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  • The US is Safer Than Ever

    prnewswire.com
    Nov 18 PRNewswire

    The US is Safer Than Ever

    But US Businesses Abroad Face a Variety of Threats

    Control Risks Group Publishes RiskMap to Forecast
    Opportunities and Trouble Spots for 2005

    LONDON, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Control Risks Group, the international
    business risk consultancy, today launches RiskMap 2005, its annual study and
    forecast of political and security risks across the globe.
    Although the headlines in 2005 will continue to be dominated by the
    ongoing 'War on Terror', the report argues that successful action against
    al-
    Qaida's leaders, tightening of anti-terror financing laws and the continuing
    restructuring of intelligence and law enforcement agencies have made the
    United States safer than at any point since 9/11. The organized matrix of
    international terrorism has been shattered and replaced by a new paradigm
    that
    sees small, decentralized cells of local militants attacking Western
    interests
    abroad.
    While acknowledging the role that this type of terrorism plays in risk
    management for business, RiskMap 2005 highlights other risks to business,
    which will play as great a part in the success or failure of business as
    terrorism. Longstanding political uncertainties such as coup threats,
    regional economic instability, or civil unrest are all critical risks that
    will affect business operating globally. Only by analysing the local as
    well
    as global threats will business be best prepared for the coming year.
    The risks to a number of critical countries are detailed below.

    MIDDLE EAST
    Iraq:
    * Insecurity in Iraq reached unprecedented levels towards the end of
    2004 and looks set to continue.
    * The US and Iraqi governments remain determined to hold elections
    in
    January 2005, regardless of the security situation.
    * The severe restrictions on the abilities of companies to carry out
    reconstruction work in 2004 will continue throughout 2005.

    Iran:
    * Iran's nuclear programme will continue to dominate its
    international
    relations in 2005.
    * Effective UN sanctions remain unlikely, which may force the US or
    Israel to take decisive action, possibly involving air strikes
    against nuclear sites in Iran.
    * However, full-scale military action against the regime is not in
    prospect.

    Saudi Arabia:
    * After more than a year of fierce battles against Islamic
    militants,
    the government appears to be gaining the upper hand, but further
    large-scale terrorist attacks remain possible and small-scale
    targeted killings of Westerners are probable.
    * The wave of terrorist attacks has brought a broad consensus on the
    need for far-reaching changes and Saudi Arabia's rulers have a
    rare
    chance to define a positive agenda for the country's future.
    * Political and economic reform could limit the recruitment of
    extremists among the burgeoning population of under-employed young
    men.

    AFRICA
    Nigeria:
    * Crime and corruption will continue to pose the main risks to
    companies operating in the country.
    * President Olusegun Obasanjo will continue to face challenges, but
    opposition groups will not be able to threaten his position.
    * Militant groups and community demands will continue to affect
    business in the oil-rich Niger delta.

    AMERICAS
    Brazil:
    * Investors will remain watchful for any sign that President Luiz
    Inacio da Silva is moving away from business-friendly policies
    towards more leftist, labour-orientated policies.
    * Violent crime will remain the key security concern for business
    personnel, especially in urban areas.
    * Any Colombian guerrilla activity will remain restricted to border
    areas in Amazonas state.

    Venezuela:
    * President Hugo Chavez, emboldened by his 2004 referendum victory,
    is
    likely to adopt a more confrontational approach, bringing greater
    state intervention in the economy.
    * Any fall in the oil prices would cause serious problems for the
    government.
    * The main security concerns are the risk of renewed political
    violence and rising crime.

    ASIA & PACIFIC
    China:
    * The government's main priority is to avoid an economic hard landing
    following several years of over-investment.
    * The operating environment will continue to improve, with new
    measures to deregulate the labour market and roll out legal system
    improvements.
    * Foreign investors' enthusiasm for China will be boosted by the
    build-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and related infrastructure
    projects.

    India:
    * Key crisis points will include three state elections -- in Bihar,
    Jharkhand and Haryana -- and the 2005-06 budget, all due in
    February
    2005.
    * Economic policy will be broadly reformist, offering attractive
    opportunities to foreign investors in many sectors.
    * Growth in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector will slow in
    a tightening labour market.

    Indonesia:
    * New President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will attempt far-reaching
    policy reform, but will face difficulties in parliament.
    * The convoluted regulatory system and corrupt judiciary will continue
    to act as strong deterrents to investment.
    * Following a number of counter-terrorism successes, the Islamic
    extremist Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) could seek to adopt cruder tactics,
    such as individual assassinations.

    EUROPE & FORMER SOVIET UNION
    Russia:
    * President Vladimir Putin will continue to strengthen his rule and
    his advisers will begin to prepare public opinion for the
    possibility of a constitutional amendment to allow him to remain
    in
    power beyond 2008.
    * The government will play an increasingly active role in the oil
    and
    gas industries, and deals reached without consulting the
    authorities
    will be subject to political risk.

    For further information contact:
    Nicola Hudson in London on +44 20 7970 2103 or via email
    [email protected]

    RiskMap is available to purchase at a price of 150.00 pounds Sterling.

    Notes to Editors
    Control Risks Group is an international business risk consultancy. Since
    its foundation in 1975, Control Risks has worked in more than 130 countries
    for more than 5,300 clients -- including 86 of the US Fortune Top100
    companies. Control Risks' mission is to enable its clients to succeed in
    complex or hostile environments. RiskMap 2005 is based on extensive
    analysis
    of 195 countries.

    Data Sample
    RiskMap 2005 includes Control Risks' security risk ratings forecasts,
    which identify the projected level of business risk in various countries
    around the globe. Areas listed below have been classified as EXTREME or
    HIGH
    risk. The forecasts are followed by an explanation of the security risk
    levels identified.

    Ratings categories and countries/regions
    Countries marked in bold refer to the whole country. Countries not in
    bold refer to just the region in brackets.

    EXTREME POLITICAL RISK
    Russia (Chechnya region), Somalia.

    EXTREME SECURITY RISK
    Iraq, Somalia, Tajikistan (Afghan border area, Garm, Tavildera regions).

    HIGH POLITICAL RISK
    Afghanistan, Belarus, Bolivia, Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire, Georgia, Guinea
    (Conakry), Haiti, Iraq, Israel (Palestinian Authority (PA) areas), Liberia,
    North Korea, Philippines, Serbia and Montenegro (Kosovo region), Somalia
    (Somaliland), Tajikistan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe.

    HIGH SECURITY RISK
    Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia (Azerbaijani border areas), Azerbaijan
    (Armenian border areas, Nagorno-Karabakh), Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon
    (major cities), Central African Republic (north, north-western regions),
    Colombia, Congo DRC, Cote d'Ivoire, Eritrea (Ethiopian, Sudanese borders),
    Ethiopia (eastern areas towards Somalia, towards Kenyan border, along
    Eritrean
    border), Georgia, Guatemala (Guatemala City), Haiti, Jamaica (Kingston and
    Spanish Town), India (Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Nagaland),
    Indonesia (Aceh, Papua, Central Sulawesi and Maluku), Israel (PA areas),
    Kenya
    (northern areas towards Somalia and along Ethiopian borders), Kyrgyzstan
    (Tajik and Uzbek border areas), Laos (Xaysomboune Special Zone and Xieng
    Khouang Province), Liberia (border with Cote d'Ivoire), Macedonia
    (north-west
    region), Moldova (Transdniestr), Nepal, Nigeria (Niger delta), Pakistan,
    Panama (Darien Province on Colombian border), Papua New Guinea (Port
    Moresby,
    Lae and Mount Hagen), Peru (Upper Huallaga, Apurimac, Ene and Perene
    valleys),
    Philippines (south-central, west Mindanao), Rwanda (border with Burundi),
    Russia (Dagestan, Ingushetia and North Ossetia), Saudi Arabia, Serbia and
    Montenegro (Kosovo, southern Serbia), Somalia (Somaliland), Tajikistan,
    Uzbekistan (Tajik border areas, Fergana valley), Venezuela (Colombian
    borders),Yemen, Zimbabwe.

    MEDIUM POLITICAL RISK
    Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia
    and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African
    Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Congo DRC, Croatia, Cyprus (TRNC),
    Djibouti, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon,
    Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,
    Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives,
    Mauritania,
    Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco (Western Sahara region), Mozambique, Nepal,
    Niger,
    Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe,
    Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri
    Lanka,
    Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania (Zanzibar archipelago), Thailand, Turkey,
    Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia.

    MEDIUM SECURITY RISK
    Albania (north-east regions), Algeria (Sahara region), Angola, Armenia,
    Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Benin (Nigerian border), Burkina Faso, Cambodia,
    Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, East Timor, Ethiopia,
    Fiji,
    France (Corsica, Les Landes, Alpes Maritimes region), Greece (Athens,
    Thessaloniki), Guinea (Conakry), Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Israel, Italy
    (Calabria, Sicily, Milan, Rome), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon,
    Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Moldova,
    Mongolia, Mozambique, Niger (borders with Algeria, Libya), Nigeria, Oman,
    Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands,
    Sri Lanka (north, north-eastern regions), Swaziland, Tanzania (Zanzibar
    archipelago, Rwanda border areas), Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
    Uganda (northern areas affected by LRA insurgency), Ukraine, United Arab
    Emirates, United Kingdom (Northern Ireland and London), Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe
    (central urban areas).

    Definition of Security Risk Levels

    EXTREME
    The severity of security risks to assets or personnel is likely to make
    business operations untenable. There is no law and order; conditions may
    verge on war or civil war. Companies must strongly consider withdrawal.

    HIGH
    There is a probability that foreign companies will face security
    problems;
    special measures are required. Assets and personnel are at constant risk
    from
    violence or theft by state or non-state actors OR there is a high risk of
    collateral damage from terrorism or other violence. State protection is
    very
    limited.

    MEDIUM
    There is a reasonable possibility of security problems affecting
    companies, but there is no sustained threat directed specifically against
    foreign companies. Targeted crime or violence poses some risk to foreign
    assets and personnel OR they are at risk from violence by terrorists or
    unrest.

    LOW
    Assets are generally secure and the authorities provide adequate
    security.
    Companies and personnel face only infrequent exposure to violence from
    terrorists or criminals; companies are unlikely to be systematically
    targeted
    for asset theft.

    INSIGNIFICANT
    Assets and personnel are not at risk except from isolated incidents or petty
    crime. Levels of violent crime are low, the authorities provide effective
    security and there is virtually no political violence.

    Definition of Political Risk Levels

    EXTREME
    Conditions are hostile to/untenable for business. There is no investment
    security. The following conditions may apply: the economy has collapsed;
    law
    and order has broken down and state bodies ceased to function; there is a
    state of war or civil war; non-state actors cause suspension of operations;
    or
    the state is actively hostile to foreign business and expropriation of
    assets
    is likely.

    HIGH
    Business is possible but conditions are difficult or likely to become so
    in the near future. Political institutions effectively do not function, the
    regulatory framework is poor and judicial decisions are arbitrary. There is
    little security for investments. Business may be exposed to the following
    risks: economic and political conditions may become rapidly unstable;
    international sanctions are possible; non-state actors actively target
    business; or there is a risk of contract repudiation or re-negotiation by
    state actors.

    MEDIUM
    Foreign business is likely to face some disruption from state or
    non-state
    actors OR long-term investment security cannot be guaranteed. There is a
    risk
    for business of exposure to some or all of the following: corruption; strong
    and hostile lobby groups; absence of adequate legal guarantees; restrictions
    on imports or exports; weak political institutions; and capricious policy-
    making. In some Medium risk countries there is a latent threat of military
    or
    other illegal intervention.

    LOW
    Business can operate with few problems. Political institutions are
    stable
    but there is some possibility of negative policy change. Legal guarantees
    are
    strong but business may face some regulatory or judicial insecurity. Non-
    state actors may occasionally hamper operations.

    INSIGNIFICANT
    The environment for business is favourable and likely to remain so.
    Government policy is stable and the economy is secure. Business faces no
    legal or regulatory disadvantages. There are no significant non-state
    threats
    to operations.



    SOURCE Control Risks Group
    Web Site: http://www.crg.com
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