by Ian Poh
SINGAPORE is the least risky place in South-east Asia to do
business, and has regained the top possible risk rating, according
to global credit insurer Coface.
French-based Coface on Tuesday announced its latest country risk
ratings, which assess the average risk of payment defaults by
companies in a given country.
They take into account factors such as a country's economic and
political prospects, and the business climate.
Singapore's rating for June jumped from A2 to A1, the best
possible rating. Other regional ratings included Malaysia on A2,
and China and Thailand both on A3.
The country risk rating has seven grades - A1, A2, A3, A4, B, C
and D - and is updated by Coface every three months.
Singapore - which is the only country in Asia besides Japan to
get an A1 rating - last scored an A1 in January last year.
Elsewhere, the United States scored an A2, Britain an A3 and
debt-laden Greece an A4.
The announcement of country risk ratings was made in conjunction
with the Coface Country Risk Conference 2010 held for the first
time in Singapore on Tuesday.