2010年-世界发展银行全球_Enterprise_Surveys___Timor-Leste_Country_Profile_2009_15页_1mb

Timor-Leste Country Profile 2009 Summary

Core Content Overview

This document provides a comprehensive analysis of the business environment in Timor-Leste based on the World Bank's Enterprise Surveys. It outlines key indicators related to infrastructure, trade, regulations, taxes, business licensing, corruption, crime, and informality, as well as financial and workforce characteristics. The data is benchmarked against the East Asia & Pacific region and the Low Income income group, offering a comparative perspective.

Main Topics and Key Indicators

1. Introduction

• The Enterprise Surveys examine factors influencing the business environment, including infrastructure, trade, regulations, taxes, and licensing.
• A favorable business environment encourages firm innovation, productivity, and public investment in essential services.
• The surveys are conducted on a representative sample of non-agricultural formal private firms, including manufacturing, services, and transportation/construction sectors.

2. Business Environment Obstacles

• The survey identifies the main constraints firms face in Timor-Leste, such as corruption, inefficiencies in regulations, and delays in infrastructure services.
• Firms report significant challenges in navigating the business environment, which can hinder growth and development.

3. Average Firm

• The average firm in Timor-Leste is relatively young, with an average age of 6.1 years.
• Female participation in management and ownership is notable, with 42.9% of firms having female involvement in ownership.
• The majority of firms are privately owned (82.6%), with a smaller share being foreign-owned (17.0%) or government-owned (0.3%).

4. Infrastructure

• Infrastructure deficiencies in Timor-Leste are a major concern, affecting firm operations and competitiveness.
• Power outages are frequent, with an average of 7.7 per month, causing 7.6% of sales to be lost.
• Water shortages are less common, averaging 1.1 per month, but delays in obtaining water connections are significant (24.0 days).
• Telephone connections also face delays, averaging 9.5 days.
• Compared to the East Asia & Pacific region and Low Income group, Timor-Leste lags in infrastructure efficiency.

5. Trade

• Only 2.3% of firms in Timor-Leste are exporters, indicating limited trade activity.
• 44.3% of manufacturing firms use foreign inputs or supplies.
• Customs clearance for imports takes an average of 12.1 days, and for exports 7.0 days.
• Theft and spoilage during exports are minimal, with 0.0% of firms reporting losses due to these factors.

6. Regulations, Taxes, and Business Licensing

• Business licensing and permit processes are time-consuming and inefficient.
• Days to obtain an import license average 19.4, while construction-related permits take 45.1 days.
• Operating licenses are obtained in 16.6 days on average.
• Senior management spends 4.1% of their time dealing with government regulations.
• Tax inspections are rare, with an average of 0.9 visits per firm.
• Sole proprietorships dominate firm structures (82.4%), with very few open shareholding companies (2.4%).

7. Corruption

• Corruption is a significant issue, with 10.8% of firms in Timor-Leste reporting a "Graft Index" incidence.
• 16.7% of firms expect to give gifts to secure government contracts.
• 19.6% of firms expect to give gifts to obtain a construction permit.
• 11.6% of firms expect to give gifts to secure an import license.
• Compared to the Low Income group, Timor-Leste has lower levels of perceived corruption.

8. Crime and Informality

• 71.5% of firms believe the court system is fair, impartial, and uncorrupted.
• Security costs account for 2.6% of sales, with 1.5% of sales lost due to theft, robbery, vandalism, and arson.
• 91.8% of firms are formally registered when they start operations, suggesting a relatively low level of informality.
• Informality is more prevalent in smaller firms, with 10.2% of small firms not formally registered.

9. Finance

• 98.6% of firms rely on internal finance for investment, with minimal use of bank financing (0.8%) or trade credit (0.0%).
• External financing for working capital is rare, with only 1.6% of firms using it.
• Collateral requirements for loans are not reported for Timor-Leste firms, but the average for the Low Income group is 167.4% of the loan amount.
• 6.9% of firms have bank loans or lines of credit, and 87.8% have checking or savings accounts.

10. Innovation and Workforce

• 2.2% of firms hold internationally recognized quality certifications.
• 20.7% of firms have their annual financial statements reviewed by external auditors.
• 13.6% of firms use their own websites, and 47.4% use email for communication.
• 22.9% of full-time workers are female.
• The average number of temporary workers is 18.0, and permanent full-time workers is 26.2.

Key Findings

• Infrastructure challenges are widespread, with frequent power outages and long delays in obtaining connections.
• Corruption is a concern, though less prevalent than in other low-income countries.
• Trade activity is limited, with few firms engaging in exporting.
• Regulatory and licensing processes are inefficient and time-consuming.
• Female participation in ownership and management is relatively high compared to regional averages.
• Informality is present but not as widespread as in other low-income regions.
• Financial services are underutilized, with firms relying heavily on internal financing.
• Innovation and ICT use are limited, indicating a need for improvement in these areas.

Conclusion

The Enterprise Surveys highlight the challenges Timor-Leste firms face in navigating a complex and inefficient business environment. While the country has a relatively low level of corruption compared to its income group, it lags behind in infrastructure, regulations, and access to financial services. Improving these areas is crucial for fostering firm productivity, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable economic development.