India beat China in trust factor in business: survey

Amid rising hopes of global economic turnaround Indians have emerged as an optimistic lot than their Chinese counterparts when it comes to trust in business.

The survey conducted in six countries including the US and France, for public relations firm Edelman found out that India and China are the most positive states in business.

"At 75 per cent, India recorded the highest level of trust in business while China followed with 60 per cent saying they trust business to do what is right," the report said.

The survey was conducted by research firm Strategy One and sampled 1,675 informed publics in two age groups (25-34 years and 35-64 years) in India, China, US, UK, France and Germany.

The 2009 Midyear Edelman Trust Barometer has found that nearly one-half of the informed publics (48 per cent) in the US trust business to do what is right while 41 per cent of those surveyed in France share the same thought.

According to the survey in India and China banks are the most trusted industry.

"Our mid-year results reinforce the optimism evident in the Indian market," Edelman India Managing Director Robert Holdheim said.

According to the survey, nearly 7 out of the 10 informed publics in India and China rate the reputation of large multinational corporations as good or excellent.

In China and India, 96 per cent and 81 per cent of the informed publics say their country is headed in the right direction.

"They reflect a general perception that the economic situation is much better in India than in many other countries, and that it will continue to improve more rapidly than elsewhere.

"High levels of trust for both government and business (and the banking sector specifically) are the reward for avoiding the problems faced by so many others," Holdheim added.