LIBERIA BETTER BUSINESS FORUM LBBF Presented by W
LIBERIA BETTER BUSINESS FORUM (LBBF) Presented by W. Bako Freeman Program Coordinator - LBBF
Objectives • Improve the business culture and ethics in Liberia through joint Public and Private Sector Working Groups partnering to advocate, based on technical analysis of viable options. • Ensure that the Private Sector is fully engaged as a responsible partner with Government to contribute evidence-based recommendations and inputs into economic planning and policy in a regular and structured dialogue. • Develop issue-specific Public and Private Sector Working Groups who will focus on analyzing identified issues/challenges/obstacles and barriers to doing business in Liberia and will together, propose and champion viable recommendations for reform. • Support the development of awareness creation, inclusion, consensus building and cooperation within a Private Sector that will be equally as accountable as the Public Sector for providing technical input into public policy.
Structure Governing Board: Minister of Commerce Minister Commerce Chair, National Investment Minister ofof. Commerce Commission (NIC) Chair, National Investment Comm. (NIC) Coordinator, LRDC (Pres. Office) Private Sector Leaders Private Sector Coordination Govt. coordination Secretariat: : Program Coordinator Operations Officer Program Assistant Communications. Officer Legal & WG 1: Regulatory Legal and Framework Regulatory Framework Physical & WG 2: Social Physical and Social Infrastructure Administrative Processes: WG 3: Adminis. Processes: -Business Startup -Trade Facilitation Institutional WG 4: Enhancement Institutional Enhance(Cap. building) ment (Cap. Building) Private/Public sector members co-chaired by both private sector and public sector champions Trade & Export WG 5: Promotion Trade and Export Promotion
Progress • Link to Cabinet Level Business Reform Committee (est. by President Johnson-Sirleaf) – Leveraging DB Results • Areas of Focus/ Reforms: – Starting a business: Reduction in time from 99 days to 10 – Trading across borders: Number of steps reduced from 19 to 7 – Dealing with Licenses: Reduction in time and fees • Investment Law – Draft completed and LBBF helping to spearhead consultation along with Office of the President • General Business and Associations Law – Review of current law planned and recruitment of experts in process
Objectives Business Start-Up Progress Cont’d Trade Facilitation Dealing with Licenses Legal and Regulatory Framework • Reduce the amount of • Reducing costs of starting and doing business • Streamlining processes • Publication of regulations and procedures time and effort to clear goods from the port. • Establishment of a “onestop” shop of all related agencies • Reduce the number of signatures for customs clearance • Reduce the administrative burden associated with obtaining a constrction license • Reduction in number of signatures • Legislative changes to support implementation (ex. Investment law, Gen. Business, etc. ) • Capacity-building/training Reforms Business Start-Up • A standard form for articles of incorporation • MOFA, MOF and Central Bank will second staff to the MOCI so that the entire process will be completed at Commerce. • Approval of new businesses within 10 business days. Trade Facilitation • Reduction in number of steps from 19 to 9 • Establishment of “onestop” shop. • Standardized forms for export and import • Streamlining of approval process/ signatures Dealing with Licenses • Standard checklist that will provide businesses with a list of all required forms and fees • Reduction of the approval time from 90 days (as reported in last years' survey) to 30 days. • Reduction of the signatures at Public Works from 4 to 2 Legal and Regulatory Framework • Draft Investment Law completed • Review of General Business and Associations Law planned • Capacity building plan for NIC completed and some training has begun
Communications • Newsletter/Website – Template completed and launch scheduled for end of April. • Sponsorship of Radio Program: “Business World” – Weekly program • Liberian Economic Journalists Association (LEJA)
Next Steps • Second Annual Private Sector Day – Planned for 2 nd half of the year • Advocacy Training – Partnership with Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) • Continued participation on the Business Reform Committee
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