Overview
Global Board Of Trade Ltd (GBOT) is the 1st international multi-asset class exchange from Mauritius offering a basket of commodity and currency derivative products including metals, energy, agri-soft, and currency pairs. Trading occurs on GBOT’s state-of-the-art electronic exchange platform with efficient clearing and settlement systems ensuring counterparty guarantee for all trades and initially offers trading in Gold, Silver, Crude Oil (WTI) USD/MUR, ZAR/USD, EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and JPY/USD products.
Regulated by Financial Services Commission (FSC), Mauritius, GBOT is strategically located at the crossroads of Africa and Asia and offers an ideal platform for global investors to access many of the world's fastest growing economies from Mauritius.
Mauritius is a new age International Banking and Financial Center that offers world class physical and ICT (Information and Communication Technology) infrastructure, business friendly environment, transparent legal structure, good governance and regulatory framework, skilled manpower and a bilingual multi-ethnic workforce as well as proper work-life balance and affordable lifestyle for professionals, all of which have created a fast growing financial ecosystem hub.
GBOT is promoted by the Financial Technologies Group, a global leader in setting up and operating tech centric next generation exchanges in the emerging but fast growing economies from Africa to Asia and Middle East to South East Asia. The Group operates one of the largest exchange network comprising 10 exchanges and 5 ecosystem ventures which address upstream and downstream opportunities around exchanges, including clearing, depository, information vending, and payment gateway among others.
- The strategic location of Mauritius (i.e. GMT +4) with respect to the rest of the world enables the investing community to hedge price risk movements vis-à-vis the Asian, European and American markets.
- GBOT brings the African investing and trading community into the markets alongside other entities from different parts of the world, thereby creating a large liquidity pool.
- Trades are in the form of standardised contracts and participants are anonymous, thus ensuring the price discovery process is free from the influence of any vested interest or non-market forces.
- The market segments of GBOT enable buyers and sellers to protect their businesses from the adverse effects of price volatility in the terrestrial markets. This price risk management is through the time-tested process of ‘hedging’.
- The interplay between regional and global market forces on GBOT paves the way for a vibrant pan-African common market.
- The advantage of a moderate tax regime prevailing in Mauritius is of immense benefit to investors and traders alike.
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Strategically located in Mauritius, at the crossroads of Africa and Asia, GBOT offers an ideal platform for global investors to access many of the world's fastest growing economies.
Leveraging on a long history of political stability, free market economy and good governance, and offering the best blend of East and West in lifestyle, Mauritius has embarked on a new era of business friendliness. Initiatives on the regulatory front, coupled with the measures and policies implemented by the government have contributed in making Mauritius a financial hub providing opportunities to smart investors.
- Regulatory Framework
The regulator for the non-bank financial services sector, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) is an internationally recognised financial supervisor with over 35,000 companies registered with it.
- Good Governance
Mauritius is ranked #1 in the Ibrahim Index of African Governance.
Since Independence, Mauritius has had democratically elected governments
- Legal Structure
Based on a combination of French civil law and English common law, the legal structure in Mauritius is one of the most transparent in the African region and a major reference for the Commonwealth countries as far as its independence is concerned.
Appeals to decisions of the Supreme Court of Mauritius can be made to the Judicial Committee of Privy Council (UK) which is the highest court of appeal for Mauritius.
- Ease of Doing Business
Currently ranked 17th in World Bank Doing Business Report (from 32nd in 2007), Mauritius is also 10th among 183 countries for “Starting a Business” in the same Report.
Mauritius has a highly attractive Tax regime for companies (domestic and Global Business Companies).
Robust Insolvency/Bankruptcy Laws providing for netting off bilateral rights and obligations.
- Offshore Financial Centre
Mauritius is one of the fastest growing offshore financial centres. This is further enhanced by the existing strong liberal economy in Mauritius as well as a very reputable banking system.
- Government and Business relationships
Mauritius is a member of the Common Market for Southern and Eastern Africa (COMESA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the proposed Indian Ocean Rim Association.
Mauritius has also adhered to the Hague Securities Convention and has DTAA’s with 35 countries.
- Bilingual manpower
Mauritius has a large pool of skilled and multilingual workforce, speaking both English and French fluently as well as many Indian languages.
- Sophisticated ICT infrastructure
Mauritius has broadband connection with EU, Africa and S-E Asia through SAFE/SAT3 and LION international optical fibre cables and is soon to be hooked to the EASSy cable, offering additional capacity and more redundancy. Inland connectivity uses state-of-the-art optical fibre, copper and wireless networks.
- Strategic location
Timezone at GMT+4 enables the worldwide investing community to hedge price risk movements vis-à-vis the Asian, European and American markets.
- Port and airport
Port-Louis harbour is one of the major transit ports in the region, offering world class services.
SSR International Airport provides direct connectivity to Europe, the Middle-East, Africa and Asia.
“Mauritius may be a small country, but it has the potential to make a big impact, both by contributing to Africa’s overall prosperity and by showing the way (…)”
Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State (at Launch of the Bilateral Investment Treaty with Mauritius, 11 august 2009, at the Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya)
Mauritius, attractive lifestyle
Offering the best blend of East and West in lifestyle thanks to its population of diverse ethnic origins and its openness to the world and to international media, Mauritius is a safe, eco-friendly and pleasant destination for any investor to visit and to live in.
The strong presence of people of Indian origin makes of Mauritius a “second home” for people from India, who will readily connect to the cultural landmarks and to the habits of the local population.
Modern road infrastructure, state-of-the-art medical facilities, prime accommodation amenities, shopping malls with leading international brands, as well as breathtaking landscapes along the sandy beaches and lush inland, all accessible within short time in this small island, bring enticing moments to the professional looking for an attractive “work and relax” environment. This is showcased in the rapid development of Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) villas, that are attracting upmarket foreign investors in prime property on the island.
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