India has been ranked as the fourth most attractive business
location for European business houses, by the fifth annual
European attractiveness survey by global consultancy company
Ernst & Young. 30 per cent decision-makers among the 834 who
responded to the survey, found India attaining more investor
confidence and developing as a more preferred business
destination compared to the US and Russia.

China topped the list with 47 per cent votes, followed by
Central Europe (42 per cent) and Western Europe (33 per cent).

The US and Russia were preferred by 21 per cent. Termed as
"an open world", the European attractiveness survey aimed at
identifying the prospects of different business locations and
the standards expected by the respondents.

According to the findings, the most important factor for
foreign direct investors was accessing new markets, and as
the European economy is showing the signs of slowing down,
investors are looking for thriving economies and
competitiveness in other markets.

"The survey findings further highlighted that business leaders
today see the investment world as multi-polar and including
destinations such as China, India, Russia and West Asia.
These relatively recent global players present viable
competition to the developed world in the eyes of potential
investors searching for investment locations", it stated.

"The world is becoming a level playing field when it comes
to businesses' perceptions of their cross-border investment
options," said Marc Lhermitte, Partner, Ernst & Young,
France, who headed the European attractiveness survey.

"The developed markets of Western Europe and the US are
being challenged by competing equals. As they look ahead,
businesses are chasing growth through Asian consumers'
spending power. But Europe and the US still remain vastly
diversified and powerful markets."

As almost half of the European businesses are still in the
stages of developing their activities across European
borders, investors will continue to go ahead with projects
in Europe in the near future, even as they will be also
starting complex, longer-term investment projects in Asia.

On the whole, 47 per cent of the business leaders plan to
develop activities in Europe, although 16 per cent say they
will move all or a part of their projects outside the region.

22 per cent respondents voted India as the second most
preferred global location for relocating projects. China was
the most preferred destination, with 36 per cent votes.

21 per cent investors voted India as one of the top three
most innovative countries ahead of UK, France, Finland and
Sweden.

The most innovative countries were the US with 50 per cent
votes and China with 34 per cent votes, followed by Germany
and Japan with 31 per cent and 29 per cent respectively.

With the high ranking of China, Japan and India, the survey
places Asia at the top of the most preferred geographical
locations because of its level of innovation.
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Thank you & best regards,


"TOGETHER WE ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE"

Yours in MAICCI,


S. Rengasamy
(Hon. Secretary General, MAICCI)