CHILE IS A Low Country Risk
We attach particular importance to the opinions of independent international institutions, think-tanks, and investment banks because they provide an objective and impartial assessment of Chile's performance. Their rankings and reports -like Chile's low country risk- reflect the country's political and economic stability, sound macroeconomic fundamentals and positive business environment.
In fact, as regards Chile's image abroad as a pro-business country, the Institute for Management Development’s 2005 World Competitiveness Yearbook identifies it as the most competitive country out of 60 economies around the world.
In March 2005, Fitch Ratings raised Chile's long-term foreign-currency sovereign rating from A- to A, putting it on a par with, for example, Greece and South Korea. The agency attributed the upgrade to Chile's strong growth prospects and ongoing reductions in government debt underpinned by fiscal surpluses. Similarly, in February 2005, Moody's Investors Service increased the outlook on Chile's Baa1foreign-currency credit rating from stable to positive, citing the country's improved external debt ratios and the presence of long-standing credit strengths.
Since January 2004, Standard & Poor's has held its long-term foreign-currency sovereign credit rating for Chile at A, putting it in a better position than the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Korea and Israel. Moreover, Chile's low country risk has continued to drop and on March 7, 2005, reached an historic low of 57 basis points over US Treasuries, reflecting investor confidence in the country's economic and financial prospects.
Likewise, according to the 2005 Risk Ranking, published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Chile is one of the world's lowest-risk countries. The EIU's country-risk ratings take account of 77 indicators of political stability and other measures of credit quality. FOR MORE INFO:
http://www.foreigninvestment.cl/index/plantilla2.asp?id_seccion=3&id_subsecciones=12
bEST REGARDAS, RODRIGO GONZÁLEZ FERNÁNDEZ , rogofe47@hotmail.com