LIMA, May 24 (BERNAMA-NNN-ANDINA) -- Peru has climbed ten places in the Global Enabling Trade Report 2012, released on Wednesday by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Peru moved up to 53rd place from 63rd in the previous report and ranks fifth among Latin American countries.

The biennial report, covering 132 economies worldwide, measures the abilities of economies to enable trade and highlights areas where improvements are most needed.

Singapore topped the index, followed by Hong Kong SAR, Denmark, Sweden, New Zealand, Finland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada and Luxembourg.

Among Latin American economies, the top-ranked countries include Chile (14), Uruguay (40), Costa Rica (43), Peru (53), Panama (60), Mexico (65), El Salvador (70), Guatemala (77), Honduras (78), Nicaragua (82), Ecuador (83), Brazil (84), Dominican Republic (87) and Colombia (89).

At the core of the report is the Enabling Trade Index, which measures institutions, policies and services facilitating the free flow of goods over borders and to destination.

It breaks the enablers into four issue areas: market access, border administration, transport and communications infrastructure, and business environment.

Peru, which will host the World Economic Forum on Latin America next year, stands out in the market access area, where it ranks fourth in the world.

-- BERNAMA-NNN-ANDINA