2024-06-10-世界银行-非洲数字基础设施和下游数字市场中的国有企业（英）_57页_1mb

State-Owned Enterprises in Digital Infrastructure and Downstream Digital Markets in Africa

• Role and Impact: State-owned enterprises (SOEs) play a significant role in African digital infrastructure and markets, often benefiting from protections that inhibit private sector competition. Higher degrees of state ownership correlate with poorer market outcomes, such as lower network performance and higher mobile tariffs.

• Governance and Oversight: Many African countries lack legal frameworks requiring separation of commercial and non-commercial activities of SOEs, hindering transparent financial management and competitive neutrality.

• Competition Barriers: SOEs frequently enjoy preferential treatment, including access to subsidized financing, tax exemptions, and exclusive rights to infrastructure, disadvantaging private competitors.

• Policy Recommendations: African governments should enforce competitive neutrality principles by requiring SOEs to achieve commercial rates of return, ensuring regulatory and tax equality, promoting private participation, and separating non-competitive and commercial activities. More reforms are needed to reduce barriers for efficient market operation.

Key Reforms

1. Accountability: Mandate separation of commercial and non-commercial operations for SOEs to track costs accurately and avoid cross-subsidization.
2. Incentives: Ensure SOEs earn commercial rates of return through strict oversight and financial discipline.
3. Regulatory Neutrality: Apply the same regulatory environment to SOEs and private firms.
4. Equal Access to Finance: Eliminate state-backed preferential financing for SOEs.
5. Private Sector Participation: Promote private investment by removing barriers and eliminating de jure monopolies.

These measures aim to improve market efficiency, reduce consumer costs, expedite digital development, and foster private sector growth.