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Indian, Chinese firms top "bribe payers' index"

Hasan Surooor

LONDON: India and China top a list of 30 countries whose firms are most willing to pay bribes to do business abroad, according to a survey by Transparency International (TI), an anti-corruption group.

They are followed by Russia, Turkey and Taiwan — in that order. Britain is the sixth on the "Bribe Payers' Index," while the U.S. shares the ninth place with Belgium. French and Italian firms are among the "worst culprits" for paying bribes in low-income countries to gain business opportunities, the survey said. TI said its index was based on responses from more than 11,000 business people in 125 countries.

"The enforcement record on international anti-bribery laws makes for short and disheartening reading," said TI chief executive David Nussbaum. The countries whose firms were least prepared to pay bribes included Switzerland, Sweden, Australia, Austria, and Canada. TI said it focussed on firms from the 30 biggest exporting nations, which among them accounted for more than 80 per cent of all world exports.

"It is hypocritical that OECD-based companies continue to bribe across the globe, while their governments pay lip-service to enforcing the law," Mr. Nussbaum said.

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Indian, Chinese firms top "bribe payers' index"

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