More than sun and sea: Why Mauritius is a place to do medtech business
Ian Bolland spoke to Mrs. Nirmala Jeetah from the Economic Development Board about its visit to Med-Tech Innovation Expo 2022, and the incentives for medical device manufacturers to do business in Mauritius.
Though to the lay person Mauritius is probably well known for its sun, sea and being a popular holiday destination, but the country’s Economic Development Board is keen to highlight at this year’s Med-Tech Innovation Expo its attractiveness for investment in the medical device and life sciences sector.
The Economic Development Board previously exhibited in a world when COVID-19 when wasn’t around at our 2019 event, but is now back for more, and they’re not alone as they have medical device companies accompanying them to the 2022 edition.
Co-exhibiting with them in June 2022 is catheters and stents manufacturer Natec Medical; personal protective equipment (PPE), medical tubing and moulds provider Xtruline; and orthopaedic and dental implants and bone substitutes manufacturer Noraker Capricorne.
Noraker Capircorne is a great example of a company with French roots that established a presence in Mauritius. Their research is undertaken in France, but its manufacturing base is in Mauritius as the company can capitalise on several tax credit and rebate schemes. Natec is also setting up a life sciences centre in the country and wants to do more contract manufacturing activities.
Mrs. Nirmala Jeetah, who oversees the bio-industry and project development directorate at the Economic Development Board of Mauritius, explains more about the incentives there are for life science companies doing business in the country.
“I would say for Mauritius it’s the ecosystem, the lifestyle, and the cost of doing business, and accessibility with the infrastructure, connectivity and for the labour. Because you need people to work and it’s easy to recruit people.
“The government wants to promote manufacturing and right now we have the premium investment scheme that is focusing on pharmaceuticals and medical devices. With the Premium Investment Scheme you can get exemptions duties, taxes that are levied but also in terms of utilities. This is a new scheme to encourage in the healthcare sector.”
The sector accounts for 5.6% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Mrs. Jeetah highlights this a relatively new industry for the Mauritian economy with companies abroad starting to express their interest in investing. The Economic Development Board wants to work with prospective companies to bring more life sciences manufacturing to Mauritius.
“There is a life sciences and pharmaceutical hub that has been earmarked for Mauritius where we have invited companies to set up. There’s already one company that has shown interest in manufacturing its products in Mauritius and we have another South African company that has shown interest in setting up in the pharmaceutical sector."
In any business this requires building connections and networking, a major reason why the Economic Development Board is exhibiting in 2022 in its first outing at the show since COVID-19.
“It is an opportunity for us to create more awareness about high-tech manufacturing in Mauritius, especially for the healthcare sector.
“That is the main reason for us to exhibit; to create more visibility for Mauritius, but also for other companies that are accompanying us to better get new orders and contacts.
“To be global we need to attend these types of events, and this type of event specifically is a very specialised event in this sector. That’s the reason why we have targeted this event, that’s key for us.”
Connecting themselves and the trio of accompanying companies to create awareness is a key reason, along with providing exposure for Mauritius’ life sciences sector, for exhibiting at this year’s Expo.
“For us it is important that these companies network and do some matchmaking with other companies and to create awareness for those companies with other companies that we represent in medtech.
“That is all of the supply chain, all of the different service providers and all that and we will have all of these visitors coming so: new contacts, new orders, this is the forum for these companies to increase awareness about these products, get new orders, get contacts and that’s the main reason why we are participating but also Mauritius being not just the sun, sand and sea of holidaymaking but also that we do business.
“Also, we have the whole ecosystem for clinical trials because the last time we participated we met a few investors as well that have shown interest, and in medical devices manufacturing and from Ireland we met. I think they were quite surprised to see Mauritius.
“People don’t know about Mauritius being the medical devices manufacturing site or destination. They know Mauritius for holidays so we want to create more awareness, get more insights from the different seminars and workshops we do have and that could help us be up to date with the different technologies. The different seminars and the different tools and techniques that are happening overseas allow us to keep abreast of developments in this area at an international level, also.”
Creating awareness not just for the industry body, but also the companies that are accompanying the Economic Development Board to the NEC as they try to meet with others ahead of the event and capitalise on their presence.
“Last time we met with Medilink and we want to sort out more collaborations that can create more awareness with those companies, and more synergies, sharing of information and things like that. These are the main things, especially working with the industry associations so at least the companies which are well established, very much advanced in terms of technology, manufacturing processes and all that so you keep learning from them.”
The Economic Development Board of Mauritius will be on Stand D10 at Med-Tech Innovation Expo, which takes place on 8th-9th June at The NEC, Birmingham, UK. For more information on visiting and exhibiting, visit www.med-techexpo.com.