India crossed the $300 billion foreign direct investment (FDI) milestone between April 2000 and September 2016, firmly establishing its credentials as a safe investment destination in the world. Thirty-three per cent of the FDI came through the Mauritius route, apparently, because the investors wanted to take advantage of India’s double taxation avoidance treaty with the island nation.

• India received $101.76 billion from Mauritius between April 2000 and September 2016.
• The cumulative FDI inflows during the period amounted to $310.26 billion.
• The inflows in the first half of the current financial year were $21.62 billion, according to data compiled by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion.
• The other big investors have been from Singapore, the US, UK and the Netherlands.
• Commenting on the $300 billion mark, industry bodies FICCI and CII have said that India is perceived as a safe and dynamic destination by global investors.
• The liberalisation of the FDI policy framework, major national development programmes such as Make in India, Digital India and Skill India, besides increasing competitiveness, have made India the preferred choice for investors globally.
• FDI flows have increased significantly and consistently in the last two years and the country would continue to remain as one of the most attractive destinations in the foreseeable future.
• India crossed the $300 billion mark at a time when the global economic slowdown has had a dampening impact on FDI flows which are expected to fall this year.
• According to the World Investment Report 2016, global FDI flows rose by 38 per cent to $1.76 trillion, the highest level since the global economic and financial crisis began in 2008.