Here's something that will cheer up all Indophiles. India, says the Newsweek cover story (July 26 issue), is the best country in the world for foreign investors.
A study of the world's best countries says that India is a place where business disclosures are arranged without stopping and where the financial markets have grown rapidly and safely.
Overseas investors pumped in more than $7.5 billion in India last year, the highest in any year since India allowed overseas portfolio investment.
Newsweek also calls India's governing institutions 'much more mature.'
The magazine says that China undoubtedly attracts more foreign investment every year than India does, but India with its great 'democracy, transparent legislature and independent judiciary' has made fund managers go 'gaga' over the huge tech-savvy market.
The magazine finds Pakistan as the best country for refugees, having given shelter, food, and education to millions of refugees since the former Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979.
Newsweek says that the best country for technocrats is China and the best country for software developers is Estonia.
The weekly also says that the US continues to be the best place for those who dream of becoming rich.
'Argentina is for the depressed, and the Netherlands is for idealists," Newsweek says.
Vietnam is the best country for political reformists; Turkey is a country for the youth; Poland is the best country for women; and Finland is best for students.
Denmark is the best country for the middle class, while Sweden is the best for biology researchers. Japan is best for solar energy researchers; and France is the best country for musicians.
For writers, Canada is best. And for fashion designers, South Africa is the best place to be in, says Newsweek.
