TOP 25 COUNTRIES FOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS IN 2013

Virtually all companies that operate on a global basis face the challenges associated not only with understanding and adapting to the differing needs and expectations of customers in different markets around the world, but also face often widely differing regulatory and government constraints on their market operations. Examining the role of government affairs in this context,  it is clear that government affairs often serves as a 'window-in and window-out function in organizations, interpreting and working to influence government and regulatory bodies in order to create the operating environment in which the business can exploit the potential market opportunities successfully, or anticipate and combat potentially damaging legislation or regulation. In 2013 the following 25 countries in particular  should be carefully monitored from a government affairs perspective:

1. China
2. India
3. Brazil
4. United States of America
5. Germany
6. Australia
7. Singapore
8. United Kingdom
9. Indonesia
10. Malaysia
11. South Africa
12. Russia
13. Turkey
14. Vietnam
15. United Arab Emirates
16. Thailand
17. France
18. Taiwan
19. South Korea
20. Canada
21. Japan
22. Switzerland
23. Poland
24. Spain
25. The Netherlands

Prospects for near-term economic recovery is increasingly uncertain. The timing and location of renewed investment will play a major role in the global economic landscape in 2013. Emerging markets are poised to benefit from an FDI recovery as they comprise more than half of the above list of 25 countries. They are attracting investment on their own merits, mostly importantly large and growing consumer markets. Meanwhile, the developed world may continue to be bogged down by lackluster growth and debt crises. If developed countries are not able to engineer a breakthrough, it is likely that developed and emerging economies alike will suffer through reduced investor appetite. While investors are concerned and trying to reorient themselves in a new economic landscape, if the economic prospects do not deteriorate, companies will slowly but surely increase their appetite to invest in foreign markets, which in itself will be an important part of a global economic recovery.