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Switzerland best country to headquarter a corporation

Jan 31, 2018 12:25Corinne Ari, Switzerland Global Enterprise

As in the previous year, Switzerland remains an island of stable prosperity in the world, according to the 2018 Best Countries report, a global survey of 21,000 persons by U.S. News. The rankings evaluate 80 countries across a range of criteria, from economic influence and quality of life, to capture how nations are perceived globally. Switzerland’s No. 1 spot is driven by its reputation for citizenship and being open for business.

two men smiling and shaking hands and a woman sitting between them — Switzerland ranks the No. 1 country to headquarter a corporation.

The 2018 Best Countries ranking methodology relies on data gathered from a proprietary survey of more than 21,000 business leaders, informed elites and general citizens.

In the overall rankings of 80 countries, Switzerland ranks 1^st, followed by Canada (2^nd) and Germany (3^rd). The rankings are dominated by countries with more progressive social and environmental policies. Nordic nations – Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway – rank in the top 15 overall.

Switzerland also ranks the No. 1 country to headquarter a corporation, followed by Canada and Luxembourg. The country is home to several Fortune 500 companies, including Credit Suisse, Nestle and Glencore and offers a business-friendly and innovative environment.

Overall, Switzerland achieves its top position as best country based on high scores in the following categories:

1. Open for business

Attributes: bureaucratic, cheap manufacturing costs, level of corruption, favorable tax environment, transparent government practices

2. Citizenship

Attributes: cares about human rights and environment, gender equality, progressive, religious freedom, respects property rights, trustworthy, well-distributed political power

3. Entrepreneurship

Attributes: connected to the rest of the world, educated population, entrepreneurial, innovative, provides easy access to capital, skilled labor force, technological expertise, transparent business practices, well-developed infrastructure, well-developed legal framework

4. Quality of Life

Attributes: a good job market, affordable, economically stable, family friendly, income equality, politically stable, safe, well-developed public education and health system

5. Cultural influence

Attributes: culturally significant in terms of entertainment, fashionable, happy, has an influential culture, modern, prestigious, trendy

The Best Countries rankings continue to show us that just as brands must focus on a wide range of attributes to raise profiles and win over audiences, nations that are multidimensional and that reflect a wider range of qualities, such as innovation and compassion, have the brand appeal that propels them on the global stage. (David Sable, Y&R Global CEO)

Handbook for Investors

Our handbook contains 168 pages of information setting out the key advantages of Switzerland as a business location as well as the current investment climate, production costs, taxes, infrastructure and new technologies, financing and legal matters.

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