Minsk, Belarus, June 12, 2013—
A new survey from IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, shows that Belarus has made progress in simplifying administrative procedures for businesses, helping create jobs and helping the economy to grow.
The study, Business Environment in Belarus 2013, surveyed 1,266 senior managers and owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It concludes that regulatory changes enacted over the last three years have made the system of permits, inspections, and licensing more efficient and cheaper across the country and in diverse sectors.
“The survey demonstrates that Belarus has made a number of steps towards creating a simpler and more efficient system of business regulations,” said Rufat Alimardanov, IFC Regional Manager for Ukraine and Belarus. “It also highlights areas for further improvements in implementing these regulations and introducing bolder reforms to realize the potential of the private sector. We will continue our work to promote a competitive and fair business environment and support dialogue between government and business.”
The survey, conducted by the World Bank Group’s Regulatory Simplification and Investment Generation project in Belarus, found that the elimination of some permits has made it far easier for SMEs to comply with the permit system. Now only 18 percent of SMEs require a permit compared with 39 percent in 2009.
Licensing procedures have been eased, with nearly 56 percent of the companies polled in the survey reporting no serious difficulties in obtaining a license.
The number of companies inspected and frequency of inspections was also reduced. However, most businesses surveyed said the inspection system in Belarus remained a more punitive, rather than preventive, system.
The study established that the government needs to ensure equal market conditions for both private sector companies and state firms, guarantee consistency of legislation, and help achieve better access to finance for small and medium companies so that local entrepreneurs can benefit from the regulatory changes.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. We help developing countries achieve sustainable growth by financing investment, mobilizing capital in international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments. In FY12, our investments reached an all-time high of more than $20 billion, leveraging the power of the private sector to create jobs, spark innovation, and tackle the world’s most pressing development challenges. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
.
About the Investment Climate Advisory Services of the World Bank Group
Investment Climate Advisory Services of the World Bank Group helps governments implement reforms to improve their business environments and encourage and retain investment, thus fostering competitive markets, growth, and job creation. Funding is provided by the World Bank Group (IFC, MIGA, and the World Bank) and over 15 donor partners working through the multi-donor FIAS platform.
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