India, Mauritius and Singapore and a not-so-holy love affair

The equatorial island nations of Mauritius and Singapore are competing for the role of preferred gateway for foreign investments into India and other Asian countries.

Think of it as a triangle, not of love, but of lucre.

Companies and rich investors use gateway countries so they can earn profits in such places as India, China and Indonesia.

Favourable tax treaties let them send dividends and other payments to such places as Mauritius and Singapore while paying little or no tax.

Text: David Cay Johnston, Reuters

Images: AP and Reuters