Singapore emerges as new FDI destination for Indian firms

11 Jul 2012 Evaluate

The foreign investments of Indian Companies have taken a sudden surge in the South East Asian country - Singapore. A study by the industry body Assocham, has noticed that of the total $2.35 billion outflows an amount exceeding $500 million in the month of May 2012 were infused in Singapore. Apart from Singapore other favorite destination place for investors includes the US, the UK, Hong Kong, the UAE, the Philippines and Mauritius.

Despite Mauritius being the top investor in India, domestic companies see the island nation at the bottom of table, as per Assocham. Out of 467 companies which invested in foreign nations, mere 24 companies prefer Mauritius which is consider as heaven for corporates wanting to bring FDI because of India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. The Assocham study cited that “as Mauritius has nil capital gains so it makes sense for inward FDI from there rather than outward FDI from India.”

As many as 138 companies invested in manufacturing followed by another 100 companies which invested in services sector of foreign countries. Nearly 68 Indian companies have invested in global markets in sectors such as wholesale, retail, hotels and restaurants while India is yet to decide on the multi-brand retail.

Assocham president Rajkumar Dhoot said “this is certainly a pointer to us. It would not be possible for India to keep its doors shut for the FDI in retail which is a very vibrant sector of the economy. It gives multiplier results to the employment generation rather than taking away the existing jobs, as is being made out.”

Due to cheaper asset available at an attractive valuation might be one of the reasons of vibrant outward of FDI. The prominent areas of investment are services sector, healthcare, information technology and asset management. In manufacturing sector, outward FDI was finding assets in the areas of pharmaceuticals, shipyards, metals, engineering and textiles. All this phenomenon shows Indian manufacturing sector is no more behind, it is head to head with its global peers.

© 2025 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×