The average annual temperature in Australia is 21.65 °C. The average annual rainfall in Australia is 534 mm/year. Australia emits 16.5 metric tons per capita of CO₂.
Manufacturing is the largest economic sector in the world, which is also one of the most important, directly and indirectly accounting for a large part of all economic activity and all jobs worldwide. It processes items and is dedicated to either creating new goods or adding value by producing finished goods for sale to customers or intermediate goods to be used in the production process. After the industrial revolution that began in Britain a few centuries ago, labour-intensive textile production was successfully replaced by mechanization and the use of fuel. Today, manufacturing creates jobs, technological development and an increase in international investment.
For this reason, some jurisdictions are leveraging manufacturing output and value-added exports to increase their operations, business performance and revenue, and to address the challenges and opportunities that manufacturers face every day in conducting their businesses.
According to Deloitte's 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index, China, the United States, Germany, Japan and South Korea are ranked as the top five most competitive manufacturing countries in the world. These countries generate about 60% of global manufacturing GDP.
China Canada and its provinces compete on a global scale for investments that result in low production costs, low wages for factory workers, and the adoption of globally popular product mandates. As a result, there are some significant trends in Chinese manufacturing that can easily be highlighted. These trends include creating a globally competitive, expansive manufacturing business model, helping to create a competitive business environment for manufacturing in China and increasing sales in domestic and overseas markets. This fact can encourage start-ups to grow, invest and compete with other successful manufacturing companies.
United States The United States is successful in attracting investment in many of the world's most active industries, such as aerospace, auto assembly, pharmaceuticals, to name a few. The USA has signed an agreement with Germany to implement a dual vocational training program for the advanced manufacturing sector. US business policies focus primarily on technology transfer, sustainability, monetary control, and science and innovation, giving manufacturing companies (automotive in Detroit and high-tech in Silicon Valley) a competitive advantage.
Germany Germany retains a relatively high share of manufacturing exports. The country provides long-term support in government-sponsored science labs and national programs created to foster manufacturing innovation in areas such as solar and wind power and renewable energy (renewable energy sources accounted for 28% of the country's electricity generation in 2014). In addition to an energy revolution in the manufacturing industry, the country is striving to phase out nuclear energy.
Japan Japan has a technology-intensive manufacturing sector that dominates the global manufacturing landscape in most advanced economies. The country maintains manufacturing competitiveness as there is a close link between manufacturing competitiveness and innovation. Japan has strong potential to become one of the most advanced manufacturing jurisdictions in the world. The Robot Revolution Realization Council was established in the country in 2014 as part of the Japan Revitalization Plan, introducing infrastructure and energy resources for next-generation vehicles. Japanese companies account for 50% of the global factory robot market.
South Korea As the world leader in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays (LCD), smartphones and memory chips, automobiles, and the world's largest shipbuilder, South Korea is actively pursuing growth in free trade agreements with more than 50 countries. The country invests heavily in education and produces a large number of researchers every year. It is also known that supporting manufacturing innovation in South Korea with venture capital investments to boost high-tech startups is identified as a strategic priority.
Every year over USD 1 trillion is distributed worldwide in the form of foreign direct investment. Investments by foreign investors and entrepreneurs are of significant value to the country and are seen as a sign of a healthy economic, political and legal environment. When it comes to investing your money, some countries are simply better than others. It depends on numerous factors such as the country's overall economy and growth prospects, political stability, taxation and the overall legal system, the complexity of starting a business, opening an account and the workforce.
In this article, we summarize three jurisdictions in terms of benefits and other features crucial to foreign investors. These countries have already proven their ability to attract multinationals and other investments, but when it comes to choosing the right place to invest, each country is different and might be better than others in one or more factors.
Singapore
The first country to be analyzed is Singapore, which ranks 2nd among the best countries for investment and 15th among the best countries in the world in the US News Best Countries Ranking developed in cooperation with its international partners
Located in Southeast Asia, Singapore is a bustling metropolis and home to one of the busiest ports in the world. As one of Asia's four economic tigers, the country has experienced impressive growth in recent years thanks to efficient production and manufacturing processes and innovations in the pharmaceutical and electronics industries. High GDP per capita and low unemployment make Singapore one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. While Hong Kong is often considered as a separate entity from China, it is not a country and therefore enters all lists and rankings under the name of China. China takes 26th place among best countries to invest in and 20th place among best countries in general.
Hong Kong’s legal system is characterised by the strict adherence to principles and the rule of law. It operates a free trade economic system and promotes minimal government interference in most sections of the economy. This reflects on the small number of tariffs and duties on traded goods and therefore it is a better place for investments than other parts of China.
Foreign investments are attracted by promoting a favourable investment climate with low taxes, few restrictions and additional incentives to encourage investments. Corporate profits tax rate is 16.5% with a possibility to waive 75% of the tax. There is no tax levied on dividends.
Company incorporation is a simple and fast-forward process. All applications for company incorporation also include an application for the business registry. The application can be submitted online and the processing generally takes one hour (as opposed to four days if the application is submitted in hard copy).
Due to its impressive growth and increasing immigration, Singapore attracts the best professionals to its workforce. The country offers cultural diversity and, with four official languages, is an important gateway for international trade.
The corporate tax rate is 17%, but it can be reduced by taking advantage of numerous government subsidies, incentives, and other programs.
Singapore's legal system is known for its integrity, efficiency and fairness, making the country better than many as a place to start and operate a business. The World Bank Group has recognized Singapore's political and regulatory environment as the most business-friendly in the world.
Other factors:
Least Corrupt Country in Asia;
Best IP protection in Asia;
Most popular country for arbitration in Asia.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates or UAE is listed as the 22nd best country in the world and is not mentioned among the best countries for investment according to the above ranking.
Before the discovery of oil in the mid-20th century, the UAE's economy was mainly based on fishing and the pearling industry. The country experienced rapid growth and general transformation along with the start of oil exports in the 1960s. Today the country's GDP can be compared to that of leading European countries and the World Economic Forum has named the UAE the most competitive place in the Arab world.
When incorporating a company in the United Arab Emirates, foreign investors can choose between offshore or onshore registration, whichever is more suitable for the type of company and the activities planned. Onshore registration means that the investor establishes a business presence on the UAE mainland. Offshore registration usually refers to a business presence in one of the UAE's free trade zones.
The UAE does not levy corporate income tax at the federal level. However, most Emirates have some corporate income taxation and can even reach 55% for certain industries. In practice, corporate income tax is mainly levied on gas and oil companies and branches of foreign banks.
Other factors:
The UAE is among the most liberal places in the Gulf with a legal system that allows freedom of religion;
No sales tax or VAT but with plans to introduce it in the future;
In addition to traditional banking, Islamic (or Sharia-compliant) banking has seen tremendous growth in recent times.
In general, all jurisdictions can be divided into classic offshore, low-tax jurisdictions and prestige jurisdictions. The prestige of a jurisdiction corresponds to its rank, which is determined by considering and evaluating information from the International Sanctions List, the OECD Gray or Black List and the EU Jurisdiction White List as well as data on the development of financial markets to determine whether the jurisdiction is FATF AML is deficient and whether there are money laundering concerns. These are the basic criteria that matter in determining whether the jurisdiction is prestigious or not. It cannot be considered prestigious if it is on a financial blacklist.
Austria, France, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Switzerland are among the top five most reputable jurisdictions for incorporating a company.
A general overview of Austria Registering a company or start-up in this territory allows the owner(s) to participate in all projects initiated by the Austrian government. The basic company types available are LLC, ULP, PJSC, PLLC, LLP, and JSC.
Taxes: The income tax rate is 25%, with a minimum corporation tax of EUR 500, plus 20% VAT and a capital tax that varies between 0.8% and 1%. If the subsidiary is registered within the EU, the tax rate on dividend income is 0%; if not, it is 25%.
Austria has agreements with more than 90 countries that enable companies to avoid double taxation. It has no exchange control. This jurisdiction ensures the confidentiality of business data.
A general overview of France France is a respectable jurisdiction that allows your company to offer products and services bearing the mark of a European company. The basic legal structures available are SP, GP, PJSC, PJSC, LLC, CLS and LLPE.
France offers a number of options: the ability to obtain credit from French banks, the ability to obtain a residence permit, no taxation for companies registered in the country doing business outside of France, and no exchange controls. France has agreements with more than 89 other countries that allow companies to avoid double taxation.
A general overview of the United States of America The US offers a respectable, highly trusted jurisdiction for a company to register, allowing it to offer products and services bearing a US company's trademark. This jurisdiction does not impose tax obligations on entities designated as non-resident and also permits nominee services. There is no taxation for companies incorporated in the country that do all their business outside of the United States.
The basic legal structures available are private contractor, corporation, branch of a foreign corporation, representative office of a foreign corporation, partnership, LLC, joint venture, or LLJSC.
A general overview of Switzerland The good reputation of this jurisdiction is based on several factors, such as strong business development, a dynamic economy and a track record of innovation. The main corporate forms available in Switzerland are LLC, ULP, JSC, Commandite Partnership and Subsidiary.
Switzerland offers a high level of confidentiality, the world's leading currency, mechanisms to avoid double taxation, an appropriate tax system with tax rates depending on residence, income level and legal form of the company, tax optimization opportunities and the possibility
A general overview of the United Kingdom The UK is considered a respectable jurisdiction due to its high level of legal protection, a simple and transparent tax system, the ability to charge VAT and the availability of nominee services.
The basic company types available in the UK are PC, limited liability company by guarantee, ULC and LLC. Again, there are no tax obligations for UK registered companies operating exclusively outside the country. Corporate tax rates depend on profit (between 20% and 24%). The UK has agreements with more than 100 countries that allow companies to avoid double taxation.
Argentina's logistics performance index is 2.99. This indicates satisfactory performance - in general, traffic is handled well, some shortcomings in specific areas are possible, but overall the logistic system is reliable and ready to handle predictable traffic volumes.
Inch performance is rated at 2.55. This indicates satisfactory performance - the customs clearance procedure is generally effective, although long times can occasionally be a problem; The customs system certainly does not hinder international business activity. Required documents and fees are usually publicly available.
The infrastructure quality in Argentina is rated at 2.83. This indicates satisfactory quality - roads, railways, ports and other facilities are able to cope with significant traffic at all times, and are also suitable for various types of transport vehicles and ships.
International shipping quality is 2.96. It indicates satisfactory performance - the services are reasonable and the prices are not too high and are usually right up there with the quality, although there is still room for improvement.
The competence of logistics service providers is rated at 2.93. The providers are competent – they ensure a good quality of their services and almost always maintain this level; Deficiencies, while still possible, are usually minor and do not provide an incentive for the vendors to continue working.
The tracking options for shipments are rated at 3.15. It indicates satisfactory performance - the tracking systems provide all the basic information, as well as additional data about shipments; In most cases there is also a well-established cooperation with foreign and international tracking systems and the provision of information is usually in several languages.
The tracking options for shipments are rated at 3.49. This indicates satisfactory performance - most shipments arrive on time and within scheduled timescales; Late arrival is still possible, albeit unusual.
In Argentina, 99.8% of the population has access to electricity. Argentina has 1138 airports nationwide. There are 11,232,000 internet hosts in Argentina.
Road network The total length of roads in Argentina is 231,374 km (143,800 miles). Of these, 734 km (456 miles) of roads are classified as freeways, dual carriageways, or dual carriageways.
Gas price On average, a liter of gasoline would cost $1.52 in Argentina. A liter of diesel would cost $1.2.
Multinational companies and governments around the world are increasingly looking to Africa as a new business destination. Africa's economy has grown at a rate of around 5.3% per year over the last decade and six of the world's ten fastest growing economies are located here. These countries have a fast-growing middle class that contributes to rapid urbanization that is increasing faster than their cities' infrastructure can keep up. It is a common misconception that many economies in Africa are heavily dependent on energy production. In reality, the oil and gas sector accounted for only 11% of Nigeria's GDP in 2014, while the construction sector accounted for 20%.
When considering doing business in Africa, it is not a matter of choosing just one country or all 54; A regional approach makes more sense. Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, refers to sub-Saharan countries such as Angola, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria. Many companies already doing business in Africa are separating their businesses in North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa due to the stark economic, linguistic and cultural differences between the two regions. Here are our top 5 African countries for doing business:
Mauritius Mauritius is known for offering an extremely favorable business environment for investment and business growth. The process of incorporating a company and starting new business activities in Mauritius is believed to be straightforward and relatively easy. Mauritius' economy is mainly based on textiles, tourism, sugar and financial services, although recently other sectors such as renewable energy and information technology are expanding rapidly. The World Bank ranked Mauritius 49th in its Doing Business 2017 ranking, largely due to its pro-business approach to dealing with building permits, enforcing contracts and protecting minority investors. Another ranking of African countries places Mauritius first based on factors such as law and security, economy, human development and human rights.
Rwanda Despite nearly a decade of Rwanda's civil war, the country's leaders and citizens alike have worked to achieve a healthy business climate and a strong overall economy. According to the World Bank, Rwanda is the second easiest place to do business in Africa and ranks 56th in the Doing Business ranking. This is because the procedures for registering a property, obtaining credit and trading across borders have been greatly simplified. Tourism is currently the fastest growing sector in Rwanda. According to our research, businesses can be incorporated and operating in as little as three days.
Botswana Since gaining independence, Botswana has had one of the fastest per capita economic growth rates in the world. As the government works to diversify the country's profitable industries, the mining of diamonds and other precious metals is currently the main contributor to the country's economy. Recently, Botswana has managed to reduce the time it takes for various processes including import and export and business formation procedures. In addition, technological upgrades have reduced the average court length for commercial disputes to 625 days (from 987 days in 2008). Thanks to these improvements, Botswana ranks 71st in the World Bank's Doing Business 2017 ranking.
South Africa South Africa's key industries are automobile manufacturing, tourism, mining and information and communication technologies. South Africa has managed to simplify its import and export procedures, resulting in less time and fewer documents required. In addition, the South African authorities have simplified tax legislation, reducing the number of hours required to prepare tax reports. The World Bank ranked South Africa 74th for ease of doing business in 2017.
Kenya Another country to keep an eye on is Kenya, which is currently making huge investments in sectors such as telecom, transport and energy. With a tech-savvy workforce and high-speed internet, Kenya stands out as one of the top countries in Africa for tech startups, while its diversified economy, strong ownership rights, excellent tourism sector and improving infrastructure make it a great location for general start a new company. If you have further questions about company formation or banking in Africa. Please contact us now.
Bulgaria has a corporate tax rate of 10%, which is one of the lowest in the European Union. Companies that operate under VAT have to pay tax on purchases at 20%. Certain services, like those related to hotel accommodation and camping, benefit from a 9% VAT rate.
The overarching goal of the due diligence process is to screen the business partner and draw attention to any potential issues or risks. There are different types of due diligence, and the checks depend on each transaction.
Property check A property check should be carried out before purchasing a property. It involves an intensive study of the public register, namely whether the property is correctly registered, whether the owner actually has the right to sell the property or whether the property is connected to other properties. In addition, this includes the identification of encumbrances and ongoing proceedings related to the property. If the property is rented or other rights of third parties, encumbrances and other registered restrictions, insolvency proceedings or tax debts are registered, the asset test must be carried out. Due diligence also includes reviewing the proposed purchase agreement and identifying risks that could affect the conclusion of the agreement, e.g. B. if the property is rented out, the rental agreement must be taken into account.
Reliability check In case of entering into a business agreement between two companies, the due diligence process in view of a possible cooperation would include the following topics: Company records in the business register confirming the company name, legal address, officials and shareholders, Value added tax (VAT) register , verification of status as a VAT payer. The financial stability of the company can be checked with the insolvency register to determine if the company has had or has ever had financial problems such as E.g. bankruptcy, temporary cessation of business activities, tax debts.
Mergers and acquisitions In the event of a corporate acquisition, before entering into a share purchase agreement, it would be important to assess the financial condition of the target company by assessing factors such as: earnings and cash flow quality, asset and liability quality analysis. It is important to assess the quantity and quality of staff, identify property and investigate whether there are no pending issues or proceedings related to company property; Inspection of public registers when no commercial pledges, encumbrances and legal proceedings are ongoing and could affect the company's assets in the future.
Syria is considered a developing country. A nation's level of development is determined by a number of factors including, but not limited to, economic prosperity, life expectancy, income equality and quality of life. As a developing country, Syria may not be able to provide consistent social services to its citizens. These social services can include things like public education, reliable health care, and law enforcement. Citizens of developing countries can have a lower life expectancy than citizens of developed countries. Every year Syria exports about US$2.67 billion and imports about US$8.92 billion. 15.2% of the country's population is unemployed. The total number of unemployed in Syria is 2,779,230. In Syria, 11.9% of the population lives below the poverty line. The percentage of citizens living below the poverty line in Syria is low, indicating a stable economy. Investors should consider Syria as a safe place for investment and other financial ventures. Government spending on education is 4.9% of GDP. The country's Gini index is 42. Syria experiences poor equality. The gap between the richest and poorest citizens in this country is quite palpable. Syria has a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.658. Syria has an upper middle HDI value. This suggests that the majority of citizens will be able to lead a desirable life, although some citizens will not be able to attain a high standard of living. The Global Peace Index (GPI) for Syria is 3,645. Syria's Strength Law Index is 1. Overall, it is considered rather weak – bankruptcy and collateral laws fail to protect borrowers' and lenders' rights in the event of credit-related complications; Credit information, if any, is scarce and difficult to access.
Currency The currency of Syria is Syrian pound. The plural form of the word Syrian pound is pound. The symbol used for this currency is £ and is abbreviated as SYP. The Syrian pound is divided into piastre; there are 100 in a pound.
Credit rating The credit depth index for Syria is 2, which means that the information is usually insufficient but can still provide some clarity; Accessibility is still a big issue.
Central bank In Syria, the institution that manages the state's currency, money supply, and interest rates is called the Central Bank of Syria. Locally, the central bank of Syria is called مصرف سورية المركزي. The average interest rate on deposits offered by local banks in Syria is 1%.
National debt Syria has a public debt equivalent to 44% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) as estimated in 2012.
Tax information Corporate tax in Syria is 22%. Personal income tax ranges from 5% to 15% depending on your specific situation and income level.
Finances The total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) valued as Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in Syria is US$121397 billion. The gross domestic product (GDP) per capita calculated as purchasing power parity (PPP) in Syria was last at 7 million US dollars. PPPs in Syria are considered below average compared to other countries. Below-average PPPs indicate that citizens in this country find it difficult to buy local goods. Local goods can include food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, personal hygiene, essential furnishings, transportation and communications, laundry, and various types of insurance. Countries with below-average purchasing power parities are dangerous locations for investments. The total gross domestic product (GDP) in Syria is 35.164 billion. Based on this statistic, Syria is considered to be medium strong. Middle economy countries support an average number of industries and investment opportunities. It shouldn't be too difficult to find worthwhile investment opportunities in mid-sized economies.