Manufacturing is the largest economic sector in the world, which is also one of the most important, directly and indirectly accounting for a large part of all economic activity and all jobs worldwide. It processes items and is dedicated to either creating new goods or adding value by producing finished goods for sale to customers or intermediate goods to be used in the production process. After the industrial revolution that began in Britain a few centuries ago, labour-intensive textile production was successfully replaced by mechanization and the use of fuel. Today, manufacturing creates jobs, technological development and an increase in international investment.
For this reason, some jurisdictions are leveraging manufacturing output and value-added exports to increase their operations, business performance and revenue, and to address the challenges and opportunities that manufacturers face every day in conducting their businesses.
According to Deloitte's 2016 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index, China, the United States, Germany, Japan and South Korea are ranked as the top five most competitive manufacturing countries in the world. These countries generate about 60% of global manufacturing GDP.
China Canada and its provinces compete on a global scale for investments that result in low production costs, low wages for factory workers, and the adoption of globally popular product mandates. As a result, there are some significant trends in Chinese manufacturing that can easily be highlighted. These trends include creating a globally competitive, expansive manufacturing business model, helping to create a competitive business environment for manufacturing in China and increasing sales in domestic and overseas markets. This fact can encourage start-ups to grow, invest and compete with other successful manufacturing companies.
United States The United States is successful in attracting investment in many of the world's most active industries, such as aerospace, auto assembly, pharmaceuticals, to name a few. The USA has signed an agreement with Germany to implement a dual vocational training program for the advanced manufacturing sector. US business policies focus primarily on technology transfer, sustainability, monetary control, and science and innovation, giving manufacturing companies (automotive in Detroit and high-tech in Silicon Valley) a competitive advantage.
Germany Germany retains a relatively high share of manufacturing exports. The country provides long-term support in government-sponsored science labs and national programs created to foster manufacturing innovation in areas such as solar and wind power and renewable energy (renewable energy sources accounted for 28% of the country's electricity generation in 2014). In addition to an energy revolution in the manufacturing industry, the country is striving to phase out nuclear energy.
Japan Japan has a technology-intensive manufacturing sector that dominates the global manufacturing landscape in most advanced economies. The country maintains manufacturing competitiveness as there is a close link between manufacturing competitiveness and innovation. Japan has strong potential to become one of the most advanced manufacturing jurisdictions in the world. The Robot Revolution Realization Council was established in the country in 2014 as part of the Japan Revitalization Plan, introducing infrastructure and energy resources for next-generation vehicles. Japanese companies account for 50% of the global factory robot market.
South Korea As the world leader in the manufacture of liquid crystal displays (LCD), smartphones and memory chips, automobiles, and the world's largest shipbuilder, South Korea is actively pursuing growth in free trade agreements with more than 50 countries. The country invests heavily in education and produces a large number of researchers every year. It is also known that supporting manufacturing innovation in South Korea with venture capital investments to boost high-tech startups is identified as a strategic priority.
In general, all jurisdictions can be divided into classic offshore, low-tax jurisdictions and prestige jurisdictions. The prestige of a jurisdiction corresponds to its rank, which is determined by considering and evaluating information from the International Sanctions List, the OECD Gray or Black List and the EU Jurisdiction White List as well as data on the development of financial markets to determine whether the jurisdiction is FATF AML is deficient and whether there are money laundering concerns. These are the basic criteria that matter in determining whether the jurisdiction is prestigious or not. It cannot be considered prestigious if it is on a financial blacklist.
Austria, France, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Switzerland are among the top five most reputable jurisdictions for incorporating a company.
A general overview of Austria Registering a company or start-up in this territory allows the owner(s) to participate in all projects initiated by the Austrian government. The basic company types available are LLC, ULP, PJSC, PLLC, LLP, and JSC.
Taxes: The income tax rate is 25%, with a minimum corporation tax of EUR 500, plus 20% VAT and a capital tax that varies between 0.8% and 1%. If the subsidiary is registered within the EU, the tax rate on dividend income is 0%; if not, it is 25%.
Austria has agreements with more than 90 countries that enable companies to avoid double taxation. It has no exchange control. This jurisdiction ensures the confidentiality of business data.
A general overview of France France is a respectable jurisdiction that allows your company to offer products and services bearing the mark of a European company. The basic legal structures available are SP, GP, PJSC, PJSC, LLC, CLS and LLPE.
France offers a number of options: the ability to obtain credit from French banks, the ability to obtain a residence permit, no taxation for companies registered in the country doing business outside of France, and no exchange controls. France has agreements with more than 89 other countries that allow companies to avoid double taxation.
A general overview of the United Kingdom The UK is considered a respectable jurisdiction due to its high level of legal protection, a simple and transparent tax system, the ability to charge VAT and the availability of nominee services.
The basic company types available in the UK are PC, Limited Warranty Company, ULC and LLC. Again, there are no tax obligations for UK registered companies operating exclusively outside the country. Corporate tax rates depend on profit (between 20% and 24%). The UK has agreements with more than 100 countries that allow companies to avoid double taxation.
A general overview of the United States of America The US offers a respectable, highly trusted jurisdiction for a company to register, allowing it to offer products and services bearing a US company's trademark. This jurisdiction imposes no tax obligations on entities designated as non-resident and also permits nominee services. There is no taxation for companies incorporated in the country that do all their business outside of the United States.
The basic legal structures available are private contractor, corporation, branch of a foreign corporation, representative office of a foreign corporation, partnership, LLC, joint venture, or LLJSC.
A general overview of Switzerland The good reputation of this jurisdiction is based on several factors, such as strong business development, a dynamic economy and a track record of innovation. The most important corporate forms available in Switzerland are LLC, ULP, JSC, Commandite Partnership and Subsidiary.
Switzerland offers a high level of confidentiality, the world's leading currency, mechanisms to avoid double taxation, a reasonable tax system with tax rates depending on residence, income level and legal form of the company, tax optimization opportunities and the opportunity to set up service companies that can for the administration used for the business activities of the parent company and can serve as the overseas offices of international companies.
Given that within the European Union there are no withholding taxes on IP royalties between member states, we can suggest a number of countries where royalties are particularly advantageous.
CYPRUS The intellectual property royalties tax regime in Cyprus has changed as a result of the recommendations of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Action Report 5 and the Ecofin Council conclusions published on 8 December 2015. Legislation has been changed to limit the companies that can benefit from research and development (R&D) exemptions, but the tax rate in Cyprus is still one of the most favorable in the EU for foreign companies using Cyprus intellectual property want to license -resident companies (intermediaries), where this right is then sub-licensed to the end user. Overall, the effective tax on IP royalty income should be less than 2.5%.
IRELAND In 2015 Ireland introduced an effective corporation tax rate of 6.25% on intellectual property income based on an allowance for research and development costs borne by the company. By linking the two components in this way, Irish law encourages companies to conduct R&D directly within the EU – leading to the creation of intellectual property – while discouraging them from acquiring licenses without directly committing to R&D.
BELGIUM Belgium has introduced a tax system that favors those with income from acquired copyrights. This tax regime can have many different applications and can be used to protect artworks as well as a useful tax break for IT developers. Income from IP rights royalties is taxed at 15%. This income is not taken into account when calculating social security contributions. In addition, these taxes are reduced by 50% for imports due to the application of standard import costs. The first €15,000 that a copyright owner earns in a year is therefore taxed at 7.5%, and the next €15,000 at 11.25%. This tax system applies to people with a total annual income of up to 56,450 euros.
LUXEMBOURG In general, corporate tax in Luxembourg is 29.22%, but for IP licensing income it can be as low as 5.8%. This is due to an 80% corporate income tax exemption. Interestingly, this exemption also applies to companies that have registered a patent for use in connection with their own business, which then calculate a notional net income as if they had received the licensing income.
ITALY Italy is a larger market compared to the other countries discussed and can be a very attractive place for a company to invest in R&D since 2015 companies have been able to deduct intellectual property income from their taxable income base. The tax deduction was set at 30% in 2015, 40% in 2016 and 50% from 2017. Businesses will therefore enjoy a significant tax rebate by reducing their taxable income.
THE NETHERLANDS Since 2010, IP income has been taxed at only 5% in the Netherlands. Except for patents, there is no income limit. Patent holders can actually have access to this tax regime if their share of the expected revenue is between 30% and 70%, taking into account the total combined revenue from patents and other sources. These rates also apply to foreign companies owning intangible assets or companies that have received research and development accreditation from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs if they are owners of software IP or trade secrets. The only other caveat to this favorable tax regime is that it doesn't apply to marketing and branding-related assets.
Major industries in the country are jute, cotton, garments, paper, leather, fertilizer, iron and steel, cement, petroleum products, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, tea, salt, sugar, edible oils, soap and detergent, fabricated metal products, electricity, natural gas. The Industrial Production growth rate of Bangladesh is 8.4%.4.6% of population in the country are unemployed. The total number of unemployed people in Bangladesh is 7,652,935. Bangladesh produces 42,410 GW/h of electricity each year. Bangladesh emits 0.4 metric tons per capita of CO₂. On average, you would pay 1.3 USD for one liter of gasoline in Bangladesh. One liter of diesel would cost 0.84 USD.
As each individual result is based on the background and experience that created it, it may be helpful to take a quick look at already established startup companies in that geographic area before starting to explore the most popular and effective jurisdictions for incorporation in to describe Asia.
Asia is leading the growth in technology investment, defying the dismal numbers for other parts of the world with economic powerhouses in China and India. The most popular business areas or business trends in this region today are: E-Commerce, Marketplaces, Financial Technologies, Transportation, Biotechnologies, Computing Technologies, Internet Infrastructure and Enterprise Business Solutions Area. These sectors accounted for about 30% of VC investments a few years ago.
Market leader in Asia Each of these areas has its leader in terms of business performance and funding. For example, e-commerce site Lazada was valued at $1.3 billion with total funding of $686 million. Ride-hailing cab application Grab has received $680 million in funding. There are other Asian startups that have really great potential: Zalora (e-commerce sector, fashion industry); PropertyGuru (real estate business); Elevenia (e-commerce area, marketplaces and platforms); M-DAQ (fintech area); Tokopedia (e-commerce section, consumer-to-consumer marketplace); Qoo10 (e-commerce section, business-to-consumer marketplace); Capillary Technologies (cloud-based customer loyalty platform for retailers); Aslan Pharmaceuticals (biotech company); IcarsClub (peer to peer car rental platform) and other companies. Most of these startups are formed in Southeast Asia in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, India, China, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia. These can be considered as the top 6 jurisdictions for company formation in Asia.
Singapore This country has one of the best startup ecosystems in Asia Pacific. Today, around three and a half startups are active there. It is a well-known business center that is home to the headquarters of Uber, Facebook and Google. Therefore, the main areas of development include e-commerce, social media and gaming. It is a perfect place for e-commerce development as 9/10 of its citizens have access to a smartphone. Only half of Singapore's potential startup clients live abroad.
China Beijing is one of the best startup cities in Asia along with Hong Kong, which is seeing global growth in startups across various industries such as fintech, hardware, and e-commerce. The second has about 2,000 small and large startups. China also has a tax break program for startups. Annual tax deductions are around $1,500 million. They are usually awarded to companies set up by previously unemployed workers and university graduates. Currently, the country operates about 1,500 business incubators created by the Ministry of Science and Technology. It is conducted as part of the 27-year Torch program, which provides policy, consulting and financial services to high-tech companies.
India India has about 5,000 operational startups established in cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and others. New projects are actively funded, consolidated, growing financially and evolving in the technical sense. India is making a revolution in this business field that is fundamentally changing the way markets work today. There are some estimates by the Internet and Mobile Association of India showing that India has 500 million internet users worldwide in 2017. This place also has a lot of high-calibre talent, a larger number of investors willing to invest in potentially successful projects, rather affordable real estate prices, support from experienced professionals, and a supportive government.
Malaysia The country has had special programs for startups since 2013, which support them and help entrepreneurs by equipping them with skills, networks and the necessary knowledge. These programs are the largest startup accelerators in this region. It is also perfect for developing and nurturing foreign talent. Hence, Malaysia has a really supportive government. Incidentally, the cost of living in Malaysia is significantly cheaper than in Singapore. Another advantage is that the country has a good test market, which is slightly larger than the Singapore market.
Indonesia This jurisprudence is more cooperative compared to other countries. There is also a large flow of investors in the country entering the market. For example, Jakarta gathers investors around the world focused on e-commerce, travel and lifestyle.
With the right documentation and initial expenses, it is possible for a foreign citizen to open a bank account in Norway. This international account and investment opportunity offers several advantages based on economic regulations and tax structures. Interest rates, tax laws and fees vary depending on the country in which you invest; Careful research and strategic financial actions could result in significant portfolio growth.
If you are considering opening a bank account in Norway, you need to enlist the help of international experts to guide you through the process.
Legal structures in Norway Each international jurisdiction adheres to different legal structures for taxation and banking. Confidus Solutions helps you understand the nuances of each country's legal structure. In order to do business in Norway, it is crucial that you have a thorough understanding of the financial and legal implications.
Initial investments The vast majority of bank accounts in Norway require an initial financial outlay to secure the account opening. This value differs from bank to bank and also depends on variable exchange rates. An international financial expert will help navigate these conversions, as well as the various fees and minimums associated with maintaining a bank account. Make sure you understand the interest and growth rates associated with each prospective international bank account so you can maximize your returns while minimizing risk.
Tax structures in Norway To get the best results and avoid bureaucratic and legal pitfalls, enlist the support of an expert in international finance and economics. This initial investment in proper processes and research will help avoid a litany of long-term costs and fees related to unforeseen errors and legal errors. Language skills, financial know-how and bureaucratic experience ensure that your account opening is processed smoothly and without unintended consequences.