Vietnam has been identified as one of the key markets for global investors, ranking number one on the top 10 emerging markets beyond the BRIC group (Brazil, Russia, India and China) for investors over the next five years.

This is one of the findings in the “Survive and Prosper: emerging markets in the global recession” report which was newly-published by the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) publication.

The report was based on a survey of more than 540 high-level business executives from across 19 business sectors, for which over 40 percent of those interviewed work for companies headquartered in emerging markets.

It showed that despite the economic downturn, emerging markets have outperformed those of developed countries in 2009 and are supporting global profitability, which is partly thanks to the continued high growth and market size of China and India .

Up to 45 percent of respondents in the survey cited China as their favoured future investment destination, 43 percent cited India and 35 percent cited other Asian destinations.

Half of the top ten emerging markets that are prioritised by global enterprises in the next five years are in Asia, including Vietnam, which has held the top position in both 2008 and 2009 surveys, as well as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines. The other destinations include the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

In its September 17 press release, UKTI gives a positive review of Vietnam’s economy whose GDP has doubled every 10 years since 1986 and its personal income levels have increased ten-fold since 1986.

The UK ranks as Vietnam’s third-largest European Union investor (after France and the Netherlands ) with 109 projects with a registered total value of 2.04 billion USD.

UKTI is a government organisation that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy through the provision of knowledge, market consultancy and other practical support./.