Schemes
Schemes
There are various schemes offered by different institutions in Mauritius. Some schemes are for business start-ups, whereas others are for those who want to grow or expand their business and having the intention to export. The Government of Mauritius implemented additional schemes to support SMEs in order to face the Covid-19 pandemic
SME Mauritius Ltd
Internal Capability Development Scheme
Support SMEs to improve in terms of efficiency of their value chain; responsiveness to customer requirements and market dynamics and overall competitiveness through professional or technical input.
- Grant value of 80% of total costs up to a maximum of Rs 200,000.
Technology and Innovation Scheme
Enable SMEs to continuously invest in Technology and automated production capabilities and create technology based integrated and sustainable SMEs.
- Grant value of 80% of total costs up to a maximum of Rs 150,000
- For registered young and women entrepreneurs (29 years), a full grant up to Rs 50,000 is applicable for any productive equipment, excluding ICT
SME Marketing Support Scheme
Support SMEs to improve their market accessibility and competitiveness in both local and export markets and respond to more stringent requirements of diverse customer bases.
- Administrative costs: grant value of 80% per transaction, capped to a maximum of Rs 15,000
- Others: grant value of 80% of total costs up to a maximum of Rs 150,000
- As at 4th Sept 2020, 5 applications have been approved for an amount of Rs 139,400.
Inclusiveness and Integration Scheme
Encourage SMEs to work together, favour inclusiveness, interlinkages and networking and collaborate and synergise for mutual benefit- Grant value of 15% of the total value of the subcontracted service costs up to a maximum of Rs 100,000
SME Utility Connection Assistance Scheme (UCA)
Connecting SME operation sites to mains of utility suppliers (CEB and CWA)- Grant value of 80% of costs up to a maximum of Rs 150,000.
SME Employment Scheme for Graduates and Diploma Holders
Aims at developing and at instilling entrepreneurial skills and aptitude among graduates as well as boosts the employability of young graduates. As from Sept 2020, the duration of placements is for a maximum of 10 months only and registered SMEs will either benefit from one graduate or one diploma, but not both.
SME Start-Up Programme
Aims to help aspiring entrepreneurs measure the potential of their business ventures before embarking on entrepreneurship. The training will take place once a week for one year and at the end of this support program, participants can launch their products or services as they will receive support from the institution. They will also be able to market their products or services in the buildings of SME Mauritius.
‘Vinn ou prop Boss’ Programme
It encourages those interested in starting their own business by providing them necessary information and tools in the Citizens Advice Bureau. The modules of this programme are ‘Idea generation business, Talent business, Legal issues, BRN registration and the holding of the SME Certificate’.
Made in Moris Scheme
A one-off grant up to a maximum of Rs 50,000 is available to SMEs towards certification under “Made in Moris” label.
Other
As per Budget Measures 2021/2022, under electric vans and buses : • The Government will remove 5% excise duty on Electric Vans of up to 180Kw used for transport of goods • The subsidy for the purchase of electric buses is being increased: • From Rs 1 million to Rs 1.2 million for 9-meter buses • From Rs 1.3 million to Rs 1.5 million for uses above 9 meters • Operators acquiring electric buses will be eligible to a lease under the Transformation FundMauritius Research and Innovation Council
Collaborative Research and Innovation Grant Scheme (CRIGS)
CRIGS aims to improve the competitiveness of Mauritius through collaboration between Research and Industry. It will provide a matching grant of up to Rs 5M per project to successful applications for a project duration of normally up to 24 months. The ultimate objective of the project will be to develop innovative products, processes, and/or techniques for commercial competitiveness and sustainability of enterprises. The project should be in the following priority areas:
- Renewable Energy
- Ocean/ Marine Technology, Resources and Services
- ICT/BPO/Telecommunications (including High Performance Computing and Cloud Computing)
- Life Sciences (including Health, Medical, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology)
- Manufacturing
Intellectual Property Promotion Scheme (IPPS)
IPPS aims to encourage individuals, enterprises, industries, and R&D institutions to take advantage of the mechanisms for protecting innovation currently offered by the industrial property system in Mauritius. It will support applications made for the Patent protection and registration of Industrial Designs. The items eligible for claims under the IPPS shall be limited to 50% of the official fees for filing of applications for the grant of a Patent or registration of an Industrial Design.
Social Innovation Research Grant Scheme (SIRGS)
SIRGS objective is to encourage research institutions, NGOs, social enterprises, government bodies and the private sector, preferably in a networked form, to undertake socially innovative projects to address social issues for the well-being of the Mauritian society thereby meeting the goals of a more inclusive, fairer, and sustainable society high-end research and foster innovation. It will provide a grant of up to Rs 1M per project a project duration not exceeding 24 months. The applicant(s) will have to contribute at least 25% of the equivalent amount being requested from the MRIC ‘in-cash’ and ‘in-kind’.
National SME Incubator Scheme (NSIS)
NSIS seeks to foster the creation of Innovative businesses for the socio-economic benefit of the Republic of Mauritius through a nurturing and training process in a conducive environment provided by Accredited Incubators driven by the private sector. The Accredited Incubators which will select, coach and mentor innovative business start-ups as early as the idea stage. The NSIS will fund (on a 50:50 matching grant basis) Accredited Private Sector Incubators. The NSIS provides assistance on three phases, namely:
- Pre-incubation phase: Targets individuals or group of individuals motivated to transform their innovative ideas into a potential business (a maximum amount of Rs 50,000 for 9 months)
- Incubation Phase: Focuses on Early Business Start-ups willing to reinforce their business venture while benefiting from the ecosystem provided by the accredited incubator (a maximum amount of Rs 400,000 for 18 months)
- Acceleration Phase: Involves established SMEs willing to expand their activities further with the expert advice/financial and technical support from Accredited Incubators (a maximum amount of Rs 300,000 for 6 months)
Proof of Concept Scheme (PCS)
PCS plans to assist innovators in advancing their research outputs and ideas with a view to developing prototypes, establishing proof of concept, and validating business cases. PCS will provide funding of up to MUR1 million per project for a project duration not exceeding 12 months. Projects should be in line with the following areas of priority: Renewable Energy; Ocean Technology, Ocean Resources and Ocean Services; ICT/BPO/Telecommunications; Life Sciences (Health, Medical and Pharmaceutical); Manufacturing; Traffic Management; Social Issues; Agro-Industry; and Sports.
Pole of Innovation Grant Scheme (PoIGS)
PoIGS aims to promote the creation of innovative products/services and goods and spur innovation through advanced research and partnerships among local institutions and/or companies and/or international stakeholders. The maximum grant allocated to successful applicants is Rs 9 million per pole, with an annual maximum ceiling of Rs 3 million, for a duration of 36 months. An indicative list of priority areas for potential proposals is as follows:
- Renewable Energy
- Ocean/Marine Technology, Resources and Services
- Emerging Technologies including Artificial Intelligence, FinTech, Blockchain, ICT and Cloud Computing.
- Life Sciences (including Health, Medical, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology)
- Manufacturing and Food Processing
- Social Sciences
- Sustainable Tourism
- Smart Agriculture
Research and Innovation Bridges
RIB seeks to expand the Research/Industry Partnership to establish sustainable joint venture opportunities for the Mauritian companies through bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Researchers and Industry of the two or more countries. Successful applicants may be awarded a matching grant up to Rs 10 million. Applications should be in line with the following priority areas:
1.Renewable Energy
2.Ocean/Marine Technology, Resources and Services
3.ICT/BPO/Telecommunications
4.Life Sciences
5.Manufacturing
List of Accredited Incubator
- La Plage Factory – http://laplage.io/
- Turbine – https://turbine.mu/
- Verde Ventures Ltd – http://www.verdefrontier.mu/
- Mauritius Africa Fintech Hub – https://mauritiusfintech.org/
- LinearArc Solutions Ltd – https://lineararc.com/
Mauritius Revenue Authority
As per cabinet decisions of 14th August 2020, the allowance under the Wage Assistance Scheme and the Self-Employed Assistance Scheme to workers and self-employed individuals in the tourism sector would continue to be paid until the borders are opened.
Government Wage Assistance Scheme (GWAS)
GWAS is applicable to businesses in the island of Mauritius to ensure that employees in the tourism sector are duly paid their basic salary. This scheme covers both Mauritians and expatriate employees working in Mauritius and is applicable to businesses which have the necessary licence or permit from the relevant authorities. The eligible employers will benefit a financial assistance from the Government as per the table below:
| For every employee with basic salary in March 2020 | Basis | Assistance per employee(Rs) |
| From 9,700 to Rs 25,000 | 15-days wages | From Rs 4,850 to Rs 12,500 |
| From Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 | Fixed Amount | Rs 12,500 |
| Above Rs 50,000 | Nil | Nil |
As per Budget Measures 2021/2022 the Wage Assistance Scheme to tourism-related companies has been extended for the three-month period up to September 2021.
Self-Employed Assistance Scheme (SEAS)
SEAS is applicable to self-employed individuals in the tourism sector in the island of Mauritius, and who have the necessary licence/permit from the relevant authorities to operate a list of eligible activities. Eligible self-employed individuals and tradespersons will receive a financial support of Rs 5,287. Extension of the Self-Employed Scheme to tourism-related companies for the three-month period up to September 2021.
Small Enterprise paying Presumptive Tax
A small enterprise is eligible, at its option, to pay a presumptive tax of 1% of its turnover and is not required to declare its chargeable income.
Such an enterprise is exempted from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligation.
EDB / Freight Rebate Scheme to Africa
As per Budget Measures 2021/2022, the Freight Rebate Scheme is being extended until June 2022
Payment of Salary Compensation to SMEs
Government has decided to provide financial assistance to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for the payment of the Salary Compensation for the months of January 2021 to June 2021 as follows:
- Where the SME is NOT an export Enterprise, Rs 375 for each full-time employee earning a basic wage or salary of up to Rs 50,375.
- Where the enterprise is an Export Enterprise, Rs 235 for each full time Mauritian employee earning a basic wage or salary of up to Rs 50,235.
Note: The MRA will pay an amount of Rs 140, being part of the salary compensation for 2021, as special allowance directly into the bank account of the Mauritian employee.
The Bank of Mauritius (BOM)
has extended the validity of a series of measures, which was introduced under a Support Programme to assist economic operators, SMEs, households, and individuals impacted by COVID-19, till 30th June 2021:
Special Foreign Currency (USD) Line of Credit
The BOM has introduced a Special Foreign Currency (USD) Line of Credit targeting operators having foreign currency earnings, including SMEs. This line of credit has been made available through commercial banks at 6-month USD Libor with repayment facility one year from the effective date of disbursement.
National Computer Board
Business Advice and Guidance
The NCB Technopreneurship Unit assist all those with an Innovative idea in ICT in the following:
- Assist in Business Plan Writing
- Assist in Preparing Financial Forecasts
- Assist in Preparing Marketing Plan
- Assist in preparing Business Model
TechIdeaSpace
It aims to help nascent Technology Start-ups, to turn Innovative/Creative ideas to successful Businesses. It is open to all Tertiary Students, Undergraduates, Graduates, Postgraduates, and Researchers, IT/ ITES Professionals, Secondary Students, and aspiring Start-ups. This is an on-going project; start-ups can join through-out the year to turn their idea to business.
Online Presence and Social Media Marketing
It aims to guide Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to avail of new opportunities for Online presence and Digital & Social Media Marketing (DSMM) for boosting their business and expand their client base.
Tech-Talks
Tech-Talks is an initiative to encourage the community of ICT Start-ups in Mauritius to meet, share ideas, learn new skills, and discover growing opportunities in the field of Technology. NCB organises valuable talks/ meet ups regularly to update our community of ICT start-ups to connect to the best resource persons in industry to have insights on latest trends.
National Productivity and Competitiveness Council
Enterprise Productivity Solutions
NPCC has set up “Enterprise Productivity Solutions Platform” to provide a series of practical guidelines to enterprises for them to react effectively to the COVID-19 crisis and its consequences. Click here for more information.
Procurement Policy Office
- Ministries and Government Bodies will be required to have a minimum domestic content of 30 percent in their purchases of goods, wherever possible. (Para 71 of Budget Speech 2020/21)
- Margin of Preference of 20 percent on public purchases to all local manufacturing companies and 30 percent for manufacturing SMEs (Para 72 of Budget Speech 2020/21)
- SMEs holding the ‘Made in Moris’ label will benefit from a Margin of Preference of 40 percent instead of 30 percent under Public Procurement. (Para 145 of Budget Speech 2020/21)
- The Procurement Policy Office will require Public Bodies to procure specific goods and services from SMEs only. (Para 150 of Budget Speech 2020/21)
- Public Bodies will pay SMEs within 14 days from date of invoices in respect of supply of goods and services. (Para 151 of Budget Speech 2020/21)
EDB-Mauritius
SME PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL FAIRS REFUND SCHEME
A maximum refund of MUR 200,000 annually on the cost of participation fee, airfare and accommodation irrespective of the number of trade fairs attended
support for trade promotion & marketing scheme (tpms)
To manufacturing companies in their quest to penetrate the eligible markets faster by making use of air shipment. A 40% refund basis on Air Freight Costs (All-in Prices) only including Fuel Surcharge and Security Surcharge
freight rebate scheme to africa
Exporters are refunded 25% of the basic ocean freight costs for exports to Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles Comoros Island, and Reunion Island for container types 20fr, 40ft, and less Container Load (LCL/Groupage) as per Terms & Conditions. As per Budget Measures 2021/2022, the Freight Rebate Scheme is being extended until June 2022.
export credit guarantee insurance scheme
The scheme provides a subsidy on the cost of Credit Guarantee insurance Premium to eligible companies subscribing for Credit Insurance Cover for their direct exports worldwide in order to encourage them to take an insurance cover to secure trading. As per budget Measures 2021/2022 under the Export Credit Insurance Scheme :
- The maximum refund is increased to 0.5 percent until June 2022.
- The eligibility criteria are extended to Freeport Operators until June 2022.
These Guidelines set out the terms and conditions governing the Scheme. The Scheme may be terminated or amended, at any time, without prior notice. The EDB or Government of Mauritius will not bear any liability in respect of a Scheme which has been so terminated or amended.
film rebate scheme
A cash rebate of up to 40% for high end Feature film an TV series is reimbursed to eligible film producers on all Qualifying Production Expenditure (QPE) incurred and spent in Mauritius. This Scheme applies to production in the category of Feature Film, Commercials, tx series/programmes, documentary programmes, Music videos and dubbing productions. More info on : EDB Mauritius
Mauritius Tourism Promotion Agency (MTPA)
Under the Market Access & Exports SME Refund Scheme (Tourism Sector), MTPA provides financial assistance to SMEs in Tourism sector willing to participate in Trade fairs. Maximum of MUR 200,000 per year irrespective of number of trade fairs.
Development Bank of Mauritius
As per Budget Measures 2021/2022 under Infrastructure and schemes for SMEs by DBM Ltd:
• Rebate of up to 30 percent on the annual rental of industrial space to manufacturing SMEs over the next 3 years.
• Construction of an SME Industrial Park of 5,000 square metres at Solferino (in addition to Plaine Magnien and Vuillemin).
• Allocation of 20 percent of spaces in parks rent-free to start-ups for the first three years of operation.
• Rs 1 billion to be earmarked by DBM for loan facilities of up to Rs 5 million to retailers with turnover of up to Rs 250 million at a concessional rate of 3.5 percent p.a.
Other schemes
As per Budget Measures 2021/2022, under electric vans and buses:
• The Government will remove 5% excise duty on Electric Vans of up to 180Kw used for transport of goods
• The subsidy for the purchase of electric buses is being increased:
• From Rs 1 million to Rs 1.2 million for 9-meter buses
• From Rs 1.3 million to Rs 1.5 million for uses above 9 meters
• Operators acquiring electric buses will be eligible to a lease under the Transformation Fund
