18 November 2009

Transparency International has named New Zealand as the least corrupt country in the world.

Transparency International is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.  Their Corruption Perceptions Index ranks the perceived level of public-sector corruption in 180 countries and territories around the world.

Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2009 found that Denmark is the second least corrupt country while Singapore and Sweden were equal for third.

The three most corrupt according to the index of 180 nations are Somalia, Afghanistan and Myanmar.

The index measures corruption based on a “survey of surveys”, determined by 13 different expert assessments and business surveys.   Transparency International has produced its annual report since 1995.

Ref: stuff.co.nz

9 September 2009

In a recent World Bank report New Zealand ranked second as the easiest country in which to do business.

New Zealand maintained its position for the fourth year, with Singapore retaining its crown at the top.

The World Bank report ranks 183 countries based on ten indicators that measure the time and cost of government requirements in starting, operating and closing a business, trading across borders and paying taxes.

New Zealand ranked second after Singapore followed by Hong Kong and the United States.  The top 10 countries were unchanged from last year apart from the United Kingdom at five swapping places with Denmark, now at six.  Ireland, Canada, Australia and Norway rounded out the top ten.

Most large economies maintained their rankings from the previous year’s report.

These findings reinforce New Zealand as having an attractive business environment, with low barriers to entry, and policies that encourage strong investment relations with countries overseas.

ref: stuff.co.nz