India and Mauritius have been in a trade settlement for many years and through several projects our neighbors, down south, have realized that they cannot do without us; or at least their government has. The aim of the government is to make Mauritius an ‘Ocean basket’ and an ‘Ocean Market’ but this cannot be done without the help of India according to, the foreign affairs and trade minister of Mauritius, Arvin Boolell. 

So, Mauritius has offered India two islands, in exchange for preserving the double taxation avoidance treaty. This treaty has been put to rest by the recent budget that spelt out the amends that will be made to the old taxation policy, after adding GAAR (General Anti-Avoidance Rules). GAAR was creating a lot of uncertainty among investors in Mauritius. Hence, for the fear of investment flows, into India, drying up the government of Mauritius has put their best deal forward. 

If India agrees to soften the taxation laws, for Mauritius, we would get another holiday destination in the two islands of Agalega; it would boast our “Blue Economy” but we mustn’t jump to the offer without considering the consequences. We must not leave the voices of the people of Mauritius, unheard; they have denied the exchange and after all many of them are our own countrymen.