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 & PolicyBoard of Investment

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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: 17th in the world; 1st in Africa

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Business Facilitation Act 2006

Before After

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 sectorsDeveloped 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

required2. 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

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Doing Business Ranking

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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

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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

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The IT Hardware Infrastructure

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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

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The Informative E-regulations Portal

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The Informative E-regulations Portal(contd)

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Process Flow Chart

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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

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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

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Challenges faced and actions taken

Challenges faced Actions 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

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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

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Q&A

Mauritius, a nurturing environment that serves as a springboard for your business success

Thank You