The annual International Business Report released by Grant Thornton International, a British consulting and accounting firm, says that 87 percent of business leaders in Vietnam have expressed positive views over the forthcoming year.

The survey, based on subtracting the number of pessimistic executives from the number of positive ones, finds India and the Philippines on top with 95 percent being optimistic.

It attributes the Vietnamese optimism to the robust economic growth in recent years and wide-spread expectations that the momentum will be sustained in 2008.

Vietnam’s business leaders are also optimistic about turnover, profit growth and employment levels, scoring respectively 98 percent, 97 percent, and 87 percent.

“When asked why they feel optimistic about the opportunities in Vietnam for 2008, the largest majority cited general economic conditions as their primary reason, but only slightly ahead of the political situation,” the report says.

Vietnam’s business leaders have the highest confidence in their political situation in the region, with 49 percent being optimistic. In Singapore it is 33 percent while in Thailand it is at a lowly 25 percent.

The International Business survey now in its seventh year globally, was conducted in Vietnam for the first time.