PHL tops US News’ list of best countries to invest in

The Philippines has topped US News' list of best countries to invest in and ranked 49th in its 2018 Best Countries report.

According to US News, the 2018 Best Countries report and rankings are based on how global perceptions define countries in terms of a number of qualitative characteristics, impressions that have the potential to drive trade, travel and investment and directly affect national economies.

The report covers perceptions of 80 countries.

As regards the best countries to invest in, the top 20

1. Philippines
2. Indonesia
3. Poland
4. Malaysia
5. Singapore
6. Australia
7. Spain
8. Thailand
9. India
10. Oman
11. Czech Republic
12. Finland
13. Uruguay
14. Turkey
15. Ireland
16. Netherlands
17. United Kingdom
18. Brazil
19. France
20. Chile

"Recent government actions have boosted social spending in an effort to battle high unemployment and manage a rapidly growing population, a quarter of which lives below the poverty line," US News said as regards the country, which ranked 29th on the best countries list.

However, it also cited "threats to national order also come from separatist groups primarily based in the southern part of the country."

"Each year, the Philippine economy is flooded with billions of dollars sent home by the large number of Filipinos living abroad. These remittances, along with a flourishing tourism industry, have helped maintain a budget surplus," the report said.

"But the implicit dependence on global trends has proved risky, and opportunities in electronics, petroleum and other goods are being explored," it added.

US News said foreign investment in the Philippines was low, "but frequent devastating tsunamis and other national disasters often draw large amounts of humanitarian aid."

"International rights groups have criticized the president for his controversial drug war, which has resulted in thousands of deaths," US News said.

"The Philippines is a member of major international organizations, including the United Nations, the ASEAN Regional Forum and the World Trade Organization, among others," it added.

According to its website, US News & World Report is a multi-platform publisher of news and information, which includes www.usnews.com and annual print and e-book versions of its authoritative rankings of Best Colleges, Best Graduate Schools and Best Hospitals. —NB, GMA News