Taiwan ranked sixth in the world last year on profit opportunity recommendation (POR) on the US' 2007 investment environment risk assessment report, released by Business Environment Risk Intelligence (BERI).
Taiwan's POR scored 72 points in total last year, which was only bettered by Switzerland, Singapore, the Netherlands Japan, and Norway out of 50 rated countries.
Taiwan's POR is in the highest category at 1A, being a low-risk country suitable for investment the Ministry of Economic Affairs said.
IMPROVE
BERI predicts that in the next one to five years, the investment environment on the whole will continue to improve.
The predicted score being 73 or 74, Taiwan can be expected to remain in sixth place.
In Asia, Taiwan ranks third, after Singapore, which ranks second place internationally at 79 points, and Japan, fourth with 74 points.
It ranks ahead of China, in 17th position at 61 points, Malaysia, 19th place with 60 points, South Korea, 21st at 58 points, Thailand, 26th with 49 points, India, 31st with 47 points, and the Philippines, 35th with 44 points.
BERI's Environment Risk Assessment Report bases its assessment upon operating environment, political risk, and foreign exchange/external accounts as its three major benchmarks.
THIRD
Of these, Taiwan's current operating environment scored 72 points, coming in third internationally, behind Switzerland and Singapore.
BERI believes that over the next year Taiwan's operational risk will continue to improve.
Taiwan's political risk scored 59 points, ranking 15th internationally and third in Asia, after Singapore and Japan.
BERI believes that Taiwan's political risk reflects uncertainties connected with the upcoming legislative and presidential elections.
Taiwan's foreign exchange/external accounts risk factor scored 85, ranking fifth internationally, second to Japan, which came in first with 97 points, and Singapore, fourth with 86 points.
BERI believes that because of a surplus Taiwan's foreign exchange/external accounts risk factor appears strong and estimates that between this year and next year foreign direct investment will steadily increase.
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