2014年-世界发展银行全球_Enterprise_Surveys___Moldova_Country_Profile_2013_15页_1mb

Moldova Country Profile 2013 Summary

Core Content

The Moldova Country Profile 2013 is a comprehensive report by the World Bank Group's Enterprise Analysis Unit, which provides an overview of key business environment indicators in Moldova. It compares these indicators with those of the Eastern Europe & Central Asia region and the Lower Middle Income group. The report is based on data from the Enterprise Surveys, which are conducted by the World Bank and its partners, and are designed to assess the business environment and firm performance across various sectors.

The surveys cover non-agricultural formal private firms in Moldova and are repeated over time to track changes and evaluate the impact of reforms. The report includes a range of indicators across several key areas:

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

Main Points and Key Information

1. Business Environment Obstacles

• The business environment in Moldova is perceived as having several obstacles, including corruption, regulatory inefficiencies, and informal practices.
• The top 10 constraints as identified by firms are compared to the regional average, highlighting areas where Moldova lags behind.
• Large firms face more severe constraints than small and medium firms in areas such as construction permits and operating licenses.

2. Average Firm Characteristics

• The average firm in Moldova has been in operation for about 12 years.
• Female participation in top management and ownership is relatively high, with 26.3% of firms having a female top manager and 47.5% having female participation in ownership.
• Private domestic ownership dominates, accounting for 91.2% of firms, while private foreign ownership is 6.3% and government/state ownership is 1.1%.

3. Infrastructure

• Infrastructure challenges are significant, particularly in terms of electricity supply, water availability, and telecom services.
• Power outages are rare but still a concern, with 0.3 outages per month on average.
• Water shortages are minimal, but delays in obtaining water and electricity connections are a major issue, with 31.4 days for water and 10.2 days for electricity.
• Telephone connections are not measured for all firms, but delays in obtaining mainline telephone connections are 27.6 days on average in the region.

4. Trade

• 11.6% of firms in Moldova are exporters, with 48.1% of manufacturing firms using foreign material inputs.
• Customs clearance is a significant constraint, with 21.4 days for direct exports and 3.1 days for imports.
• Transport risks are present, with 6.5% of firms losing merchandise due to breakage or spoilage during exports.

5. Regulations, Taxes, and Business Licensing

• Regulatory and tax procedures are time-consuming and costly for firms.
• Days to obtain permits vary significantly, with 31 days for construction-related permits and 12.7 days for operating licenses.
• Senior management time spent dealing with government regulations is 6.8%, with 1.7 visits per year to tax officials.
• Legal forms of firms are predominantly closed shareholding companies, which account for 82.7% of firms, while open shareholding companies are rare.

6. Corruption

• Corruption is a major issue, with 31.4% of firms in Moldova identifying corruption as a main obstacle.
• The Graft Index measures the proportion of firms that were asked or expected to pay informal payments for public services, with 31.4% of firms in Moldova reporting such experiences.
• Gifts to tax inspectors are expected by 13.3% of firms, and gifts to secure government contracts are expected by 10.9%.
• Construction permits and operating licenses are particularly associated with informal payments, with 48.6% and 22.2% of firms respectively expecting to make such payments.

7. Crime and Informality

• Only 16.7% of firms believe the court system is fair, impartial, and uncorrupted.
• Security costs account for 2.3% of sales, with 0.1% of sales lost due to theft, robbery, vandalism, and arson.
• Formal registration is high, with 98.2% of firms being formally registered when they started operations, indicating a low level of informality.

8. Finance

• Internal finance is the primary source of investment, with 80.0% of firms relying on it.
• Bank finance is used by 7.6% of firms, and trade credit by 4.1%.
• Collateral requirements are high, with 214.6% of the loan amount needed on average.
• Access to financial services is relatively high, with 94.3% of firms having a checking or savings account.

9. Innovation and Workforce

• Only 18.4% of firms have internationally recognized quality certifications.
• 25.0% of firms have their annual financial statements reviewed by external auditors.
• 58.7% of firms use their own websites, and 65.8% use email for communication.
• Workforce composition is skewed towards permanent, full-time workers, with an average of 22.6 for all firms, and 42.0% of these being female.
• Temporary workers are less common, with an average of 0.2 per firm.

Key Insights

• Moldova's business environment is generally less favorable compared to its regional and income group counterparts, particularly in terms of corruption, regulatory inefficiencies, and infrastructure delays.
• Large firms are more affected by regulatory and licensing processes, indicating a need for reforms that simplify procedures for all firm sizes.
• Female participation in both management and ownership is notable, especially in small firms.
• Access to financial services is relatively good, but collateral requirements are high, which may limit access to external financing.
• Innovation and digital tools are underutilized, with low percentages of firms using international certifications and ICT for business operations.

Conclusion

The Enterprise Surveys provide a detailed picture of the challenges and opportunities facing firms in Moldova. The report highlights the need for reforms in regulations, corruption reduction, and improvements in infrastructure to enhance the business environment and promote sustainable development. Additionally, it underscores the importance of gender inclusion, financial accessibility, and technological adoption in fostering a more competitive and efficient private sector.