{"id":4618,"date":"2023-07-21T22:28:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-21T22:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gbc1.net\/?p=4618"},"modified":"2023-10-21T07:01:50","modified_gmt":"2023-10-21T07:01:50","slug":"mauritius-plans-to-build-biotech-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gbc1.net\/index.php\/2023\/07\/21\/mauritius-plans-to-build-biotech-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Mauritius Plans to Build Biotech Park"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Over the past few years, the Mauritian Government has announced a series of incentives to encourage biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to invest in Mauritius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a matter of fact, in the 2021-2022 National Budget, the Government of Mauritius made provision for a USD 25 million seed fund to set up the Mauritius Institute of Biotechnology. The EU came forward and agreed to provide technical assistance in drafting the Biotechnology Development Strategy of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More recently, as part of the 2022-2034 National Budget, several other measures were announced and enacted into law. These measures include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. reviewing the existing framework for licensing and setting up laboratories, including those involved with stem cells, genetic testing, and specialized molecular testing; <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. proclamation of the relevant sections of the Human Tissue (Removal, Preservation and Transplant) Act to provide the legal framework for organ donation; <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. revamping of the Clinical Trials Act to align with international standards to expand the range and broaden the scope of activities for clinical trials; <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. developing a legal framework for clinical trials for medical devices; <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. developing a framework to set up healthcare university spin-offs to promote research and development of new healthcare products; and, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. developing a legal framework for clinical trials for medical devices.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    So far, the Government has managed to attract quite a few medical companies to set up shop in Mauritius. For instance, Natec Medical<\/a> is located in Ebene Cybercity and specializes in the manufacture of stents and catheters for cardiology. The company has also developed and extended its interventional medical devices product range to urology and gastroenterology and its products are now exported all around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"
    AVA Technopark at Cote d’Or Biotech Park<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    In response to the call from the Government of Mauritius, Natec Medical<\/a> plans to expand its capacity with a new facility in the proposed Biotech Park in Cote d’Or. Thus, CEO of Natec Medical Vincent Lagarde indicated that his company plans to invest some MUR 600 million (USD 15 million) as part of the expansion plan to build and promote AVA Technopark which is expected to generate 500 jobs when fully operational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The name AVA takes its inspiration from the Hebrew word which means to ‘give life’ and reflects the core values of the AVA Group<\/a>. The acronym LIFE is aptly applied by AVA Group as a shorthand for Leadership, Innovation, Family and Excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To give an idea of the breadth of the biotech sector, we list below a number of sub-sectors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n