Mauritius, RI to sign tax ready

Mauritius, RI to sign tax ready

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian and Mauritius governments are to
sign an agreement to avoid double taxation, said Indonesia's
Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave
yesterday.

Joop said the tax treaty was necessary to encourage business
activities between the two countries.

"The minister of finance of Mauritius has discussed the plan
with our minister of finance and we are waiting for the
ministry's approval," Joop said after a business forum of the
second annual Indian Ocean Tourism Fair.

Mauritius, located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of
Africa, announced yesterday it would increase its trade ties with
Indonesia by expanding its offshore financial services sector.

Mauritius Minister of Finance Vasant Bunwaree said there were
at least 38 private Mauritian corporations interested in
developing business relationships with Indonesian companies.

"Mauritius is the key interface between the emerging and
growing economies of Asia and southern and eastern Africa, being
actively involved in regional cooperation and integration in the
Indian Ocean rim," Bunwaree told the same forum.

Since 1992, when Mauritius introduced its offshore legislation
and established a free port, more than 5,000 offshore entities
have been registered and almost 400 free-port licenses issued, he
said.

He said Mauritius aimed to become a major warehousing,
distribution and marketing center in the region.

The country's total trade so far this year reached US$200
million, up 111 percent from 1996, he said.

He said goods into Mauritius came mainly from Asia and the Far
East, and they were re-exported to countries in eastern and
southern Asia. (das)