Mumbai: A new study by global business risk consultancy Control Risks has placed India as the most secure location for business in South Asia. While the survey shows about 49 per cent of the countries worldwide do not provide a stable environment for trade, the risks - both political and security - in India remain low, says the report RiskMap 2007.

"Indian multinationals are directing a great deal of attention to these issues as they expand their operations into volatile markets such as Latin America and Africa," Jake Stratton, India representative of Control Risks, said.

The RiskMap 2007 report said 96 out of 198 countries surveyed (49 per cent) have been ranked as being medium, high or extreme for political risk - indicating businesses in these countries may face disruption or the state may be hostile to foreign business.

In terms of security risks for businesses worldwide, 78 out of the 198 countries surveyed (40 per cent) have been ranked as being medium, high or extreme for security risk - which means that there is a reasonable possibility of security problems affecting companies and business of any sort may be completely untenable.

The general direction of India''s economic policy would remain positive, although coalition politics could compromise the government''s ability to deliver some of the liberalisation measures demanded by investors, it said.