2005年-世界发展银行全球_Fiji_Investment_Approvals_Reform_Program___A_Donor_Update_Document_14页_578kb

Fiji Investment Approvals Reform Program Summary

Core Content

The Joint FIAS/World Bank FIJI Investment Approvals Reform Program was initiated in September 2004 with the goal of improving the investment approval processes across 18 government agencies in Fiji. The program is a collaborative effort between the Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS) and the World Bank, supported by the Ministry of Commerce, Business Development and Investment (MCBDI) and the Ministry of Finance and National Planning (MFNP). The program is structured into five stages over a 12-month period, aiming to streamline procedures, improve efficiency, and enhance the business environment for the private sector.

Main Objectives

• Facilitate improved efficiencies within government agencies through a structured change management process.
• Provide specialist advice and support to agencies identified as priorities for reform.
• Establish effective coordination between government agencies and the private sector.
• Enable performance monitoring through self-assessment and corrective mechanisms.
• Promote constructive dialogue between government and the private sector to maintain and expand reform efforts.

Impact and Outcomes to Date

The program has already achieved significant improvements in investment approval processes:

• Time to start a business decreased from 64 days in 2004 to 46 days in 2005.
• Foreshore leases processing time dropped from 11 months to 5 months.
• Work permits processing time was reduced from 40–60 days to 14 working days.
• Foreign investment registration was cut from 3 weeks to 3.8 working days.

These outcomes demonstrate the program's success in reducing time and costs for investors, improving transparency, and enhancing the overall business environment in Fiji.

Program Inputs and Design

Key inputs and features of the program include:

• A public/private Task Force established to identify regulatory obstacles and guide reforms.
• A regulatory reform implementation specialist (Mike Mullins), based in MCBDI, who oversees the reform process.
• A private sector benchmarking survey conducted by Tebbutt Research, with results to be presented by the end of June 2005.
• Local counterpart teams in each agency, working with consultants and the Task Force.
• Secondments of staff from MCBDI and MFNP to support reform efforts.
• A review of business registration systems by Norway Registers Development AS, focusing on improving the process for lodging, processing, storing, and providing business registration information.

The program is designed with flexibility and sustainability in mind, allowing for quick responses to emerging needs and ensuring that reforms are long-term and effective.

Mid-Point Review Outcome

In April 2005, a mid-point review was conducted via video link, involving MCBDI, the World Bank, FIAS, and a Suva-based consultant. The review confirmed the program's importance in improving the private sector environment and highlighted the need for:

• More quantitative and qualitative measures to demonstrate outcomes.
• Continued collaboration with both the private sector and government agencies.
• Extension of the program beyond the original September 2005 deadline to September 2006, as requested by MCBDI and MFNP.

Future Evolution

The program will expand its focus to include more regulatory and administrative reforms aligned with the World Bank's Doing Business indicators. Future activities will involve:

• Implementing recommendations from the business registration review.
• Strengthening customer service in the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC).
• Increasing collaboration with the private sector and government to ensure effective reform implementation.
• Maintaining the self-assessment and monitoring processes to track progress.

Program Development and Structure

The program was initiated in response to a formal request from MCBDI in December 2003, following earlier FIAS support for foreign investment legislation changes. The KPMG review from 1992 highlighted the lengthy and inefficient nature of investment approval processes, which the program aims to address.

The program is structured into five stages:

1. Initial FIAS mission to Fiji – Establishing the Task Force and program parameters.
2. Benchmarking survey and initial reform planning – Conducting a survey and outlining reform strategies.
3. Technical specialist involvement and private sector survey setup – Recruiting specialists and launching ongoing satisfaction surveys.
4. Implementation of reform plans and reporting – Executing reforms and producing progress reports.
5. Program evaluation and presentation – Final assessment and dissemination of results to stakeholders.

Conclusion

The Fiji Investment Approvals Reform Program has made substantial progress in reducing approval times and improving the investment environment. It has demonstrated the value of collaboration between the government and private sector, and the need for continued support to ensure long-term success. The program's structure and flexibility have enabled effective implementation, and the mid-point review confirmed the need for its extension to September 2006.