NZ moves up business readiness rankings

By NZPA

Wednesday 24th July 2002

New Zealand has slightly improved from 20th to 18th in the world in terms of its appeal for conducting business over the next five years, according to an offshoot of the respected Economist magazine.

New Zealand was one of 18 countries with a "very good" assessment forecast, the Economist Intelligence Unit's latest business environment rankings said today.

The report said New Zealand had few significant weaknesses in its business environment.

North America, northern Europe and Australia took the top 10 spots on the rankings which look at a country's e-business and e-readiness to conduct business. Australia slipped from second to sixth.

"E-readiness is shorthand for the extent to which a country's business environment is conducive to Internet-based commercial opportunities, the EIU said in its report.

"Despite the dotcom bust, the Internet is still reshaping the way companies do business, and countries' e-readiness will be a vital feature of the global competitive landscape," EIU spokesman Daniel Franklin said today.

Covering the world's 60 largest markets, the rankings provide a useful guide for companies seeking to invest in technology-savvy countries, as well as governments looking to reap the benefits of the digital age.

Top 20 rankings:

United States 1, Netherlands 2, United Kingdom 3, Switzerland and Sweden equal 5, Australia 6, Denmark 7, Germany 8, Canada 9, Finland 10, Singapore and Norway equal 11, Hong Kong 13, Austria 14, Ireland 15, Belgium 16, France 17, New Zealand 18, Italy 19, Taiwan 20, Korea 21, Spain 22, Greece 23, Portugal 24, Japan 25.

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