Today we talk about the program Smart City in Mauritius.
Mauritius is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. With its turquoise lagoons, calm seas with fine sands, crystal clear waters and green landscapes, Mauritius has everything to please. But now a few years ago the island became the new eldorado of the Real estate investors. To this is added the advent of the ÂŤ Smart city Âť Mauritius. This is a new axis that celebrates the concept of smart cities combining new communication techniques and energy management. Decryption of the Smart city on Mauritius.
Smart City concept: an unprecedented development programme
Let's go back to history.
The first intelligent cities had appeared, in Mesopotamia, in 3,500 BC. They were born with a single objective: to improve the chances of survival of men by gathering together.
Over the centuries, with industrialization, cities have evolved with the needs of the population. The concept of comfort was thus born. But the planet is very quickly confronted with a major problem: increasing urbanization.
The ÂŤ Smart City Âť then impose as a sustainable response that lives at the pace of the inhabitants. Today, this concept is international and encompasses urban areas, metropolitan areas and small communities.
A Smart City is not an entirely digital city. As its name indicates, it is a city that tends to exploit new technological developments. The aim is to optimise the use of infrastructure in terms of transport, construction, environment and governance. A Smart City is then positioned as the transversal solution to the different problems of modern cities. It aims to create links between the practices of the population, sociological developments and technologies that she uses. In short, it celebrates access to a luxurious property, in a modern environment and at the cutting edge of new technologies.
The characteristics of a smart city in Mauritius
Smart City concept is an ambitious project that has already attracted major countries such as Europe, Asia and the United States. This wind of novelty ended up blowing on Mauritius. In 2015, Board of Investment (EDB) Port Louis, a national investment promotion agency, officially launched the Smart City Scheme (SCS).
Government constraints
In another perspective, it should be noted that the government has imposed constraints on the Smart City Scheme (SCS). You will find the constraints relating to the layout of the floor:
- Any construction under the Smart City Scheme must not exceed 50% of the surface area of the land to be built.
- All Smart Cities must be equipped with gardens, public squares, pedestrian areas and bike paths.
Some directives put in place by the Mauritian government are also of an ecological nature. As such, the authorities require Smart Cities to be autonomous in terms of energy and waste treatment. All the facilities are also environmentally friendly.
The objectives of a Smart City
The Smart city project is also characterised by many objectives. At the top of the list is the creation of mixed-use design. These include offices, commercial infrastructure, residential and recreational infrastructure. Then comes the creation of an environment conducive to work and which contributes positively to the improvement of the daily life of the population. The generation of smart cities' own energy resources is also a key objective of the project. The same applies to the management and conservation of natural resourcesand sustainable development.
Who can buy in a smart city in Mauritius?
You have a project forinvest Mauritius ? It must be admitted that the island has a very strong economic attractiveness and business prospects are flourishing. Through the Smart City Scheme, investors can see a multitude of opportunities. And behind the project to promote a smart city, other development ideas are articulated to name but one: stimulating innovative technological activities and creating a dynamic urban lifestyle.
- The foreign enterprises who wish to buy commercial land with the aim of developing their projects
- People able to buy a residential unit
- All persons classified as non-residents who may purchase a dwelling with a sale price exceeding EUR 300 000. These investors will also be eligible for permanent resident permit members of their families.
It should be noted that there were also beneficial changes for SSCs in the new budget Mauritius 2021-2022
The tax benefits for investors in the CSS program
As an investor through the Smart City Scheme program in Mauritiusknow that you will benefit from many tax and administrative benefits.
- First, you will be able to free yourself from the ÂŤ Land Conversion Tax Âť and customs tax. But this lack of tax does not apply to your furniture.
- As a company wishing to develop a project on commercial land, in the SCS programme, you will also free yourself from corporate taxes. Note, however, that this tax exemption will only be valid for the first 8 years following the start of the project.
- Finally, if you invest more than $5 million in a project ÂŤ Smart City Âť, the Mauritian government will grant you Mauritian nationality. On the other hand, as part of the construction of an infrastructure, the authorities of the country insist on use of green technologies.
You will understand, the smart city project is an ambitious project. You want to invest in a smart city in Mauritius. Don't hesitate to us contact.
