1. Using Information and Communications Technology to promote regulatory services A Case Study of Mauritius January 2010 www.investmauritius.com Mr. Kevin Bessoondyal Asst Director – Planning & Policy Board of Investment

2. 2 Improving the investment climate: How it started?  FIAS/World Bank Investment Climate Report – Weaknesses and policy gaps as regards investment climate  Business Facilitation Act 2006  Doing Business – Mauritius Ranking: 17 th in the world; 1 st in Africa

3. 3 Business Facilitation Act 2006 BeforeAfter 23 investment schemes for e.g. EPZ, hotel development schemes Abolished almost all investment schemes except 2: Property and Freeport Differentiated tax treatment ranging from 0 to 25% Harmonised tax regime at 15% Investment Projects: Screen and approve permits Based on clear and transparent guidelines (Mandatory to register with the Register of Companies) Focussed on specific sectors Developed globally competitive industries with focus on export oriented sectors Restricted economic policy : hindering investment to happen Liberalised economic policy with regards to: 1.Investment: No minimum investment required 2.Movement of people: Occupation permit granted to four categories namely: investor, self-employed, professional and retired foreigners 3.Acquisition of property by foreigner for business purposes

4. 4 Doing Business Ranking

5. 5 Improving Business Climate (contd)  Recruitment of consultant for streamlining of business licenses  3 Technical Working Groups set to improve the ease of doing business  “Dealing with construction permits” indicator recommended for streamlining and simplification of business licenses for all regulated activities  Proposal of setting up an E-regulation platform component coupled with streamlining of business licenses exercise

6. 6 Measures taken  Announcement that the Board of Investment will be responsible to host the E-platform made in the Budget speech  Pilot project involving 4 Ministries : Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Agro Industry  Recruitment of personnel to develop system  Capacity Building program for the staff to ensure they get familiar with the tools and development platform  Procurement of high level IT infrastructure

7. 7 The IT Hardware Infrastructure

8. 8 Identification of processes in each Ministry  Consultative meetings to understand the different steps for processing of licenses and permits in the 4 identified ministries  Work out the different steps in a process flow chart format  Recommendations on re-engineering the processes wherever needed  Get the process flows vetted by each ministry and organisation  Setup the informative portal for all business licenses

9. 9 The Informative E-regulations Portal

10. 10 The Informative E-regulations Portal(contd)

11. 11 Process Flow Chart

12. 12 Performing an IT Audit  Perform an IT Audit to identify the needs of each ministry with respect to IT infrastructure to access the platform  Recommendations made to the Ministry of Finance and the METAP committee for funds  Sign off on a report on the IT Audit with all respective ministries

13. 13 Final Demonstration and implementation of platform  Pre-implementation phase: Testing of the system  Final demonstration on the E-Regulations platform to different stakeholders  Implementation of the platform in each respective ministry  Structured training sessions with government officials who will be using the platform for processing of the business licenses

14. 14 Challenges faced and actions taken Challenges facedActions taken Resistance from different organisations to collaborate in the e-regulations project Consultative meetings with each organisation to explain the importance of this national project Apprehension on the security of their data to be hosted at BOI The IT team of BOI had to conduct several meetings with officials of the ministries to explain the security aspect of the system Time taken for the organisations to vet the process flows Consultation with high level officers of the ministries Some organisations questioning why BOI shall be responsible for hosting this platform Prepare legislation to make BOI the official depository of all business licenses in Mauritius

15. 15 Way Forward  Complete implementation of the pilot project for the 4 selected Ministries by March 2010  Extend the project to the remaining ministries in Mauritius by end 2010  Provide Disaster Recovery facilities to the Ministries by replicating the e-regulations application and database to a remote site

16. 16 Q&A Mauritius, a nurturing environment that serves as a springboard for your business success Thank You