Analytics, Education and Science, EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Investments, Latvia

A total of 116 countries have been included in this year's index, measuring their appeal for investors, reported LETA.

Latvia has received the highest assessment in terms of the simplicity and ease of doing business, ranking 26th.

 Latvia's corporate governance, tax initiatives and administrative burden have also received high assessments.

The lowest assessment has been given for the share of problematic loans among all issued loans, where Latvia is listed 107th.

 The level of unemployment and a non-flexible labor market have also been mentioned as problematic areas.

 Estonia is ranked highest among all Baltic States - 40th, falling four places from 2008. Lithuania is ranked 48th, dropping five places.

 The top five countries are: the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Japan and Singapore. The bottom five: Burundi, Chad, Angola, Mauritania and Lesotho.

The Global Venture Capital and Private Equity Country Attractiveness Index is based on six main criteria: economic activity (GDP, inflation rate, unemployment rate); size and liquidity of capital markets; taxation; investor protection and corporate governance; the human and social environment (including human capital, labor market policies and crime); and entrepreneurial culture and opportunities (including innovation capacity, the ease of doing business and the development of high-tech industries).