2015年-世界发展银行全球_2013_Namibia_Enterprise_Survey___Country_Highlights_2页_802kb

Namibia Private Sector Survey Summary (2014-2015)

Core Content

The World Bank conducted the Enterprise Survey (ES) in Namibia, interviewing a representative sample of 580 business establishments across three of the most active economic regions from April 2014 to February 2015. The survey aimed to assess the business environment and firm performance, providing insights for policy reforms to support private sector development.

Main Highlights

Employment Growth

• Annual employment growth in Namibia's private sector reached 9.6% between 2011 and 2013, outperforming the average for African countries (6.7%) and upper middle income economies (7.7%).
• Small firms (5–19 employees) showed the highest growth at 10.9% annually.
• Manufacturing firms grew at 12.2% annually, surpassing the 9.3% growth in services.

Female Participation in the Private Sector

• 27% of firms in Namibia were managed by women, higher than the African average (15%) and the average for similar income economies (17%).
• The percentage of female-managed firms was similar across firm sizes and sectors.
• In 2013, women led 28% of small firms, 24% of medium firms, and 22% of large firms.
• Female employment in the formal private sector reached 34%, up from 27% in 2006, and slightly higher than the African average of 28%.

Customs Clearance

• The average time to clear exports through customs increased from 2 days in 2006 to 8 days in 2013.
• Small firms faced the longest customs clearance time at 17 days, while medium firms averaged 6 days and large firms only 2 days.
• Import clearance in Namibia was faster than the African average (17 days) and upper middle income economies (11 days), taking 5 days on average.

Access to Finance

• 34% of firms in Namibia used banks to finance investments in 2013, up from 11% in 2006 and higher than the African average of 10%.
• Bank funding accounted for 26% of fixed asset purchases in 2013, compared to 16% in 2006.
• Collateral requirements decreased significantly, from 219% of loan amount in 2006 to 92% in 2013, lower than the African average of 181%.

Electricity Supply

• Average total time of power outages increased from 1.1 hours per month in 2006 to 3.1 hours in 2013.
• Despite this, the outage time remains low compared to global and regional averages.
• Losses due to power outages rose from 0.2% of total sales in 2006 to 1.2% in 2013.
• Generator ownership or sharing increased from 13% in 2006 to 18% in 2013, indicating a growing reliance on alternative power sources.

Major Obstacles to Private Sector Operations

• Access to finance was the most frequently cited obstacle in 2013, affecting 48% of firms, up from 12% in 2006.
• Access to land was the second most significant challenge, mentioned by 21% of firms.
• Corruption was cited by 10% of firms as a major obstacle.

Key Information

• Survey Scope: 580 firms across three economic regions, focusing on the formal, non-agricultural, non-extractive private sector with 5+ employees.
• Data Use: The findings are used to construct business environment indicators and measure firm performance.
• Policy Implications: The survey results help policy makers identify and implement reforms to support efficient private economic activity.
• Further Information: Visit http://www-enterprisesurveys.org for more details on the survey.

Conclusion

The Enterprise Survey provides valuable insights into the evolving challenges and opportunities facing Namibia's private sector. While employment growth and female participation have improved, access to finance and electricity supply remain critical issues. The survey underscores the importance of continued policy reforms to enhance business operations and support sustainable economic growth.