Going Global: 12 Best Countries to Expand Your Business Internationally

January 26, 2017

On December 21, Forbes magazine published its annual “Best Countries for Business” list for 2017, ranking the “business friendliness” of 139 countries based on 11 factors covering the legal and economic aspects impacting business. As Newland Chase prepares for the new year ahead, we reviewed this year’s list with interest and were encouraged to find that in the top countries for business this year we could confidently assure our clients… Newland Chase has your back.

Looking to expand internationally? Contact us today for an immigration consultation for your business.

The “Top 12” Countries for Business (according to Forbes)

Whether you are an established player on the global stage or planning to become one, Newland Chase has your back in 2017 in more than 170 countries, including Forbes’ top 12 countries for business. (You can check out the other 125 here. There are other great countries for business throughout the world, and we’ve got most of those covered too.)

1 Sweden –

• • New this year at the top spot, up from #5 last year. A booming economy and recent trend toward less government regulation makes Sweden hard to beat for multinational companies. Employment authorization for foreign nationals is still comparatively quick and easy, despite Europe’s ongoing refugee crisis.

2 New Zealand –

• • Claims the #2 spot again this year. Traditionally an easy place to start and run a new business, New Zealand has been corporate immigration-friendly, but large immigration numbers in recent years brought some minor tightening to regulations.

3 Hong Kong –

Recently also ranked by Business Insider as #3 most expensive for companies, HK still remains perennially strong for business with its huge financial sector and entrepreneurial environment. As with any high-demand destination, there is periodic immigration rule tightening, but it’s still open for business.

4 Ireland –

• • Still holding steady at #4 from last year, with a low corporate tax rate and affluent workforce, Ireland will only look more attractive for multinational businesses as Brexit plays out next door in the UK. There have been some significant improvements to the corporate immigration system lately.

5 United Kingdom –

• • Still a great country for business, but the elephant in the room remains Brexit. The shocking 2016 development admittedly opens a whole host of questions for the future and especially for corporate mobility between the UK and the EU.

6 Denmark –

• • Down from last year’s #1 spot, but there’s stiff competition in the Nordic region with neighbors Sweden, Finland, and Norway also highly ranked on the list. Still a great business climate, but the current administration is somewhat less immigration-friendly, mainly because of Europe’s current refugee crisis.

7 Netherlands –

• • Up two spots from last year’s list, we can attest to the welcoming business atmosphere in the Netherlands with our Amsterdam office celebrating its one-year anniversary on January 3. The forward-thinking government adopted the EU Intra-Company Transfer Directive in November, which has the potential for major benefits for business in Europe.

8 Finland –

• • A stable and predictable regulatory environment and a low corporate tax rate (20 percent) make Finland attractive for international business. A recent survey by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation ranked Finland as the world’s biggest contributor to global innovation. Interestingly, the capital Helsinki has the world’s second-highest concentration of commercially successful app developers, behind only the US’s Silicon Valley.

9 Norway –

• • Like its Nordic neighbor Finland, Norway stays competitive by boasting a stable and predictable regulatory environment, a relatively low (but not as low as Finland) corporate tax rate, and a highly-skilled workforce. Also like Finland, the corporate immigration process is relatively smooth, and both countries benefit from their membership in the Schengen area.

10 Canada –

• • The consistent bright spot for international business in North America (far eclipsing its neighbor immediately to the south that languishes back at #23), due in part to the progressive attitude toward international trade and business, particularly in regards to corporate immigration. We like what we are hearing about Canada’s Global Skills Strategy and future immigration improvements.

11 Australia –

• • Up three spots from last year and still a great open market, if the politicians don’t shortsightedly limit employment-based immigration through possible upcoming reforms.

12 Singapore –

Down four spots from last year, but we still like Singapore for international business, and our APAC regional office in Singapore has your needs covered. Business Insider’s recent survey reported the cost of doing business in Singapore has actually gone down over the last several years. However, there has been some tightening of immigration rules, and the expat population has decreased somewhat, mainly due to competition from other attractive APAC business venues.

Newland Chase Has Your Back in 2017

That’s our quick view on Forbes’ top 12. There are currently 196 countries in the world in which companies can do business, and each country presents its own set of opportunities and challenges. High among those challenges is navigating the constantly-changing world of corporate immigration. But wherever you chose to do business, know that Newland Chase has your back when it comes to your corporate immigration needs.