2011年-世界发展银行全球_Enterprise_Surveys___Central_African_Republic_Country_Profile_2011_15页_1mb

Central African Republic Country Profile 2011 Summary

Core Content Overview

The Central African Republic Country Profile 2011 is part of the World Bank's Enterprise Surveys, which assess the business environment and firm productivity across various sectors. The report provides a detailed analysis of the challenges faced by firms in the non-agricultural formal private economy, comparing the Central African Republic (CAR) with its regional peers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and other low-income countries.

Key Business Environment Indicators

The report highlights the following main areas of focus:

1. Business Environment Obstacles

• The business environment in CAR is perceived as highly constrained.
• The top 10 constraints include issues like corruption, crime, inefficient regulations, and poor infrastructure.
• Large firms report fewer constraints compared to small and medium firms.
• Corruption is a significant issue, with 40.8% of firms expected to give gifts to secure a government contract.

2. Average Firm Characteristics

• The average firm in CAR has been in operation for 11.7 years.
• Female participation in top management is 12.1%, and in ownership is 53.3%.
• Private domestic firms account for 65.0% of ownership, while private foreign firms make up 31.3%.
• Government/State ownership is minimal at 2.1%.

3. Infrastructure Challenges

• Power outages are frequent, with 32.7 per month, leading to 25.1% of sales lost due to electricity failures.
• Water shortages occur 12.5 times per month, with an average duration of 10.8 hours.
• Delays in obtaining infrastructure services like electricity, water, and telephone connections are significant, averaging 11.8, 10.2, and 11.2 days, respectively.

4. Trade Constraints

• 15.1% of firms in CAR are exporters, with 72.0% using foreign inputs.
• Customs clearance for imports takes 11.9 days, while for exports, it takes 9.5 days.
• Losses during exports due to theft and breakage are 9.5% and 4.0%, respectively.

5. Regulations, Taxes, and Business Licensing

• The Graft Index in CAR is 10.9, indicating a relatively low level of corruption compared to SSA (19.1) and low-income countries (25.0).
• Days to obtain permits are notably high, especially for construction-related permits at 55.5 days.
• Senior management time spent dealing with regulations is 9.2%, and average number of tax inspections is 3.9.

6. Corruption

• 40.8% of firms expect to give gifts to secure government contracts.
• 16.8% of firms expect to give gifts during meetings with tax inspectors.
• 8.8% of firms expect to give gifts for construction permits, and 6.3% for import licenses.

7. Crime and Informality

• 44.0% of firms believe the court system is fair and impartial.
• Security costs account for 7.3% of sales, with 4.7% of sales lost due to theft, robbery, vandalism, and arson.
• Only 92.1% of firms are formally registered when starting operations, indicating a high level of informality.

8. Finance

• Internal finance accounts for 73.9% of investment, with bank finance at 4.8% and trade credit at 6.4%.
• 24.8% of firms use external financing for working capital.
• Collateral needed for loans is 233.4% of the loan amount, reflecting a high financial burden.

9. Innovation and Workforce

• 37.0% of firms have internationally recognized quality certifications.
• 54.3% of firms have annual financial statements reviewed by external auditors.
• 38.1% of firms use their own websites, and 56.8% use email for communication.
• Average number of temporary workers is 3.9, and permanent workers is 21.7.
• 25.9% of firms have full-time female workers.

Main Findings and Key Points

• Corruption remains a major obstacle, though less severe than in other low-income countries.
• Regulatory inefficiencies and long licensing processes significantly burden firms.
• Infrastructure deficiencies are a critical issue, increasing operational costs and reducing productivity.
• Trade constraints such as customs delays and transport risks affect firm performance.
• Crime imposes substantial financial and operational costs.
• Informality is widespread, with many firms operating without formal registration.
• Financial systems are underdeveloped, with firms relying heavily on internal funds.
• Innovation and workforce practices are limited, with low use of modern technologies and a gender gap in leadership roles.

Conclusion

The Central African Republic faces significant challenges in its business environment, particularly in corruption, regulations, infrastructure, and crime. These issues hinder firm productivity, increase costs, and reduce the potential for economic growth. While informality is prevalent, the country's private sector is still largely composed of domestic firms. The report emphasizes the need for reforms to improve the regulatory framework, infrastructure development, and financial systems to foster a more conducive environment for business growth and sustainable development.