CIDB Mauritius – Construction Industry Development Board

Evolution and Current Status of CIDB

• The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has transitioned to become the Construction Industry Authority (CIA), a statutory body established under the CIDB Act of 2023.
• This transition represents a significant milestone in enhancing the construction industry in Mauritius.
• The CIA is a result of the fusion of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and the Building Control Advisory Council.
• The Construction Industry Authority Act was voted in Parliament in November 2023, introducing legislation aimed at modernizing the construction sector.
• The CIA operates under the aegis of the Ministry of National Infrastructure.
• The construction sector in Mauritius recorded a significant growth rate of 37.4% in 2023.

Organizational Structure and Governance

• The CIA is managed by the Construction Industry Board, with provisions for its operations outlined in Section 9 of the Act.
• Board members, except for ex-officio members, hold office for a period of 2 years.
• The Board includes representatives from various organizations including:
  • Ministry of National Infrastructure and Community Development
  • Ministry of Finance
  • Professional councils (Quantity Surveyors, Engineers, Architects)
  • SMEs of the Construction Sector
  • Academia
  • Association of Manufacturers/Suppliers of Construction Materials, Plants & Equipment
• The Board’s key purpose is to ensure the success of CIA by collectively directing the affairs of the organization.
• The Board focuses primarily on setting strategies, determining strategic options, and deciding implementation methods.

Mission and Values

• Vision: Enhancing the lives of citizens through a modern built environment.
• Mission: To facilitate, promote, regulate, develop and transform the construction industry for a safe, sustainable and smart Mauritius.
• Core Values:
  • Compliance
  • Integrity
  • Accountability
  • Innovation & Creativity

Role and Functions

Registration and Regulation

• One of the core activities of CIA is the registration of Consultants and Contractors.
• The Act mandates that no local contractor shall undertake construction works in Mauritius unless registered under the Act and has a valid Building and Land Use Permit for the construction works. 
• Similarly, no local consultant shall provide consultancy services in Mauritius unless registered under the Act.
• Registration exemptions include
  • Contractors undertaking construction works valued less than Rs 1,000,000 (VAT exclusive)
  • Independent professionals who are not registered as Firms
• There are six Classes of Works under which Contractors can be registered:
  • Building Construction Works
  • Civil Engineering Construction Works
  • Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Works (MEP Works)
  • Mechanical Works
  • Electrical Works
  • Specific Works
• Contractors are classified into four grades from Large to Small, with each grade allowing contractors to undertake construction up to a specific contract value.
• For Consultancy Firms, there are 9 Fields of Specialization:
  • Architecture
  • Civil Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Interior Design
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP) Services
  • Project Management in Construction
  • Quantity Surveying
  • Urban Planning
• The registration process has been extended to other fields in the Construction Sector with new regulations for Service Providers other than Consultants.

Standards and Contracts Development

• The CIA is mandated to “encourage the standardization and improvement of Construction Materials and Techniques.”
• As a member of the Building and Construction Standard Committee, CIA contributes to providing guidance and leadership towards the development of common standards related to the Construction Industry.
• The CIA develops Standard Forms of Construction Agreements and Contracts, including a model Contract for Minor Works.
• The most commonly used Standard Forms of Contract in Mauritius include:
  • FIDIC Conditions of Contract
  • JCT
  • East African Model
  • World Bank Standards Conditions of Contract
• CIA intends to develop other Standard Forms of Contract for the Construction Sector.

Regulatory Functions

• The CIA is responsible for revising procedures for granting construction permits.
• It updates safety standards for both public and private construction sites.

Projects and Initiatives

• Econo-Biz Project: “Angaz to Lantrepriz Pu” initiative.
• SME Registration Initiative: SMEs & Cooperatives (SMEs Division) & CIDB invite all Micro, Small, Medium, and Mid-Market Enterprises to register themselves.
• Guide for House Construction: “GUIDE POUR CONSTRUIRE SA MAISON” – A complete guide on planning for house construction. 
• E-Procurement Platform: Training on using the platform for online bidding exercises, including features such as submitting queries, bid data decryption/re-encryption, and viewing bid opening reports.

Contact Information

• Office Address: 5TH Floor, Mutual Aid Building II, 5 Guy Rozemont Square, Port-Louis
• Email: CIDBMAURITIUS@INTNET.MU or info@ciamauritius.org
• Phone: +(230) 211 7878 3 11
• Fax: +(230) 211 0380 3