2008年-世界发展银行全球_Kyrgyz_Republic___Benefits_of_Securing_and_Registering_Land_for_Development_4页_733kb

Kyrgyz Republic: Benefits of Securing and Registering Land for Development

Core Content

The Kyrgyz Republic initiated a land and real estate registration project following independence in 1991, aiming to promote market reforms by privatizing land and securing property rights. Prior to independence, all land was state-owned, with use rights granted to occupants. The project focused on creating a legal and institutional framework for property registration, ensuring a stable environment for investment and efficient land markets.

Main Components of the Project

• Establishment of Gosregister: In 1999, the State Agency for Registration of Rights (Gosregister) was created, drawing from existing institutions like the Soviet-era Bureaus of Technical Inventory and the Land Agency. It provided an efficient, paper-based registration system initially, with plans for automation.
• Self-Financing Model: The project was self-funded, with a national fee schedule and LROs retaining most of the revenue. Only 10% was sent to the center for redistribution.
• Systematic Registration: The program aimed to register three-quarters of the country's properties, with a focus first on urban areas where data was more available, then on rural areas where land was divided into individual plots.

Key Benefits and Impacts

• Increased Property Security: The project provided legal security to property owners, including private farmers, SMEs, and urban residents, leading to a significant increase in property transactions.
• Mortgage Market Development: The registration system enabled the initiation of mortgage lending, with cumulative registered mortgages reaching US$1.6 billion during the project's implementation.
• Reduced Transaction Costs: Transaction costs dropped from 7% to less than 2% for large estates and less than 1% for houses and apartments, significantly improving market efficiency.
• Tax Revenue Growth: Despite lower tax rates, tax revenues increased due to rising property values and transaction volumes.

Client Perceptions

• Support for Security of Tenure: A mid-term social assessment showed broad support for the project's role in securing property rights.
• Service Quality: Clients generally rated registration services as 'average', but acknowledged the system's value in improving access to credit.
• Need for Improvement: There is a clear demand for better public information, staff training, and greater accountability to reduce errors and corruption.

Lessons Learned

• Single Agency Advantage: A unified agency for registration and cadastre management improved efficiency and reduced costs compared to dual-agency models.
• Pragmatic Surveys: Using administrative rather than judicial procedures for land surveys increased coverage and registration rates, though it also led to more disputes.
• Focus on Substance Over Technology: Legal and institutional groundwork was crucial for the project's success, with technology serving as a support tool rather than a solution.
• Ongoing Staff Training and Public Engagement: Continuous training, information dissemination, and anti-corruption measures are essential for long-term effectiveness.
• Government Commitment: Strong and continuous government support, particularly in leadership and oversight, was the most critical success factor.

Challenges and Considerations

• Lease Market Impact: Minimal growth in lease registrations suggests limited demand for state-backed lease rights.
• Corruption: Assessments of corruption remain inconclusive, with some clients reporting it as a facilitator rather than a direct barrier.
• Automation Progress: By 2008, about half of the LROs were automated, driven by demand in major cities like Bishkek and Osh.

Conclusion

The Kyrgyz Republic's land and real estate registration project has significantly enhanced property rights security, facilitated investment, and improved market transparency. The combination of legal reform, pragmatic field methods, and a self-financing model has contributed to its success, with ongoing government support and institutional development remaining vital for sustainability.