Tanzania has ranked 13th among the world's 25 countries that play host to mining investors from foreign countries, according to an assessment report available on Monday.

The assessment report for 2005 compiled by the United States- based Behre Dolbear & Company, Inc. showed that Tanzania had scored 32 points out of a possible total of 70 for the ranking.

Tanzania has scored high in the category of "least permitting delays." It scores seven points out of a maximum of 10. Yet the country has scored low in the category of "corruption", getting just three points out of 10.

The ranking is also based on categories of political system, economic system, social issues, currency and tax regime.

Of the 25 mining operation hosting countries, Australia has scored 59 points to top the rank whereas Zimbabwe is last with only nine points.

These ranked countries include Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Greece, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania, United States, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Source: Xinhua