The Republic remains the 11th most competitive economy of the 47 states surveyed in this year's World Competitiveness Yearbook.

The USA was the most competitive state in the survey carried out by IMD, the independent non-profit organisation located in Switzerland. The survey is compiled using national economic and social statistics and also from the results of a survey completed by more than 4,000 executives in top and middle management positions in states which are regarded as "key players in the world economy". IMD speculates that the Republic may become the eight most competitive economy in next year's survey. As recently as 1995, the economy here was ranked 22nd for competitiveness.

IMD ranks the Republic as the seventh most attractive location for manufacturing, 12th for research and development and 13th for services and management. In terms of the economy's weaknesses, the survey says the balance of commercial services, as a percentage of the overall economy, is the Republic's weakest area. After that comes the Republic's rate of female participation in the workplace and productivity in industry.

On infrastructure the State is ranked 24, with its technological infrastructure ranked at 22.