Representatives of British telecom major Vodafone on Friday met senior Finance Ministry officials, and expressed the company’s keenness to amicably resolve the Rs.20,000-crore tax dispute, officials said.
“(Vodafone) Officials said nothing is cast in stone. Vodafone did not specifically discuss the arbitration issue, but sent conciliatory signals. I got a sense that they want to settle the matter,” an official said after the meeting between Vodafone representatives and Finance Ministry functionaries.
Vodafone Group External Affairs Director and former British Diplomatic Service Officer Matthew Kirk met Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram and Revenue Secretary Rajiv Takru.
Positive attitude A Vodafone spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.
“They came to talk to me about their plans for future investments, they are very enthused about the positive attitude of the new government. They are happy with their operations in the country. They say its very profitable operation. They are happy with their investments in the country,” another Finance Ministry official said. The British telecom major had slapped an arbitration notice on India in the Rs 20,000-crore capital gains tax dispute.
