2015年-世界发展银行全球_Enterprise_Surveys___Timor-Leste_Country_Profile_2015_12页_521kb

Timor-Leste 2015 Enterprise Survey Summary

Core Content Overview

The Timor-Leste 2015 Enterprise Survey provides a comprehensive assessment of the business environment and firm performance in the country. It compares key indicators with those of the East Asia & Pacific region and other lower middle-income economies. The survey covers 126 firms in the non-agricultural, formal, private sector, including manufacturing and various service sectors, excluding public utilities, government services, health care, and financial services.

Main Topics Covered

• Firm Characteristics
• Workforce
• Firm Performance
• Physical Infrastructure
• International Trade
• Access to Finance
• Crime and Informality
• Regulations, Permits, and Taxes
• Corruption
• Business Environment Obstacles

Key Findings and Main Points

1. Firm Characteristics

• The average age of firms is 10.7 years.
• 64.4% of firms have female participation in ownership, with 82.8% of medium firms and 64.4% of the overall sample having female ownership.
• 27.0% of firms have a female top manager, with 57.8% of large firms and 21.4% of the overall sample having female top management.
• 31.1% of permanent full-time workers are female, with 36.8% of non-production workers being female.
• 33.5% of permanent full-time production workers are female.

2. Workforce

• 1.9% of firms offer formal training.
• The average number of years of experience for top managers in the firm's sector is 13.3.
• The number of permanent full-time workers is 22.4, with 5.0 temporary workers.

3. Firm Performance

• Real annual sales growth is 10.0%, with 9.9% for small firms and 9.4% for medium firms.
• Annual employment growth is 6.8%, with 6.9% for small firms and 6.5% for medium firms.

4. Physical Infrastructure

• 0.8 electrical outages per month are experienced by firms, with 3.6% of annual sales lost due to these outages.
• 9.5 days are required to obtain an electrical connection.
• 1.0 water insufficiencies per month are experienced, with 2.4% of annual sales lost due to theft and vandalism.

5. International Trade

• 39.5% of firms export directly or indirectly.
• 56.4% of firms use foreign material inputs or supplies.
• 6.3 days are required to clear direct exports through customs, while 8.5 days are needed for imports.

6. Access to Finance

• 83.7% of firms have a checking or savings account.
• 14.9% of firms have a bank loan or line of credit.
• 68.0% of investment is financed internally, with 2.8% from banks and 6.2% from supplier credit.

7. Crime and Informality

• 5.9% of annual sales are spent on security.
• 2.4% of annual sales are lost due to theft and vandalism.
• 56.8% of firms compete against unregistered or informal firms.
• 97.0% of firms are formally registered when they started operations.

8. Regulations, Permits, and Taxes

• 6.0% of senior management time is spent dealing with government regulations.
• 1.2 visits or meetings with tax officials are required annually.
• 22.5 days are needed to obtain an import license, 20.3 days for a construction-related permit, and 17.1 days for an operating license.

9. Corruption

• 44.2% of firms experience at least one bribe payment request.
• 81.4% of firms expect to give gifts to secure government contracts.
• 36.3% of firms expect to give gifts to obtain a construction permit.
• 17.1% of firms expect to give gifts during meetings with tax officials.

10. Business Environment Obstacles

• Access to finance is the most significant obstacle for 14.1% of firms.
• Access to land is a concern for 2.3% of firms.
• Business licenses and permits are a challenge for 6.1% of firms.
• Corruption is a key issue for 21.0% of firms.
• Courts are a concern for 3.4% of firms.
• Crime, theft, and disorder are an issue for 5.6% of firms.
• Customs and trade regulations are a challenge for 2.3% of firms.
• Electricity is an obstacle for 2.6% of firms.

Conclusion

The survey highlights that while Timor-Leste's private sector is growing, it faces several challenges related to infrastructure, access to finance, corruption, and informal competition. These obstacles affect firm operations, profitability, and competitiveness. Improving the business environment through better regulation, infrastructure, and reducing corruption is essential for fostering a more dynamic and inclusive private sector.