Taiwan’s investment environment improved slightly because of better trade and political ties with China, securing its ranking as the world’s No. 4 investment destination for multinational companies, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said yesterday, citing a US-based research institute’s latest report.
Overall, Taiwan scored 71 in profit opportunity recommendation (POR), up one point from the last survey, behind Switzerland (79), Singapore (78) and Norway (73), the ministry said, citing the latest survey from Business Environment Risk Intelligence (BERI).
Among Asian countries, Taiwan ranked No. 2, behind its export rival Singapore, as it did in the last survey.
As Taiwan’s political situation is expected to remain stable over the next two years, the POR may rise further to 72 next year, keeping its No. 4 ranking unchanged, BERI forecast.
With improving cross-strait relations, Taiwan climbed two notches both in the operations risk and political risk categories, to third place and 11th place respectively, compared with the previous survey conducted in April, BERI’s survey for last month indicated.
The BERI survey evaluates a country’s investment environment in three sub-indices: operations risk, political risk and foreign exchange risk.
Taiwan’s foreign exchange risk is unchanged at 85 from the last survey and is expected to remain stable next year, maintaining its third place ranking among the 50 countries surveyed, BERI’s survey said.
BERI kept its rating of “1B” for Taiwan, making it one of the most favorable investment destinations among the 50 countries it surveyed.
Next year, Taiwan is expected to maintain its ranking in the operations risk and political risk categories, with scores up by one to 70 and 61, respectively, supported by the signing of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement with China.
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