2009年-世界发展银行全球_2009_Bhutan_Enterprise_Survey___Country_Highlights_2页_843kb

Bhutanese Private Sector Survey Summary

Core Content

The World Bank conducted an Enterprise Survey from April to June 2009, interviewing a representative sample of 250 business establishments in four of Bhutan's most active economic regions. The survey aimed to evaluate the business environment and firm performance across various indicators, including growth, corruption, access to finance, and workforce training.

Main Highlights

Strong Growth Performance

Despite Bhutan's small economy, the private sector reported robust annual sales and employment growth. When compared to global and lower middle income group averages, Bhutanese firms exhibited more than twice the growth rate in both sales and employment. This suggests a dynamic and expanding private sector, even in a small economy.

Low Levels of Corruption

Bhutanese firms reported extremely low levels of corruption, outperforming most countries in this regard. Only 6% of firms experienced at least one bribe request across six business environment transactions, compared to 17% for all countries. Furthermore, the "Bribery depth" was 4%, which is less than one-third of the global and lower middle income group average. This indicates a relatively transparent and clean business environment.

Underperformance in Foreign Trade

Despite strong growth and low corruption, Bhutanese firms lagged behind in international trade. Less than 9% of firms exported 1% or more of their total annual sales. In contrast, 13% of firms in lower middle income economies and landlocked developing economies (LDCs) were exporters. This highlights the limited role of foreign trade in Bhutan's economy, likely due to the small size of its domestic market.

Access to Finance as a Major Obstacle

Among 15 areas of the business environment, access to finance was the most significant obstacle for Bhutanese firms, followed by tax rates, poorly educated workers, and labor regulations. Only 28% of firms indicated that they did not need a loan, compared to 39% in similar-income countries. Additionally, Bhutanese firms faced extremely high collateral requirements when seeking loans, as evidenced by the high ratio of collateral to loan amount.

Limited Formal Training for Staff

Firms in Bhutan reported fewer instances of formal training programs for their permanent staff compared to peer countries. Only 23% of firms offered formal training, while 35% or more did so in similar-income and LDC countries. This gap was more pronounced in small and medium-sized firms, which reported lower levels of skills training programs than their larger counterparts.

Key Information

• Survey Scope: 250 business establishments in four economic regions of Bhutan.
• Timeframe: April 2009 through June 2009.
• Key Indicators:
  • Annual Sales and Employment Growth: Strong, exceeding global and lower middle income averages.
  • Corruption Levels: Very low, with 6% of firms experiencing bribe requests.
  • Foreign Trade: Limited, with <9% of firms exporting ≥1% of their sales.
  • Access to Finance: A major challenge, with high collateral requirements.
  • Workforce Training: Insufficient, especially among small and medium-sized firms.

Conclusion

The survey underscores the strengths of Bhutan's private sector, particularly its high growth rates and low corruption levels, while also identifying critical areas for improvement. These include enhancing access to finance, promoting foreign trade, and increasing formal training for employees. The findings can guide policymakers in implementing reforms that foster a more supportive and competitive business environment.