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Zambian Private Sector Survey Summary (2012-2014)

Core Content

The World Bank conducted an Enterprise Survey between December 2012 and February 2014, interviewing 720 private sector establishments in Zambia. The survey provides insights into the business environment, firm performance, and key challenges faced by firms in the country. The findings are used to inform policy reforms and improve private sector development.

Main Highlights

1. Decline in Sales and Employment Growth

• Annual sales growth slowed over time, decreasing from 20% (2005–2007) to 11% (2010–2012).
• Despite this decline, Zambian firms still achieved a higher sales growth rate than the global average of 8%.
• Employment growth also declined, from 6% (2005–2007) to 2% (2010–2012), significantly lower than the global average of 6%.

2. Reduced Integration into the Global Economy

• The percentage of firms that export, directly or indirectly, decreased from 15% (2007) to 12% (2012).
• The proportion of sales exported directly fell from 4% (2007) to 2% (2012).
• The use of foreign inputs also declined, from 84% (2007) to 49% (2012).
• Despite these declines, Zambia's performance in global integration is comparable to other landlocked countries.

3. Lower Utilization of Financial Services

• Checking or saving accounts among firms dropped from 95% (2007) to 86% (2012).
• Bank financing usage decreased significantly, with only 9% of firms having a bank loan or line of credit in 2012, compared to 16% in 2007.
• Working capital financing via banks fell to 10% (2012) from 15% (2007).
• Investment financing via banks was reported by 12% of firms in 2012, down from 16% in 2007.
• These figures are well below the global average of 35% for bank financing and 31% for working capital financing.

4. Corruption Trends

• Bribery incidence in Zambia increased from 7% (2007) to 12% (2012), nearly doubling.
• In 2012, 16% of firms experienced at least one bribe payment or informal gift request across six transactions (utilities access, permits, licenses, and taxes), slightly below the global average of 17%.
• Corruption levels vary by location, with firms in Lusaka being three times more likely to face corruption than those in other parts of the country.

5. Female Inclusion in Economic Activity

• The proportion of women workers in the Zambian private sector increased from 15% (2007) to 38% (2012), surpassing the global average of 34%.
• Small and medium firms tend to employ more women in permanent full-time roles, with 41% and 34% respectively, compared to 15% in large firms.
• In non-production roles, large firms provide more opportunities for women, with 32% of permanent full-time non-production workers being female, compared to 19% in small and 28% in medium firms.

Key Challenges

• Access to finance is the most commonly reported obstacle, with 27% of firms identifying it as the biggest challenge in 2012, up from 14% in 2007.
• The second most important obstacle is practices of informal competitors, followed by electricity and access to land.

Conclusion

The survey highlights a decline in growth rates, reduced integration into the global economy, and lower access to financial services for Zambian firms. However, it also shows progress in female inclusion in economic activity. Corruption is a growing concern, particularly in urban areas like Lusaka. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers to design and implement reforms that support the private sector's development.

About the Survey

The Enterprise Survey is conducted by the World Bank Enterprise Analysis Unit, a joint team with the IFC. It focuses on the formal, non-agricultural, non-extractive private sector with five or more employees. The survey provides globally comparable firm-level data to measure business environments and firm performance.

For more information, visit: http://www-enterprisesurveys.org