2012年-世界发展银行全球_Enterprise_Surveys___Uruguay_Country_Profile_2010_15页_978kb

Uruguay Country Profile 2010 Summary

Core Content Overview

The Uruguay Country Profile 2010 provides an in-depth analysis of the business environment and firm performance across various sectors, based on the Enterprise Surveys conducted by the World Bank and its partners. The report includes comparisons with regional averages and income group benchmarks, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by firms in Uruguay.

Main Topics Covered

• Business Environment Obstacles
• Average Firm Characteristics
• Infrastructure Efficiency
• Trade Dynamics
• Regulations, Taxes, and Business Licensing
• Corruption Levels
• Crime and Informality
• Finance and Investment
• Innovation and Workforce Composition

Key Findings and Highlights

Business Environment Obstacles

• The report highlights the main obstacles to doing business as perceived by firms.
• Firms in Uruguay generally report fewer obstacles compared to regional averages, especially in terms of corruption and regulatory burdens.
• The Graft Index (corruption composite index) for Uruguay is 1.3, significantly lower than the regional average of 6.0.
• Corruption remains a concern, with some firms expecting informal payments for permits and licenses.
• Regulatory and licensing processes are time-consuming and costly for firms, especially for obtaining construction-related permits.

Average Firm Indicators

• The average firm in Uruguay has been in operation for 23.6 years.
• Female participation in management is 19.4%, slightly higher than the regional average of 20.8%.
• Female ownership is reported at 23.1%, with a slight variation by firm size.
• Ownership structure is dominated by sole proprietorships (14.0%), followed by closed shareholding companies (80.1%).
• Private domestic ownership is the most common (91.6%), while private foreign ownership is relatively low (8.4%).

Infrastructure

• Electricity outages are reported at 0.5 per month, with 0.3% of sales lost due to these outages.
• Water shortages occur 1.3 times per month, with an average duration of 6.4 hours.
• Delays in obtaining electricity, water, and telephone connections are 15.5, 18.6, and 5.9 days, respectively, which are lower than regional averages.

Trade

• 18.5% of firms in Uruguay are exporters, with 87.7% using foreign material inputs or supplies.
• Average time to clear direct exports through customs is 6.2 days, and for imports, it is 8.7 days.
• Losses due to theft or breakage during exports are minimal, at 0.1%.

Regulations, Taxes, and Business Licensing

• The average number of visits to tax officials is 1.0, with 11.6% of senior management time spent on government regulatory requirements.
• Days to obtain an import license is 10.0, and construction-related permits take 92.4 days.
• Operating licenses take 108.0 days, which is longer than the regional average of 45.5 days.

Corruption

• The Graft Index for Uruguay is 1.3, indicating relatively low levels of corruption.
• 0.8% of firms expect to give gifts to secure an operating license, while 5.8% expect to give gifts for a construction permit.
• No firms expect to give gifts for a government contract or import license.

Crime and Informality

• 50.0% of firms believe the court system is fair, impartial, and uncorrupted.
• Security costs amount to 0.5% of sales, and theft, robbery, vandalism, and arson result in 0.3% of sales lost.
• 94.6% of firms are formally registered when they start operations, indicating a relatively low level of informality.

Finance

• Internal finance is the primary source of investment funding, with 69.6% of firms relying on it.
• Bank finance accounts for 9.1%, and trade credit for 6.6%.
• 30.1% of firms use external financing for working capital, with 165.2% of loan amount required as collateral.
• 48.6% of firms have bank loans or lines of credit, and 90.8% have checking or savings accounts.

Innovation and Workforce

• 10.8% of firms have internationally recognized quality certifications.
• 45.5% of firms have their annual financial statements reviewed by external auditors.
• 50.9% of firms use their own websites, and 88.0% use email for communication with clients and suppliers.
• The workforce composition shows a mix of temporary and permanent workers, with 36.7% of full-time workers being female.

Key Comparisons

Conclusion

Uruguay's business environment, as reflected in the 2010 Enterprise Surveys, is generally more favorable compared to regional and income group averages. While challenges such as infrastructure deficiencies, regulatory delays, and corruption still exist, they are relatively manageable. The country has a high level of formal registration for firms and relatively low levels of informality. The financial sector supports firms through various means, but access to external financing remains limited. Overall, the report highlights Uruguay's progress in creating a business-friendly environment, with room for improvement in areas like infrastructure and regulatory efficiency.