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Top 5 Countries For Nigerians, Other Foreigners Looking To Start A Business Abroad

Published

8 months ago

February 21, 2025

Starting a business in foreign countries can be a game-changer, but choosing the right destination is crucial.

This guide highlights the best countries for international entrepreneurs based on business-friendly policies, low taxes, and market access.

Top Countries for Foreign Entrepreneurs

1. Singapore

Singapore is one of the top choices for international entrepreneurs due to its strategic location, strong economy, and business-friendly environment. The country offers a stable political climate, world-class infrastructure, and a highly skilled workforce, making it an attractive destination for startups and multinational companies alike.

One of Singapore’s biggest advantages is its low corporate tax rate of 17%, with multiple exemptions for startups, including the Start-Up Tax Exemption (SUTE) scheme. In addition to its favorable tax policies, Singapore provides a highly efficient business registration process, allowing companies to be incorporated within a day.

Singapore also boasts extensive trade agreements, making it easier for businesses to access global markets. These agreements simplify import/export processes and reduce trade barriers, helping businesses scale faster. The government further supports innovation through grants and incentives, making it an ideal location for startups and tech firms.

2. Hong Kong

Hong Kong is another top destination for entrepreneurs due to its strategic location and business-friendly regulations. As a major financial hub, Hong Kong offers a low and simple tax system, with a corporate tax rate capped at 16.5%. There is no VAT, capital gains tax, or withholding tax, making it highly attractive for business owners looking to maximize profits.

Hong Kong’s proximity to Mainland China provides businesses with direct access to one of the largest consumer markets in the world. The city also has a transparent and well-established legal system based on British common law, offering strong protections for businesses and intellectual property.

Setting up a business in Hong Kong is a seamless process, with minimal bureaucracy and a fast incorporation process. Entrepreneurs can establish a company within days, and there are numerous government initiatives supporting business growth, particularly in finance, technology, and trade.

3. United Kingdom

The UK is an excellent choice for foreign entrepreneurs due to its strong economy, well-developed infrastructure, and business-friendly policies. It has one of the most competitive corporate tax rates among G20 countries, making it attractive for startups and established businesses alike.

The UK is committed to fostering innovation and research, offering numerous incentives for businesses in technology, healthcare, and finance. The government provides tax relief for R&D investments, and various startup accelerators and funding programs are available to help businesses grow.

Another key advantage of doing business in the UK is its skilled workforce. The country has introduced new visa routes, such as the High Potential Individual and Scale-up visas, to attract global talent. Operating in an English-speaking environment simplifies communication and global expansion, making it more attractive to a wider foreign audience.

4. New Zealand

New Zealand consistently ranks high in the Ease of Doing Business Index, thanks to its straightforward company registration process, stable economy, and supportive business environment. Foreign entrepreneurs can set up a business in as little as a day, with minimal regulatory hurdles.

The country offers a high quality of life, government-funded universal healthcare, and a favorable work-life balance, making it an attractive location for business owners and their families. Additionally, New Zealand provides access to key markets in the Asia-Pacific region, allowing businesses to expand easily.

Government support for businesses is strong, with initiatives aimed at helping startups succeed. New Zealand also has a strong focus on sustainability, making it an excellent choice for entrepreneurs in green technology, agriculture, and renewable energy industries.

5. United Arab Emirates

The UAE is a major business hub with numerous advantages for entrepreneurs. One of the biggest attractions is its zero corporate tax policy in many free zones, allowing business owners to retain more of their profits.

Located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, the UAE offers unparalleled strategic access to international markets. Dubai and Abu Dhabi serve as global trade centers, making them ideal locations for logistics, finance, and technology companies.

Setting up a business in the UAE is quick and efficient, with various free zones providing incentives such as full foreign ownership, repatriation of profits, and streamlined visa processes. The country’s world-class infrastructure and business-friendly laws further enhance its appeal.

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US Revokes Visas Of Foreigners Who Mocked Kirk’s Assassination

Published

1 day ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

The United States has revoked the visas of several foreign nationals who publicly mocked or celebrated the killing of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The State Department said the decision followed an internal review of social media posts deemed “offensive and contrary to U.S. values,” adding that the country “has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans.”

Kirk, 31, co-founder of the conservative youth group Turning Point USA and a strong ally of former President Donald Trump, was shot dead during a political rally on 10 September.

His killing drew widespread condemnation across the political spectrum, with many describing the act as a targeted attack on free speech.

According to U.S. authorities, at least six individuals from Argentina, South Africa, Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico, and Germany had their visas revoked after making comments online that celebrated Kirk’s murder or insulted his supporters.

Examples cited by officials included posts calling Kirk a racist who deserved it, and messages mocking grieving Americans.

“We will not tolerate foreigners who promote or celebrate acts of violence against U.S. citizens,” a State Department spokesperson said.

The move underscores Washington’s growing use of immigration powers to respond to online behaviour perceived as threatening or disrespectful towards the country.

The Department said it continues to monitor social media content for evidence of incitement or endorsement of violence.
Civil liberties advocates, however, have questioned the decision, arguing that revoking visas for social media comments could set a worrying precedent.

Officials maintained that the visa cancellations were lawful, limited in scope, and aimed at protecting national integrity.

“Freedom of speech does not extend to foreigners seeking the privilege of entry while glorifying violence,” the spokesperson added.

The United States has increased visa scrutiny in recent years, requiring applicants to disclose social media handles and online activity.

The policy, officials say, is designed to prevent extremist sympathisers or those expressing hostility towards the country from entering its borders

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Israeli PM Netanyahu Back In Court For Graft Trial

Published

1 day ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was back in a Tel Aviv court on Wednesday for the latest hearing in his long-running corruption trial, which opened in May 2020.

The prime minister kept a smiling face as he and his entourage of several ministers from his conservative Likud party were heckled by protesters en route to the tribunal.

It comes after US President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that the Israeli premier should be pardoned in his three separate corruption cases.

His latest appearance at the Tel Aviv court also follows the return of the hostages taken by Hamas as part of Trump’s US-brokered plan to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

In one case, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods, including champagne, cigars and jewellery, from billionaires in exchange for political favours.

In two other instances, Netanyahu is also charged with attempting to negotiate better press coverage from two Israeli media outlets. He has denied any wrongdoing, claiming to be the victim of a political plot.

During his current term, which started in late 2022, Netanyahu has proposed far-reaching judicial reforms that critics say sought to weaken the courts.

Those prompted massive protests that only abated after the onset of the Gaza war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

In an address on Monday to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, Trump told the chamber that Netanyahu should receive a pardon in the graft cases.

“Cigars and champagne, who the hell cares about that?” Trump joked, before asking his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog: “Why don’t you give him a pardon?”

The Israeli premier is also subject to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on suspicion of ordering war crimes in his government’s assault on Hamas militants in Gaza.

Netanyahu holds the record for the most years spent at the head of Israel’s government, having served 18 years in several stints as premier since 1996.

AFP

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FULL LIST: US Set To Carry Out Four Executions This Week

Published

1 day ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

A Florida man convicted of murdering two women he hired for sex was put to death by lethal injection on Tuesday, one of four executions to be carried out in the United States this week.

Samuel Smithers, 72, was sentenced to death in 1999 for the 1996 killings of Christy Cowan and Denise Roach in Tampa. They had been beaten and strangled and their bodies were found in a pond.

Smithers was executed at a Florida state prison at 6:15 pm (2215 GMT), the 14th execution in the southern state this year.

Another convicted murderer was also put to death by lethal injection in the midwestern state of Missouri on Tuesday.

The execution of Lance Shockley, 48, was carried out at 6:13 pm (2313 GMT) for the 2005 murder of a police sergeant, Carl Graham.

Graham was gunned down in an ambush at his home. The officer had been investigating a fatal car accident involving Shockley at the time.

Shockley maintained his innocence but his appeals were rejected by numerous courts, including the Supreme Court. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe rejected his clemency request on Monday.

Two other executions are scheduled this week.

Charles Crawford, 59, is to be put to death by lethal injection in Mississippi on Wednesday for the 1994 rape and murder of Kristy Ray, a 20-year-old college student.

Richard Djerf, 55, is to be executed by lethal injection in Arizona on Friday for the brutal 1993 murders of four members of a Phoenix family.

In a letter last month apologizing for the crime, Djerf said he was ready to die and would not seek clemency.

“If I can’t find reason to spare my life, what reason would anyone else have?” he wrote.

There have been 37 executions in the United States this year, the most since 2013, when 39 inmates were put to death.

Florida has carried out the most executions with 14, followed by Texas with five and South Carolina and Alabama with four.

Thirty-one of this year’s executions have been carried out by lethal injection, two by firing squad and four by nitrogen hypoxia, which involves pumping nitrogen gas into a face mask, causing the prisoner to suffocate.

The use of nitrogen gas as a method of capital punishment has been denounced by United Nations experts as cruel and inhumane.

The death penalty has been abolished in 23 of the 50 US states, while three others — California, Oregon and Pennsylvania — have moratoriums in place.

President Donald Trump is a proponent of capital punishment and, on his first day in office, called for an expansion of its use “for the vilest crimes.”