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6 th Asia/Africa IFA Conference Structuring Investment into Africa By Marc Hein 11 th May 2012. JURISTCONSULT . www.juristconsult.com. JURISTCONSULT . www.juristconsult.com. JURISTCONSULT. www.juristconsult.com. JURISTCONSULT. www.juristconsult.com.
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6th Asia/Africa IFA ConferenceStructuring Investment into Africa By Marc Hein 11th May 2012 JURISTCONSULT www.juristconsult.com
JURISTCONSULT www.juristconsult.com
JURISTCONSULT www.juristconsult.com
JURISTCONSULT www.juristconsult.com
Why Invest into Africa through Mauritius? • Mauritius International Financial Centre • A stable jurisdiction • Legal and regulatory framework • International norms and Standards • Our Competitive Edge • Investment vehicles • Business facilitation • Mauritius – Africa Connectedness • Regional groups – SADC, COMESA, AU, etc • Treaty network and IPPAs
MAURITIUS: A STABLE JURISDICTION Sun, Sand, Sea, ...... and the Mauritian Hospitality What else can Mauritius offer? Melting pot – Unity in diversity Peaceful & Stable environment International Financial Centre Investment..... In a strategic place or using a strategic place to invest in the region and services JURISTCONSULT www.juristconsult.com
MAURITIUS: A HYBRID SYSTEM OF LAW Code Civil & Code de Commerce English Substantial, Procedure & Evidence Law Written Constitution, Rule of Law and Separation of Powers Privy Council in UK still is the highest Court of Appeal We speak French & English We understand Francophone & Anglophone Africa JURISTCONSULT www.juristconsult.com
SYSTEMS OF LAW IN THE WORLD English, French or mixed system of law JURISTCONSULT www.juristconsult.com
Legal and Regulatory Framework • Compliance with norms prescribed by international standard-setting bodies • IOSCO principles • IAIS principles • FATF recommendations • Graduation to SDDS • Financial Services Act • Insurance Act • Securities Act • Limited Partnership Act • Forthcoming legislation • Foundations Bill • Occupational Pension Scheme Bill
Arbritration & Mauritius • Rise in global business much of which is being held in countries in Africa and Asia where the legal system is not entirely trusted. • Enforcement of awards- New York Convention • Low Cost Arbitration • PCA, Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Hague and UNCITRAL Model • LCIA, London Court of International Arbitration – joint venture with Mauritius • IPPA's (BIT), ICSID, Investor-State Arbitration • Global Business automatic right to arbitration.
Taxation Regime • Uniform rate for Individuals and Corporates – 15% • Special Regime applicable to GBC1’s
Global Business – Legal Entities Global Business & Legal Entities
Global Business – Use of GBC's 1 • No limitation on activities • Range of activitiesinclude: • Investment Holding • Fund Management / C I S • Consultancy / EmploymentServices • Logistics and Marketing • Aircraft & Shipping • Licensing & Franchising • Pension Funds • Insurance • Legal / Tax Services • Servicing international clients: • Financial Advisers • Asset Managers • Investment Brokers • Investment Dealers • Insurance Brokers • Pension Scheme Managers • Pension Scheme Administrators
Mauritius International Financial Centre Expertise in Global Business - Pool of Qualified Professionals Key Service Providers Sound Regulatory Framework Competitive Edge Ethics and Corporate Governance Protection of Intellectual Property Rights Wide Range of Financial Products / Services Competitive Operation Cost Communication Network & High Internet Connectivity Business Friendly Environment Features at the top of investment indices for governance and ease of doing business
Regional Headquarters Physically based in Mauritius Low operating cost Mauritius Freeport Facilities Availability of qualified labour force & favourable time zone Possibility of using a tax efficient GBL 1 Business Facilitation (Permanent resident permits, etc.)
Mauritius-Africa Connectedness Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) African-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) African Union (AU) Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Southern African Development Community (SADC) Indian Ocean Rim (IOR)
SADC Region • SADC FTA - Regional market worth US$ 360 billion • SADC GDP – US$ 471.1 billion • Total population - 170 million • Includes economies growing by up to 7% a year. • Producers/ consumers: No import tariffs on an estimated 85% of all trade in Community goods in 12 countries • SADC regional integration programme: • FTA • Customs Union – 2010 • Common Market – 2015 • Monetary Union – 2016 • Single Currency – 2018 • Source: SADC website Member Countries Angola Botswana The Democratic Republic of Congo Lesotho Madagascar Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Seychelles Swaziland South Africa Zimbabwe United Republic of Tanzania Malawi Zambia
COMESA Member States Burundi Comoros D.R Congo Djibouti Egypt Eritrea Ethiopia Kenya Libya Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Rwanda Seychelles Sudan Swaziland Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe • Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) promote regional • economic integration through trade and investment. • - 19 member states • - geographical area of 12 Million (sq km) • - population of over 400 million • - annual import bill of around US$ 32 billion with an export bill of • US$ 82 billion • COMESA - a major market place for both internal and external trading Source: COMESA website
Treaty Network: 36 DTAAs in force (*3 Treaties awaiting ratification) • Asia • China • India • Malaysia • Nepal • Pakistan • Singapore • Sri Lanka • Thaïland • Bangladesh • Europe • Belgium • Cyprus • Croatia • France • Germany • Italy • Luxembourg • Sweden • UK • Russia* • Middle East • Kuwait • Oman • United ArabEmirates • Qatar • Caribbean region • Barbados • Africa • Botswana • Lesotho • Madagascar • Mozambique • Namibia • Rwanda • Senegal • Seychelles • South Africa • Swaziland • Tunisia • Uganda • Zimbabwe • Congo* • Zambia*
Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements Europe Sweden U.K. Germany France Portugal Romania Asia Barbados Switzerland Belgium India Czech Rep. Finland China Pakistan Rep. of Korea Singapore Africa Indonesia Botswana Tanzania Nepal Zimbabwe Burundi Swaziland South Africa Madagascar Mozambique Benin Rwanda Senegal Ghana Comoros Cameroon Mauritania Tchad Congo Guinea 36 signed JURISTCONSULT www.juristconsult.com
THANK YOU JURISTCONSULT www.juristconsult.com