MAURITIUS SEAFOOD HUB

Competitive advantages of the Mauritius Seafood Hub

The Seafood Hub is defined as ''An efficient and attractive environment for the supply of value added processes and services for the export of seafood products.'' The Mauritius Seafood Hub is actually a cluster of seafood related activities. 

The Seafood Hub is focused on the development of value added fisheries and seafood related sectors such as fishing, transshipment, storage and warehousing, light processing, canning and other ancillary services. Nowadays, the Seafood Hub in Mauritius is on the boost because of several competitive and economic advantages as summarised in the figure below:

1. Rich region in seafood hub - The Indian Ocean is one of the main fishing zones in the world, having an annual catch of more than 1.25 million tonnes. The Indian Ocean has an area of approximately 30 million kilometer square, of which the Indian Ocean covers 6% of the total area. It is to be noted also that the ocean has an abundant stock of fish.

Indian Ocean

2. Attractive investment location - Mauritius is strategically situated at the cross roads of trade between the 4 continents. The island having good telecommunication, good infrastructure, political stability and a thriving economy, is in fact a reliable and business friendly location for investors.

3. Global market players -  The Government of Mauritius through its different policies and implementations of projects is committed to make this industry one of the main pillar of the island. Some global players like the Casamar, Starkist, Sapmer, Princes among others have indeed been very supportive to many of the projects that have been undertaken.

4. World class infrastructure - Mauritius offers an integrated logistics platform for transshipment, warehousing, handling, processing, re export and other activities at the port. We also have cold storage facilities which operate in accordance to the European Union (EU) regulations. Processing facilities are also available for grating, cutting, filleting and packaging of products.

5. Investment incentives - Mauritius offers a balance package which offers access to offshore banking facilities, access to local markets,  reduced port handling charges, corporate tax incentives amongst others.

6. Offers business advantages - The huge unexplored Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is rich in tuna. Mauritius has therefore developed a one stop shop with competitive and skilled labour force. We also have preferential market access to the US, UK and the EU. There are in fact many investors which are showing their willingness to invest in different projects in Mauritius.

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Mauritius

7. Investment opportunities - During the past few years, projects of fish farming and aquaculture in the island have been implemented. We also have easy export of fresh seafood by air links. Since the exporting to the EU markets require strict and high norms, Mauritius has developed facilities and services for quality control of the products that are locally produced. 

8. Modern, efficient and business friendly port - The Mauritian port is found in Port Louis which is an efficient and business friendly region. The port is equipped with deep water quays available for fish landing operations; accommodating small vessels of 15 m to super seiners vessels of up to 100 m. The port also provides towage and port services in a 24 hour, 7 days basis.

9. Preferential market access - Mauritius benefits from agreements of trade compared to other seafood hubs. Mauritius export its fish and fish products duty free to the EU, with conditions applied.

10. Excellent ancillary seafood related services - Mauritius has world leading companies engaged in services at competitive rates such as the dry dock facilities which is involved in the ship building repairs, ship storing, ship agency, etc.