EMERGING MARKET FUNDS

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Hey. I'm TRYING to find a negative article. Really!

Seizing opportunities in emerging markets: Investment outlook

Following is the investment outlook for emerging markets in 2007:

China continues to be the emerging market of greatest interest to executives. In fact, over the next five years, more than two-thirds of executives expect their company to locate or expand in China. Approximately 80 percent are likely to locate or expand both production and sales/distribution operations, while 44 percent are likely to locate or expand R&D operations in China over this period.
While China may have the limelight, the other emerging markets in Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America and India are also expected to attract future investments. Over the next five years, in the case of each market, roughly half of executives surveyed expect their companies to locate or expand in these markets.
For Eastern Europe, 81 percent plan to locate or expand sales/distribution operations and 43 percent will locate or expand production operations.
A similar trend is expected for Southeast Asia with 72 percent of companies planning to locate or expand sales/distribution operations and 46 percent investing in production.
In addition to a high percentage of companies expected to invest or expand sales and distribution in Latin American markets, 49 percent are likely to locate or expand production operations.
A third of executives surveyed expect their companies to invest in research and development in India.
Increasing revenues and market share are cited as the most important reason for investing in emerging markets (mentioned by 84 percent of executives surveyed). Other reasons indicated by executives include reducing costs (77 percent), using low-cost suppliers (69 percent) and achieving faster time to market (61 percent).