Mauritius launches 30% rebate scheme to attract Bollywood

Mauritius, known for its scenic beauty and exotic locales, has launched a rebate scheme to attract film-makers, especially from Bollywood, to shoot in the picturesque island nation.

The Film Rebate Scheme allows for a 30% refund on all the Qualifying Production Expenditures (QPPE) incurred by all film producers in respect of their projects in Mauritius. This scheme puts Mauritius at-par with other destinations like Malaysia and Abu-Dhabi which offer a 30% rebate.

The scheme was launched earlier this week by the country's Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance & Economic Development Xavier-Luc Duval and Minister of Arts and Culture Mookhesswur Choonee, in the presence of Bollywood Actor Jackie Shroff.

"The (film) industry is estimated to bring MUR 1 billion annually in foreign exchange to Mauritius," Duval said at the launch here.

It is also expected to generate employment for SMEs, designers, artists, hoteliers, with significant beneficial spill over effects on other sectors like tourism, trade, travel, transport and retail, he added.

The Board of Investment in Mauritius has recorded an increasing number of potential interests from local producers as well as production houses from China, South Africa and India. So far, expressions of interest have been received mostly by Indian producers.

Jackie Shroff said: "Mauritius should start producing movies. It should have a specialised school offering courses on script-writing and editing as well as crash courses on film-making".

As many as 198 films, commercials and serials from India have been shot in Mauritius since 1977.