Why Mauritius Global Business Corporations Remain a Strategic Choice for International Expansion
A Global Business Corporation (GBC) is a Mauritian company licensed by the Financial Services Commission to conduct international business activities outside Mauritius. Under Mauritian law, a GBC is treated as a resident company, which allows it to benefit from Mauritius’ regulatory, tax, and treaty framework while operating internationally.
Mauritius offers a stable, business-friendly environment for companies seeking to expand beyond their home markets. By establishing genuine economic substance in Mauritius and qualifying as a tax-resident entity, businesses can access the country’s extensive network of double taxation treaties, supporting efficient cross-border structuring, treasury management and operations.
This framework is particularly well suited for companies looking to strategically manage and grow their international activities. For businesses considering overseas expansion, Mauritius provides a practical and credible base for international tax planning and operational oversight.
From a tax perspective, companies operating under the GBC regime are subject to corporate income tax at the standard rate of 15%. However, 80% partial exemption may apply to certain categories of specified stream of income, reducing the effective tax rate on that income to 3%, subject to meeting the applicable conditions and substance requirements. Mauritius also operates a foreign tax credit system for foreign-source income.
In addition, companies engaged in the export of goods may benefit from an effective tax rate of 3% on chargeable income attributable to exports, calculated using a prescribed formula. A Corporate Climate Responsibility (CCR) Levy of 2% applies, with effect from the year of assessment commencing 1 July 2024, on the chargeable income of companies and resident sociétés where annual turnover exceeds MUR 50 million (Approximately USD 1.09 million). Where Companies are eligible for partial exemption the CCR can be reduced by 80%.
The Global Business Corporation benefits from all the advantages of Mauritius as an International Financial Centre
Mauritius is widely recognised as one of Africa’s most stable and well-regulated international financial centres. It ranks 1st in Africa for economic freedom, 2nd in Africa in the Global Financial Centres Index, and consistently tops African rankings for governance, democracy, and peace, key factors underpinning investor confidence and cross-border structuring.
There are many other reasons that make Mauritius one of the best offshore jurisdictions as depicted below:
Requirements for setting up a GBC
The requirements for setting up and maintaining a GBC in Mauritius mostly include the following:
- A minimum of one shareholder, who may be an individual or a corporate body, resident or non-resident.
- A minimum of two qualified directors residing in Mauritius.
- Management and control exercised from Mauritius, including board meetings being predominantly held in Mauritius. Principal bank account to be held in Mauritius.
- Have physical offices in Mauritius, where accounting records and statutory documents including register of members, debenture holders, and officers must be kept.
- Appoint a local management company like Nexus Global Financial Services Limited, to act as liaison between the GBC,the regulatory bodies (ie Services Commission , Registrar of Companies) and financial and non-financial institutions.
- Must file audited financial statements annually with the FSC within 6 months of the financial year-end.
- Tax returns must be filed with income tax authorities.
In straightforward cases, and subject to the timely provision of complete documentation and regulatory approvals, the incorporation and licensing formalities for a GBC may be completed within a few business days.
Uses of a GBC
The GBC is a versatile structure that can be used profitably for a host of uses.
Classical uses of the GBC include:
Investors can also open a GBC in Mauritius to be used for the conduct of financial services though additional licensing conditions are required to be fulfilled. Many GBCs are in fact used for financial management purposes. Such uses comprise:
- Asset management and treasury management
- Investment Advisory
- Fund Management
- Collective Investment Schemes (CIS)
- Credit finance
- Custodial services
- Leasing
- Debt Factoring
- Occupational pension scheme
- Pension fund administrators and pension scheme management
- Retirement benefits scheme
- Registrar and transfer agent
The GBC works well for investors using Mauritius as they benefit from a business-friendly jurisdiction. Investors using Mauritius are able to take advantage of our international financial centre for the conduct of business with Asia and Africa.
Please read our other articles on setting up in Mauritius:
Setting up an Offshore Company in Mauritius
The Reasons why you will Set Up an Authorised Company in Mauritius