2016年-世界发展银行全球_Cluster_Country_Program_Evaluation_on_Small_States___Mauritius_Country_Case_Study_Enhancing_Competitiveness_and_Private_Sector_Development_75页_2mb

Summary of the Mauritius Country Case Study (FY07-15): Enhancing Competitiveness and Private Sector Development

Core Content

This document presents a Country Program Evaluation (CPE) on Mauritius conducted by the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) of the World Bank Group. The evaluation focuses on the effectiveness of the Bank Group's support in enhancing competitiveness and promoting private sector development between fiscal years 2007 and 2015.

Mauritius experienced a period of economic growth followed by challenges in the early 2000s due to the loss of trade preferences, especially in the textile and sugar sectors, and the global financial crisis. The government implemented bold reforms to address these issues, including the elimination of the export processing zone (EPZ) regime and liberalizing trade and investment policies. However, the reform momentum slowed after the 2010 elections, and the new coalition government emphasized fiscal stimulus over reform, leading to a policy drift.

The World Bank Group played a key role in supporting these reforms, primarily through development policy loans (DPLs) and technical assistance (TA). The Bank's strategy was aligned with government priorities during 2005–2010, but it failed to adapt to the decline in reform appetite after 2010. Despite this, the Bank's flexible approach helped accommodate the changing external environment, such as the European financial crisis.

The evaluation identifies key areas of support from the Bank Group, including:

• Trade and investment reforms
• Business-friendly environment
• Financial sector development
• Infrastructure improvements
• SME development
• Tourism

Main Views

Positive Contributions

• The World Bank's support contributed to improvements in the Ease of Doing Business ranking, moving Mauritius from 32nd out of 175 countries in 2006 to 28th out of 189 in 2014.
• The Bank Group supported reforms in trade policy, investment climate, and ICT regulation, helping to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and enhance competitiveness.
• The DPLs provided a platform for coordination among sector ministries and facilitated policy dialogue.
• The Bank supported capacity building in various areas, including public financial management (PFM), procurement, social protection, and institutional reforms.

Areas of Concern

• The Bank's strategy was too ambitious, given the limited resources available, and did not prioritize critical areas such as education and skills development sufficiently.
• Implementation of prior actions was inconsistent, with some reforms delayed or shelved, which undermined the credibility of the Bank Group.
• Inequality increased during the evaluation period, as poorer households were unable to access high-skilled jobs, and social assistance programs were insufficient to close the income gap.
• The Bank's involvement in the financial sector was limited, and reforms in the financial sector were not fully realized due to lack of political will and slow legislative processes.
• The port sector reforms were not completed due to lack of government commitment, which impacted competitiveness.

Key Information

• Evaluation Period: FY07–FY15
• Main Themes: Competitiveness, private sector development, resilience
• Key Reforms Supported:
  • Elimination of the EPZ regime
  • Simplification of labor laws
  • Trade liberalization
  • Business registration and land registration reforms
  • ICT policy and regulatory reforms
  • Financial sector reforms (e.g., collateral registration)
• Lessons Identified:
  • The Bank Group should better understand political economy dynamics, including reform champions and opponents, to incorporate political risks into its strategy.
  • The Bank Group should focus on a few critical areas and ensure clear logical chains between prior actions and reform objectives.
  • A Systematic Country Diagnostic (SCD) could help the Bank reposition itself as a credible partner and increase demand for good policies.
  • The Bank should adjust its strategy in response to changing government priorities and external conditions.

Overall Assessment

The World Bank Group's performance in enhancing competitiveness and private sector development in Mauritius was moderately successful. While it contributed to improvements in key indicators such as Ease of Doing Business, Trade Logistics Performance Index, and Global Competitiveness Index, private investment remained sluggish, and infrastructure quality continued to constrain competitiveness.

The evaluation also highlights the need for more focused and sustained efforts in areas like education, skills development, and regulatory reform, as well as the importance of political economy analysis to better align the Bank's strategy with government priorities and external realities.