On the eve of the 2010 National Budget announcement, the Fiji Employers Federation said the withholding tax imposed on overseas based companies is a major deterrent for investors.

The with-holding tax, which currently stands at 15 percent, is paid by expatriate companies and is a means of retaining some of their profits before it is moved off-shore.

According to FEF President Digby Bossely, this tax measure has seen interested investors take their business elsewhere.