Every year, over 1 trillion USD is distributed around the world in a form of foreign direct investments. Investments coming from foreign investors and entrepreneurs are of significant value to the country and are considered as a sign of healthy economic, political and legislative environment. When it comes to investing your money, some countries are simply better than others. It depends on numerous factors, such as the overall economy and growth opportunities of the country, political stability, taxation and overall legal system, the complexity of company formation, bank account opening and workforce.

In this article, we will summarize three jurisdictions in terms of benefits and other features crucial for foreign investors. These countries have already proven to be able to attract multinational businesses and other investments, but when it comes to choosing the right place for your investments each country is different and might be better than others in one or more factors.

Singapore
The first country to analyse is Singapore as it takes the 2nd place among the best countries to invest in and the 15th place among the best countries in the world in the US News Best Countries Ranking developed in cooperation with its international partners.

Located in Southeast Asia, Singapore is a bustling metropolis and a home to one of the busiest ports in the world. As one of the four economic tigers of Asia, the country has experienced an impressive growth in the recent past due to efficient production and manufacturing practices and innovations in pharmaceutical and electronics industries. High GDP per capita and low unemployment place Singapore among the wealthiest countries in the world.

Due to its impressive growth, along with growing immigration Singapore attracts best professionals for its workforce. The country offers cultural diversity and with four official languages is an important gateway for international trade.
Corporate tax rate is 17% but can be reduced if taking advantage of numerous government subsidies, incentives and other schemes.
Legal system of Singapore is recognized for its integrity, efficiency and fairness making the country better than many others as a place for starting and operating a business. World Bank group has recognized Singapore’s political and regulatory environment as the most business-friendly in the world.
Other factors:
Least corrupt country in Asia;
Best IP protection in Asia;
Most popular country for arbitration in Asia.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates or UAE is listed as the 22nd best country in the world and is not mentioned among the best countries to invest in according to the ranking mentioned above.

Before discovering oil in the middle of the 20th century, UAE’s economy was mainly based on fishing and pearl industries. The country experienced a rapid growth and overall transformation along with the beginning of oil exports in the 1960s. Nowadays, the country’s GDP can be compared with those of leading European countries and World Economic Forum has named UAE as the most competitive place in the Arab world.

When establishing a business in UAE, foreign investors are able to choose between offshore or onshore registrations depending on which suits better for the business nature and planned activities. Onshore registration means that the investor establishes a business presence in the UAE mainland. Meanwhile, offshore registration typically refers to a business presence in one of the free trade zones of the UAE.
The UAE does not impose a corporate income tax on a federal level. However, most of the Emirates have some taxation in place for corporate income and can reach even 55% for certain industries. In practice, corporate income tax is mainly imposed on gas and oil companies as well as branches of foreign banks.
Other factors:
UAE is among the Gulf’s most liberal places with legal system allowing the freedom of religion;
No sales tax or VAT, but with plans to introduce in the future;
In addition to traditional banking, recently Islamic (or sharia-law compliant) banking has witnessed a tremendous growth.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. While Hong Kong is often considered as a separate entity from China, it is not a country and therefore enters all lists and rankings under the name of China. China takes 26th place among best countries to invest in and 20th place among best countries in general.

Hong Kong’s legal system is characterised by the strict adherence to principles and the rule of law. It operates a free trade economic system and promotes minimal government interference in most sections of the economy. This reflects on the small number of tariffs and duties on traded goods and therefore it is a better place for investments than other parts of China.
Foreign investments are attracted by promoting a favourable investment climate with low taxes, few restrictions and additional incentives to encourage investments. Corporate profits tax rate is 16.5% with a possibility to waive 75% of the tax. There is no tax levied on dividends.
Company incorporation is a simple and fast-forward process. All applications for company incorporation also include an application for the business registry. The application can be submitted online and the processing generally takes one hour (as opposed to four days if the application is submitted in hard copy).

There always is a chance that a business will require a legal structure based in North America. Whatever your aims may be — privacy, tax planning, holding — Confidus Solutions will help you incorporate a company. The Bahamas is a great jurisdiction for tax planning purposes. The most common company types are domestic limited company, usually used for doing business locally; company limited by guarantee, which should have at least two shareholders; and public company, which should have at least three directors and is subject to a compulsory audit. Belize offers a wide variety of legal structures, including private companies, limited liability partnerships, sole proprietor companies, public investment companies and trust funds. Panama offers several different legal entity types, providing multiple vehicles for achieving your personal and corporate goals and creating a suitable corporate structure.

The overarching goal of the due diligence process is to screen the business partner and draw attention to any potential issues or risks. There are different types of due diligence, and the checks depend on each transaction.

Property check
A property check should be carried out before purchasing a property. It involves an intensive study of the public register, namely whether the property is correctly registered, whether the owner actually has the right to sell the property or whether the property is connected to other properties. In addition, this includes the identification of encumbrances and ongoing proceedings related to the property. If the property is rented or other rights of third parties, encumbrances and other registered restrictions, insolvency proceedings or tax debts are registered, the asset test must be carried out. Due diligence also includes reviewing the proposed purchase agreement and identifying risks that could affect the conclusion of the agreement, e.g. B. if the property is rented out, the rental agreement must be taken into account.

Reliability check
In case of entering into a business agreement between two companies, the due diligence process with a view to a possible cooperation would include the following topics: Company records in the business register, confirming the company name, legal address, officials and shareholders, the value added tax register (VAT registration) , verification of status as a VAT payer. The financial stability of the company can be checked with the insolvency register to determine if the company has had or has ever had financial problems such as E.g. bankruptcy, temporary cessation of business activities, tax debts.

Mergers and acquisitions
In the event of a corporate acquisition, before entering into a share purchase agreement, it would be important to assess the financial condition of the target company by assessing factors such as: earnings and cash flow quality, asset and liability quality analysis. It is important to assess the quantity and quality of staff, identify property and investigate whether there are no pending issues or proceedings related to company property; Inspection of public registers when no commercial pledges, encumbrances and legal proceedings are ongoing and could affect the company's assets in the future.

With the right documentation and initial expenses, it is possible for a foreign citizen to open a bank account in Tunisia. This international account and investment opportunity offers several advantages based on economic regulations and tax structures. Interest rates, tax laws and fees vary depending on the country in which you invest; Careful research and strategic financial actions could result in significant portfolio growth.

If one is considering opening a bank account in Tunisia, one must enlist the help of international experts to guide them through the process.

Legal forms in Tunisia
Each international jurisdiction adheres to different legal structures for taxation and banking. Confidus Solutions helps you understand the nuances of each country's legal structure. In order to do business in Tunisia, it is crucial that you have a thorough understanding of the financial and legal implications.

Initial investments
The vast majority of bank accounts in Tunisia require an initial financial outlay to secure the account opening. This value differs from bank to bank and also depends on variable exchange rates. An international financial expert will help navigate these conversions, as well as the various fees and minimums associated with maintaining a bank account. Make sure you understand the interest and growth rates associated with each prospective international bank account so you can maximize your returns while minimizing risk.

Tax structures in Tunisia
To get the best results and avoid bureaucratic and legal pitfalls, enlist the support of an expert in international finance and economics. This initial investment in proper processes and research will help avoid a litany of long-term costs and fees related to unforeseen errors and legal errors. Language skills, financial know-how and bureaucratic experience ensure that your account opening is processed smoothly and without unintended consequences.