2010年-世界发展银行全球_Business_Environment_in_Belarus_2010___Survey_of_Small_and_Medium-Sized_Businesses_82页_1mb

Business Environment in Belarus 2010: Summary

Core Content

This report presents an analytical survey of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and individual entrepreneurs (IEs) in Belarus, conducted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as part of the 'Business Enabling Environment in Belarus' activity supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The report assesses the quality of the business environment and provides recommendations for improvement based on survey data and business practices.

Main Points

Survey Overview

• The survey was conducted in 2009 and compared with data from 2006.
• It involved 516 SMEs and 116 IEs.
• The survey focused on three main groups of administrative procedures: licensing, permits, and inspections.
• Data collection involved face-to-face interviews with enterprise heads, deputies, and other relevant employees.

Administrative Procedures

Licensing

• Licensing requirements cover 91% of SMEs, 77% of small enterprises, and 74% of IEs.
• The number of licensed activities increased from 72.1% in 2005 to 77.8% in 2008.
• Average time to secure a license increased from 36 to 49 working days for SMEs.
• 46% of SMEs and 44% of IEs cited ambiguity and inconsistency of requirements as the most frequent problem.
• 81% of IEs' licensing obligations are related to retail trade.
• IFC recommends:
  • Adopting a unified regulatory act for licensing.
  • Creating a single e-registry.
  • Reducing the number of licensed activities.
  • Simplifying the list of required documents.
  • Reducing the number of licensing conditions.
  • Issuing licenses for indefinite terms.
  • Only revoking licenses on the basis of court decisions.

Permits

• Permits were required for 40% of SMEs and 40% of IEs in 2008.
• On average, SMEs obtained 5 permits, while IEs obtained 3.5 permits.
• SMEs spent 24 working days, and IEs spent 28 working days to secure one permit.
• 62% of SMEs and 47% of IEs cited complicated technical standards and incomplete requirement lists as key issues.
• A working group on administrative procedure simplification was active from 2007 to 2009.
• IFC recommends:
  • Creating a comprehensive register of all administrative procedures.
  • Establishing rigid procedures for introducing new administrative procedures.
  • Implementing Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA).
  • Ensuring transparent access to legal requirements.
  • Establishing a regulatory framework for fees.

Inspections

• 62% of SMEs and 53% of IEs were inspected at least once in 2008.
• 3.3 scheduled inspections and 1.8 unscheduled inspections were conducted on average for SMEs.
• 2.5 scheduled inspections and 1.8 unscheduled inspections for IEs.
• Average inspection time was 15 hours for SMEs and 5 hours for IEs.
• Complaints about lengthy inspections decreased from 2005, but issues like lack of clear procedures, excessive authority, and inspector prejudice remain.
• 72% of SMEs and 69% of IEs view inspections as punitive rather than preventative.
• Decree No. 510 of 2009 aims to improve inspection practices.
• IFC recommends:
  • Implementing a risk management system.
  • Further revising inspection legislation.
  • Developing checklists with inspection authorities.
  • Reducing fines.
  • Strengthening the advisory component of inspection authorities.

Key Information

• SMEs and IEs are central to Belarus' economy and contribute significantly to GDP and employment.
• Despite some improvements, administrative procedures remain a major obstacle.
• Legislative changes in 2009, such as inspections reform, are analyzed in the report.
• IFC and SIDA collaborated on this study, with IFC providing the bulk of the analysis.
• The report highlights the need for further reforms to improve the business environment, especially for SMEs and IEs.

Recommendations

• Adopt a unified regulatory act for licensing.
• Implement a risk-based inspection approach.
• Create a comprehensive register of all administrative procedures.
• Use Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) for continuous improvement.
• Ensure transparent access to legal requirements and procedures.
• Reduce administrative burdens and fines.
• Strengthen advisory and preventive aspects of inspections.

Economic Contribution of SMEs

• SMEs contribute 50% to 75% of value added in various sectors.
• In the EU-27, SMEs account for 82.8% of value added in the construction sector.
• In Belarus, small enterprises generate 8.4% of GDP, compared to 12.3% and 20.7% in the EU.
• GDP contribution from small businesses increased from 6.7% in 2000 to 9.3% in 2008.
• Employment in small businesses increased from 6.8% to 9.3% in the same period.

Conclusion

The report emphasizes that while some improvements have been made, administrative procedures continue to be a significant barrier to the growth of SMEs and IEs in Belarus. It calls for further simplifications, legal clarity, and international best practices to enhance the business environment and support long-term competitiveness.