Taiwan remains third in the latest Profit Opportunity Recommendation released by U.S.-headquartered Business Environment Risk Intelligence S.A. (Staff photo/Pang Chia-shan)
 

Taiwan retained its third spot ranking among 50 major countries and territories surveyed in the latest Profit Opportunity Recommendation report by U.S.-based Business Environment Risk Intelligence S.A.
 
Scoring 61 out of 100 in the triannual report, Taiwan finished behind Switzerland, 70 and Norway, 62. The country trumped its Asian neighbors South Korea, 60; Singapore, 57; Japan, 52; Malaysia, 48; Vietnam, 47; and China, 46.
 
Taiwan’s third best 1C ranking—also awarded to Norway and Singapore—was assessed on the basis of its performance in three indexes: Operations Risk, Political Risk, and Remittance and Repatriation Factor. Switzerland was the only country to earn the top 1A rating.
 
Taiwan’s standout results included third in operations, placing the country behind Switzerland and the U.S., in that order.
 
Of the 15 subindexes comprising operations, Taiwan came out second in communications and transportation, labor cost/productivity and monetary inflation.
 
Taiwan continued to lead the way in remittance and repatriation due to the country’s merchandise trade surplus rising to US$4.841 billion in June from US$3.822 billion the same month last year.
 
Of the four subindexes used to calculate remittance and repatriation, Taiwan outperformed in accumulated international reserves, foreign debt assessment and foreign exchange generation. The country finished second in legal framework. (YCH-E)