide administrative services to its related corporations or group companies.
To qualify for 8 years tax holidays under the Second Schedule of the Income Tax Act, a holder of a Global Headquarters Administration licence shall have a physical office as well as employ at least 10 professionals, with at least 2 at senior managerial positions, and incur annual expenditure of MUR 5 million.
An application for a Global Headquarters Administration licence shall be accompanied by the information and/or documentation prescribed in the Licensing Criteria which is published on the website of the FSC.