Choose your market.
Understand the investment case.
Explore ten business environments through investment policies, potential FDI incentives and independent economic research. Open a destination when you want the detail.
Ranking basis: historical, not a 2026 league table. These are the top ten economies in the World Bank’s last published Doing Business ranking (2020). Doing Business was discontinued in 2021. The newer B-READY framework does not provide one overall country score. Current policy notes below are reviewed separately.
Where could your next chapter begin?
Numbers show the historical 2020 order. Hong Kong SAR is a separately assessed economy. This selection is a research starting point, not a current investment recommendation or a promise of incentives.
1New Zealand
R&D, productive assets and primary-sector innovation
Historical Doing Business 2020 rank: 1 · Policy-source review: 13 November 2026
Invest New Zealand facilitates inward investment. The Overseas Investment Act requires consent for certain sensitive assets; a high historical business ranking does not remove that review.
Investment policies & benefits to assess
- Investment Boost. A 20% upfront deduction for the cost of most eligible new depreciable assets, in addition to normal depreciation. This is a tax deduction rather than a 20% cash grant, and can apply to foreign-owned New Zealand subsidiaries.
- R&D Tax Incentive. A 15% credit on eligible R&D costs, subject to expenditure thresholds, approvals, records and the statutory cap.
- Sector funding. Screen production, primary-sector and waste-minimisation programmes may offer support for qualifying projects; there is no broad cash entitlement for every foreign investor.
Before you invest or apply
- Check Overseas Investment Office consent for the actual assets and ownership structure before completion.
- Test the asset purchase date, eligible R&D, New Zealand tax presence and the current application route.
2Singapore
Regional headquarters, advanced manufacturing and innovation
Historical Doing Business 2020 rank: 2 · Policy-source review: 13 November 2026
EDB administers investment and capability-development programmes for substantive operations in Singapore. Awards depend on the project’s contribution, commitments and approving authority; incorporation alone does not secure an incentive.
Investment policies & benefits to assess
- Refundable Investment Credit. Approval-based support for significant qualifying investments, including productive capacity, headquarters, R&D and decarbonisation. IRAS states support can reach up to 50% of qualifying expenditure categories; the award quantum is determined by the authorities.
- Pioneer / Development & Expansion incentives. Potential tax-incentive routes for new or expanded substantive activities, including qualifying headquarters activities.
- Innovation and capability support. RIS(C), training and resource-efficiency programmes support eligible technology, workforce or sustainability projects.
Before you invest or apply
- Agree the approved activity, expenditure, local substance, employment and claim milestones with the administering agency.
- Model interaction with other grants, tax deductions and applicable minimum-tax rules; do not assume a headline concession is the effective group tax rate.
3Hong Kong SAR, China
Regional services, R&D and intellectual property
Historical Doing Business 2020 rank: 3 · Policy-source review: 13 November 2026
Hong Kong is presented as a separately assessed economy, not a sovereign country. InvestHK provides business-establishment and funding guidance; tax reliefs and funding schemes have their own qualifying conditions.
Investment policies & benefits to assess
- Business tax framework. Two-tier profits taxation, enhanced deductions for qualifying R&D and a Patent Box regime may be relevant to eligible operations and income.
- Innovation and Technology Fund. Programmes include Enterprise Support Scheme, research-talent and collaborative R&D routes. Eligibility depends on the applicant, work, funding call and local activity.
- 2026 proposals are separate. The September 2026 Policy Address announced further selected-enterprise tax concessions. An announced amendment bill is not treated here as an enacted, immediately claimable incentive.
Before you invest or apply
- Check the territorial/source rules, related-entity restrictions, eligible IP income, R&D expenditure and actual local operations.
- Separate operating-company incentives from investment-migration programmes and review sector licensing.
4Denmark
R&D-led businesses and innovation projects
Historical Doing Business 2020 rank: 4 · Policy-source review: 13 November 2026
Invest in Denmark supports establishment and expansion. The incentive case is often based on R&D, talent and innovation programmes rather than a universal foreign-investor tax holiday.
Investment policies & benefits to assess
- R&D deductions. Qualifying research and development expenditure can receive tax treatment under the applicable Danish rules; confirm the deduction rate for the relevant year.
- Loss-related R&D tax credit. A cash reimbursement mechanism can apply to tax losses arising from qualifying R&D, within statutory and group limits.
- Innovation Fund Denmark. Innobooster offers project co-funding for qualifying innovative businesses. Ownership, company, financial and project eligibility must be established under the current call.
Before you invest or apply
- Review the company’s Danish establishment, project costs, related-group position and any investment-screening or sector permissions.
- Confirm the current programme guidelines and apply before expenditure where required; grants and tax measures are different benefit types.
5South Korea
Technology, manufacturing and research facilities
Historical Doing Business 2020 rank: 5 · Policy-source review: 13 November 2026
KOTRA / InvestKOREA sets out the foreign-investment support framework. Cash grants are assessed and negotiated under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act and require an investment plan and an approved agreement.
Investment policies & benefits to assess
- Foreign-investment cash grants. Eligible projects can receive negotiated support for qualifying premises, construction, capital goods, research equipment, infrastructure, employment or training.
- Location and R&D support. Foreign-investment locations and qualified R&D centres may have specific support routes; the location and qualifying investment matter.
- Separate temporary measures. InvestKOREA describes enhanced 2025 measures. Temporary 2025 grant ceilings must not be assumed to remain available for a new 2026 filing.
Before you invest or apply
- Confirm the qualifying form and ratio of foreign investment, technology / employment criteria, project site and application timing.
- Obtain current written confirmation of the grant ceiling, tax or customs treatment and post-award conditions before relying on an older guide.
6United States
State-by-state manufacturing, technology and expansion projects
Historical Doing Business 2020 rank: 6 · Policy-source review: 13 November 2026
SelectUSA helps international businesses compare locations and connect with state and local economic-development organisations. Incentive packages are usually tied to a particular project and location.
Investment policies & benefits to assess
- State and local incentives. Possible tools include project-specific tax credits, abatements, grants and infrastructure support, with conditions that differ between jurisdictions.
- Workforce and site support. Training, site-development and other assistance may be negotiated for qualifying investment and employment commitments.
- Federal programme discovery. SelectUSA links to federal programme resources and investor guidance. An agency introduction is not a funding approval, and there is no universal federal FDI grant for every investor.
Before you invest or apply
- Screen the transaction for CFIUS jurisdiction, mandatory declarations, sector rules and other relevant approvals.
- Compare local tax, utilities, labour and logistics; negotiate any package before making irreversible project commitments and model clawbacks.
7Georgia
Eligible manufacturing, export services and industrial zones
Historical Doing Business 2020 rank: 7 · Policy-source review: 13 November 2026
Invest in Georgia, the investment-promotion arm associated with Enterprise Georgia, lists FDI grants, business-finance support and special tax-status routes. Georgia here means the country, not the US state.
Investment policies & benefits to assess
- FDI Grant. The official current incentives page advertises cashback of up to 15% of qualifying capital investment and training-related costs. Sector, scale, employment and agreement conditions need confirmation.
- International Company status. A special tax-status route for qualifying activities, including eligible export IT services; obtain the status and test the activity conditions rather than assuming every company qualifies.
- Produce in Georgia / Free Industrial Zones. Eligible activities may receive interest support through programme finance. Export-manufacturing zone treatment is separate and subject to transaction and tax rules; domestic sales and payroll can still attract taxes.
Before you invest or apply
- Reconfirm the operative programme terms; older launch announcements use different thresholds and caps.
- Review the zone operator, status approval, qualifying activity, local employment, customs and treatment of sales into Georgia.
8United Kingdom
Innovation, designated investment sites and international expansion
Historical Doing Business 2020 rank: 8 · Policy-source review: 13 November 2026
The UK combines national tax and innovation programmes with location-specific Freeports and Investment Zones. The designated tax site, eligible activity and timing determine access; a wider zone boundary alone is insufficient.
Investment policies & benefits to assess
- Freeports / Green Freeports. Eligible designated sites can provide combinations of land-transaction tax, business-rates, employer NIC and capital-allowance relief. Customs sites have separate rules.
- Investment Zones. Selected locations may combine tax-site relief, infrastructure, research, skills and business support. Not every Investment Zone includes a tax site.
- R&D and innovation. For relevant accounting periods, assess the merged R&D expenditure credit and Enhanced R&D Intensive Support, alongside applicable innovation funding. Earlier SME scheme descriptions should not be reused as current rules.
Before you invest or apply
- Check the National Security and Investment Act before a qualifying acquisition; incorporation and foreign ownership do not remove screening requirements.
- Confirm the exact tax-site boundary, timing, subsidy limits, qualifying expenditure, operating substance and claim notifications.
9Norway
R&D, climate technology and eligible regional projects
Historical Doing Business 2020 rank: 9 · Policy-source review: 13 November 2026
Norwegian incentives generally support qualifying activities by businesses established in Norway. The investment case should distinguish grants from repayable loans and guarantees.
Investment policies & benefits to assess
- SkatteFUNN. Qualifying companies registered and liable to tax in Norway can apply for a deduction of 19% of approved R&D project costs, subject to the programme’s rules and caps.
- Innovation and climate support. Innovation Norway, the Research Council and Enova offer different funding or support routes; each has its own project and company criteria.
- Green industrial finance / regional support. Innovation Norway offers loans for qualifying green industrial projects. Some regions offer additional research or development support; financing is not a non-repayable grant.
Before you invest or apply
- Establish the Norwegian activity, registration, tax position and eligible project costs; check approvals and the funding call before starting.
- Review state-aid limits, co-financing, repayment and any sector or security restrictions with local specialists.
10Sweden
Regional industrial investment and R&D-led operations
Historical Doing Business 2020 rank: 10 · Policy-source review: 13 November 2026
Business Sweden supports international companies establishing and expanding in Sweden. Financial incentives are relatively targeted and often regional; they are not a blanket reward for foreign ownership.
Investment policies & benefits to assess
- Regional investment aid. Qualifying investment in machinery and buildings in assisted areas may receive support. Location, activity, company size, financing need and contribution to local development affect the assessment.
- R&D and key-personnel measures. R&D-related employer contribution reductions and relief for qualifying foreign experts can be relevant; test the current conditions and ceilings.
- Innovation and establishment support. The official 2026 establishment guides cover incentives, corporate tax, foreign-investment screening and operating requirements. Separate financing or innovation calls require their own eligibility review.
Before you invest or apply
- Apply for regional investment aid before the investment begins; major-company and new-activity conditions can differ.
- Check Sweden’s foreign-investment screening regime, environmental permits, employment obligations and the exact municipality before committing expenditure.
How the destinations and sources were selected
The list reproduces Table O.1 of Doing Business 2020. It is not presented as current country performance. Incentives are selected examples from investment agencies and government sources, and independent report dates are shown separately. Reports provide context; only the operative law, programme and approval determine a claim.
Turn a destination into a decision.
We help compare locations, build the investment and funding model, screen incentive routes, coordinate qualified local advisers and prepare an application workstream. For India-based investors, the home-country investment, tax and foreign-exchange requirements also need review.
Discuss your expansion plans