Geneva: India has slipped six places in a list of the world's most competitive nations, with the World Economic Forum today ranking the country at 48th position in its Global Competitiveness Index 2007.

In comparison, China, already more competitive than India, has moved up one position to become the world's 34th most competitive nation on the annual list, which is led by the US for fourth year in a row. However, WEF has ranked India ahead of China on an accompanying list of Business Competitive Index , published for the first time. India has been placed at 31st rank, as against 57th for China on this list.

The US has been followed by Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and Germany at the top of the Global Competitiveness list. Other countries in the top-ten are Finland (6th), Singapore (7th), Japan (8th), the UK (9th) and the Netherlands (10th). "China and India continue to lead the way among large developing economies," WEF said in a statement issued here.

Among individual categories, India has been ranked at 3rd position for market size, 26th for innovation and business sophistication factors, 31st for efficiency enhancers and 74th for basic requirements. It is 48th for institutions, 67th for infrastructure, 108th for macroeconomic stability, 101st for health and primary education, 55th for higher education and training, 36th for goods market efficiency, 96th for labour market efficiency, 37th for financial market sophistication and 62nd for technological readiness.

The GCI list includes 131 countries, while the BCI list has 127 nations. The BCI list is based on more detailed examination of the microeconomic aspects of competitiveness.

Source : PTI