Economy Venezuela stood out in the World Bank's Doing Business 2009 report as one of the worst places in the world to do business, although it took a step forward in the yearly study carried out by the financial organization.

According to the rankings on the ease of doing business, Venezuela ranks 174 in 2009 of a total of 181 countries whereas it ranked 175 in 2008.

As for destinations where the regulatory environment is less conducive to operating a business, Venezuela in only surpassed by Chad, São Tomé and Príncipe, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Venezuela is the only Latin American country to be situated in the last ten positions of the ranking.

The countries with the best conditions to start a business in the world are: Singapore, New Zealand, United States, Hong Kong and Denmark, according to the annual report of the World Bank.

Suhelis Tejero Puentes
EL UNIVERSAL