The Smart City program in Mauritius
In 2015, the Smart City Scheme was unveiled in Mauritius when the first budget was presented.
For Mauritius, the Smart City means developing integrated living and working spaces so that residents don't need to leave their city to work.
Developed on a minimum area of 21 ha, the Smart City Scheme (SCS) is a long-term project combining housing, workplaces, shopping areas and relaxation areas. These projects will also help to create thousands of jobs, stimulate the construction sector and assist the country in its development towards a high-income level.
All projects within the Smart City Scheme (SCS) are subject to the "Work, Live and Play" concept.
In Mauritius, Smart Cities go beyond being places of residence to become places of life, as everything must be accessible to enable residents to be close to all spaces and minimize travel. The Smart City program is based on the following principles: novelty, sustainability, efficiency and quality of life.
Goals of the Smart City Scheme in Mauritius
- Offer the opportunity to create new, intelligent and ecological urban spaces across the country.
- Promote the expansion of Mauritius as a financial center and investment platform.
- Appropriately develop resources that promote social well-being and the preservation of nature.
- Building sophisticated, sustainable cities based on the "Work, Live and Play" concept.
- Promoting innovation and making it easier for businesses to set up in Mauritius.
- Opening up to the world through specific economic initiatives that encourage foreign direct investment and exports.
The benefits of the Smart City Scheme
For investors, inputs, capital goods, plant and machinery are exempt from VAT. An annual amount of 50% of capital expenditure is allocated to energy-efficient equipment and green technologies. An 8-year tax exemption for companies specializing in real estate development, as well as the opportunity to promote projects to foreigners.
For individuals, a continuous evolution of mobility solutions. An environment with a reduced ecological footprint. High-quality infrastructure and urban services thanks to information and communication technologies. The possibility of reselling the property to a non-citizen and obtaining a residence permit for a foreigner for purchases over 375,000 USD.
Features of the Smart City Program
The Smart City allows residents to work while enjoying the cultural and sports facilities on offer.
As part of the Smart City Scheme, the government has imposed a condition: at least 25% of properties must be sold to Mauritian citizens or members of the Diaspora.
Limitations have also been imposed by the government. For example, in terms of land use, buildings must not exceed 50% of the total land area, and Smart Cities must include gardens, public spaces, bicycle paths and pedestrian zones. As for the environment, they must be self-sufficient in terms of energy and waste management, thanks to eco-friendly facilities.
At its most advanced, a Smart City encompasses homes, offices, shopping areas, an auditorium, a sports complex, schools and universities, as well as homes for the elderly.
According to the 2020 budget, holders of a residence permit or occupation permit who have purchased a serviced plot of less than 2100 m² in a Smart City must complete their construction within 5 years. The land must be used for residential purposes only. It is important to note that only 25% of residential land in Smart Cities has been opened up to foreigners.
Major projects in the Smart City Scheme
The special feature of these major projects is that they are all carried out by private companies. These projects require very high levels of financing and are exclusively owned by the major sugar companies and other Mauritian conglomerates. The terms that stand out are ENL, Omnicane and Medine.
The hallmark of every Smart City is that major groups need to focus on distinction to win over customers and investors in what has become an extremely competitive environment.
The Smart City Medine in Cascavelle places great emphasis on education, hosting institutions from renowned French universities such as the Sorbonne, Centrale Nantes, Paris Descartes, ESSEC Business School and ESCP Europe.
The Terra Mauricia group's Smart City in Beau Plan, meanwhile, focuses on tourism with its " L'Aventure du Sucre" attraction.
Cap Tamarin's focus on the elderly and Smart City.
Thanks to its prime location near the airport, Mon Tresor of Omnicane stands out in terms of logistics.There will be 20,000 m² of warehouse space available for major companies such as Unilever, DHL and Samsung, which have already signed up. Agility, the world's number 4 logistics company, is also moving into the Mon Tresor warehouses, underlining Mauritius' strategic position in the logistics industry. According to Agility's Managing Director, setting up in Mauritius is a natural choice for accessing African markets.
Projects under the Smart City program in Mauritius
MONT CHOISY SMART CITY of Mont Choisy Corporate Social Responsibility (MCCSR) Ltd
CAP TAMARIN – Smart & Happy Village of the Trimetys group
MOKA SMART CITY & SAVANNAH of the ENL Ltd – Espitalier-Noël group
BEAU PLAN SMART CITY of the Terra Mauricia group
MON TRESOR SMART CITY of the Omnicane group
MEDINE SMART CITY – Uniciti of the Medine group
YIHAI GARDEN - PAILLES SMART CITY of Yihai Investment Ltd (YIL)
SAINT FELIX SMART CITY of the Saint-Félix sugar company
TRIANON CITY of the Hermes Properties Ltd group
AZURI SMART CITY of Haute Rive Holdings Ltd
ROYAL SAINT LOUIS of the Roland Maurel Ltd group
LA VALLÉE DE FERNEY of the CIEL group
MONTEBELLO SMART CITY of New Montebello Development Ltd
COTE D’OR DATA TECHNOLOGY PARK & NEW PORT LOUIS managed by the promoter Landscope (Mauritius) Ltd
JINFEI SMART CITY of Jin Fei Ltd
Urban planning is of vital importance for the future of Mauritius. Indeed, the island must attach great importance to housing policy and land development due to its density. With a high geographic density of 697 inhabitants per km², the Smart City is the most sustainable urban planning solution for Mauritius.
LINK : Smart City Guidelines
For any additional information, the DECORDIER real estate Grand Baie agency supports you in all your real estate projects:
DECORDIER immobilier Grand Baie
Phone : +230 268 2828
E-mail : contact@decordier-immobilier.mu
Website : www.decordier-immobilier.mu