For South African families and corporates looking to establish an international trust, the choice of jurisdiction can make a world of difference. Each option has its own strengths depending on your objectives:
🔹 BVI Trusts
- Highly flexible and widely recognised in global finance.
- Strong asset protection features and privacy safeguards.
- Cost-effective to set up and maintain compared to European options.
- Popular where confidentiality and simplicity are key.
🔹 Mauritius Trusts
- Strategically positioned as Africa’s gateway to global capital.
- Robust double taxation treaty network with many African states.
- Well-regulated, with an investor-friendly environment.
- Attractive for estate planning, succession, and structuring cross-border investments into Africa and Asia.
🔹 Cyprus Trusts
- EU jurisdiction with strong alignment to European legal frameworks.
- Beneficial where access to EU protections, courts, and regulations adds value.
- Favoured by clients looking at Europe–Africa investment flows.
- Higher compliance requirements but offers strong credibility in institutional and corporate contexts.
💡 Which to choose?
- BVI: Best for cost efficiency, flexibility, and confidentiality.
- Mauritius: Ideal for Africa-focused families and corporates seeking tax efficiency and treaty access.
- Cyprus: Suitable when European credibility, access, and governance are the priority.
At TrustQore, we work with South African clients to align the right jurisdiction with their wealth, investment, and family governance goals. The right trust isn’t just about location—it’s about strategy.