Sierra Leone Business Forum Support for Improving the
Sierra Leone Business Forum Support for Improving the Business Environment 2007 03 22 SLBF Overview
Sierra Leone Business Forum (SLBF) : Areas of engagement A structure for dialogue between private sector and government: Supporting Admin Barriers Reforms Private Sector Development Private Sector Initiatives • Monitoring progress of reforms against targets (MTI M&E framework) • Private sector advocacy on sectoral priorities • Advocacy for private sector priorities (e. g. access to finance) • Providing technical input on private sector priorities • Validating and legitimising collective private sector interests and priorities • Maintaining visibility of key issues • Advocacy for continuing the reform agenda • Supporting communications and public awareness of reform issues and progress • Consultation on sectoral policies • Monitoring progress of reforms against targets (MTI M&E framework) • Coordination with SLIEPA on export development and investment promotion priorities • Promoting visibility of small-scale entrepreneurs and their needs • . . Others to be determined by SLBF and its members SLBF is the private sector’s and Gov‘t’s platform for: • Outreach, public awareness and communication • Advocacy and consultation • Supporting private sector’s ability to engage with government on economic policy developments 2007 03 22 SLBF Overview • Supporting advocacy for reform within government
How SLBF will support RABI reforms and PSD Steering Committee Coordinating Secretariat National Coordinator + 2 staff Working Groups Group 1: Business Start-Up Group 2: Tax and Customs Technical Committee 2007 03 22 SLBF Overview Working Groups Group 3: Land, Locating and Planning Technical Committee Group 4: Investment &Export Promotion Technical Committee PSD Strategy Working Groups Technical Committees Issues Raised by Private Sector: Working Groups Technical Committees
SLBF Participants Steering committee Coordinating secretariat Working groups Technical Committee 2007 03 22 SLBF Overview Minister Trade/Industry, President CCISL DFID Representative Parliamentary Rep. Other Government and Private Sector Groups Executive Director Economist & Researcher Admin Barr Coordinator PSD Strategy Coordinator Private Sector Ministry/Agency Directors Civil Society Expert Consultants Line Ministry/Agency Managers Directly Interested Private Sector
Board Membership Objective: Assure Broad Representation of Private Sector and Relevant Government Institutions Legislative Committee Minister of Finance Minister of Trade/ Industry Attorney General SLIEPA DFID Lebanese Business Comm’ty Indian Merchants Assoc 2007 03 22 SLBF Overview SLIBA Importers Assoc SLCCIA Market Women’s Assoc SLAM Bankers Assoc
Removing Administrative Barriers to Investment Objectives Business Start-Up • Reducing costs of starting and doing business • Streamlining processes • Information storage and dissemination procedures • Publication of regulations and procedures Land Locating • Information storage and dissemination procedures • Land titling procedures published • Titling system set up in Land Office • Establish framework for cadastre (begin pilot study) Operations (Tax and Customs) • Information storage and dissemination procedures • Initiate study of effective tax burden • Establish HS 2002 nomenclature system • Publication of tax and customs systems and procedures Investment Promotion and Export Agencies • Restructuring SLEDIC into 2 agencies • Legislative change to support implementation • Establish new organisation structures and procedures • Capacity-building/training Achievements Business Start-Up Land Locating • New streamlined 4 step process • Mandatory use of solicitor removed • Exchange control permission removed • Work & residence permits unified 2007 03 22 SLBF Overview Operations (Tax and Customs) • Advance tax payment for • Freetown planning policy and masterplan to be completed by Q 2 2007 new businesses no longer required • Streamlined customs processes and computerisation of customs underway Investment Promotion and Export Agencies • New SLIEPA legislation in process • Transition management and restructuring to commence Q 3 2007
Other Private Sector Development Programmes PSD Strategy Programme: Ministry of Trade & Industry/ DFID Policy Development • Align sectoral and national PSD objectives • Develop national policy document • Capacity strengthening for policy unit • Consultations • Approvals • 3 -year Implementation Roadmap Legal Reform Priority Programmes • Define legislation needs to support policy • Detailed audit of existing commercial laws • Programme of revision and creation of new laws • Establish commercial courts • Support to ongoing commercial law reforms • National and sectoral initiatives for trade and investment promotion • Compliance with international conventions • Institutional reform, strengthening, capacity building • Investment promotion conferences, other outreach Business Culture • Set up consultation forums with private sector groups • Capacity building and training(government and private sector bodies) • Communications and public awareness • CSR promotion • Diaspora engagement • MTI website Support to National Commission for Privatisation: NCP/DFID • 2 year assistance to NCP Secretariat – advisors in power, transport, ports, water, financial services, commercial sectors. Also communications, regulation and legal support Supporting and Related Activities: FIAS/DFID/World Bank • informal sector survey • study of Diaspora investment trends • access to finance for SMEs 2007 03 22 SLBF Overview • Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) • Intellectual Property Rights legislation
Some Key Private Sector Priorities for Consideration* • • • Policy Issues – Dialogues with GOSL and Development Partners – – Legislative and Regulatory Reforms Financial Sector Reforms and Capital Markets Development Shared Responsibilities – – – Informing the Private Sector Strategy Holding ourselves and each other accountable Adapting the business culture Business Issues) – Dialogues Between Each Other – – – 2007 03 22 SLBF Overview Access to Capital (Debt and Equity investments) Operational Risks Talent Development and Training Dispute Resolution Value chain linkages * Validation required
Roll-out Strategy - A phased roll out, ramping up the visibility and impact over time • • • March 22 nd 2007 – Inaugural Steering Committee meeting – Familiarization, Commitment and Engagement April 12 th 2007 – 2 nd Steering Committee and Informal Gathering – – Update on Admin Barriers and other reform initiatives Working groups development Course setting M & E Frameworks May 24 th 2007 – Formal launch – – Press event Communicate progress to date and high priority areas for the future August 15 th 2007 Q 3 Steering Committee – Strategy Assessment and Execution Planning September 2007 - New Administration Engagement and Public Communications 2007 03 22 SLBF Overview
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