by Ian Poh
SINGAPORE is the least risky place in South-east Asia to do business, and has regained the top possible risk rating, according to global credit insurer Coface.
French-based Coface on Tuesday announced its latest country risk ratings, which assess the average risk of payment defaults by companies in a given country.
They take into account factors such as a country's economic and political prospects, and the business climate.
Singapore's rating for June jumped from A2 to A1, the best possible rating. Other regional ratings included Malaysia on A2, and China and Thailand both on A3.
The country risk rating has seven grades - A1, A2, A3, A4, B, C and D - and is updated by Coface every three months.
Singapore - which is the only country in Asia besides Japan to get an A1 rating - last scored an A1 in January last year. Elsewhere, the United States scored an A2, Britain an A3 and debt-laden Greece an A4.
The announcement of country risk ratings was made in conjunction with the Coface Country Risk Conference 2010 held for the first time in Singapore on Tuesday.