China is most favoured by foreign investors: survey

A survey from Paris, Friday, 01 July, 2005

When it comes to find the best place to lay an investment, China is most likely to be the top choice for most foreign investors, according to a survey released in Paris on Wednesday.

More than half, or 52 percent, of international investors questioned named China as the most attractive country for international investment in 2005. The figure was 37 percent in 2004.

Through the survey, the French offices of auditors Ernst and Young found that China has a better chance than the United States, which scored 39 percent, of becoming foreigners' ideal destination for investment.

India, with 18 percent, and Poland, 17 percent, currently rank as more likely than Germany, 16 percent, and Britain, 13 percent, to receive foreign investment.

In terms of regional choices, China stood third in the list after western Europe, 63 percent, and central and eastern Europe, 55 percent, but before the United States/Canada, which stood at 45 percent.

Investors said they were drawn to central and eastern Europe and China by low labour costs and better competitive and productivity rates.