2010年-世界发展银行全球_Enterprise_Surveys___Gabon_Country_Profile_2009_15页_1mb

Gabon Country Profile 2009 Summary

Core Content Overview

The Gabon Country Profile 2009 is part of the World Bank's Enterprise Surveys, which aim to evaluate the business environment and its impact on firm productivity and performance. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of various factors that influence the business climate in Gabon, including corruption, regulations, infrastructure, trade, finance, innovation, and workforce dynamics. It compares Gabon's indicators with those of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Upper middle income countries, offering insights into the relative challenges and opportunities for firms in the country.

Main Topics and Key Indicators

1. Business Environment Obstacles

• The top business environment obstacles in Gabon are primarily related to corruption, regulatory inefficiencies, and infrastructure limitations.
• Corruption is a major concern, with firms facing significant informal payments and gifts in various regulatory and administrative processes.
• Regulatory burden is high, with firms spending considerable time and effort to meet government requirements.
• Infrastructure challenges include frequent power outages, water shortages, and delays in obtaining essential services like electricity and telephone connections.

2. Average Firm Characteristics

• The average firm in Gabon has been in operation for 13.8 years.
• Female participation in management and ownership is relatively low, with 11.5% of firms having female top managers and 33.1% having female participation in ownership.
• Ownership structure shows that 57.8% of firms are sole proprietorships, 23.4% are closed shareholding companies, and 9.5% are open shareholding companies.
• Government involvement in firm ownership is minimal, with only 2.7% of firms being government-owned.

3. Infrastructure

• Power outages are common, with an average of 7.2 per month, leading to 1.7% of sales lost due to these outages.
• Water shortages occur about 1.2 times per month, with an average duration of 1.1 hours, resulting in 1.9% of sales lost.
• Delays in infrastructure services are significant, with 34.5 days for electrical connections, 32.4 days for water connections, and 8.6 days for telephone connections, all higher than regional averages.

4. Trade

• 11.8% of firms in Gabon are exporters, with 84.8% of manufacturing firms using foreign inputs.
• Customs clearance for exports and imports is time-consuming, with 3.8 days for direct exports and 10.3 days for imports.
• Losses during export due to theft and breakage are relatively low, at 0.4% and 1.9% respectively, compared to regional averages.

5. Regulations, Taxes, and Business Licensing

• Corruption is widespread, with 14.2% of firms reporting incidents of graft, which is lower than the SSA average of 18.3% but higher than the upper middle income group average of 6.4%.
• Bribery is expected in various administrative processes, with 26.6% of firms needing to give gifts to secure a government contract.
• Regulatory burden is measured by the time spent dealing with government requirements, which is 2.8% for the average firm, and by the number of visits to tax officials, which is 15.2 on average.
• Business licensing is mostly dominated by sole proprietorships at 57.8%, with closed shareholding companies at 23.4% and open shareholding companies at 9.5%.

6. Corruption

• Graft Index indicates that 14.2% of firms in Gabon are asked or expected to pay bribes when applying for public services.
• Gifts to tax inspectors are common, with 22.8% of firms expected to give gifts during meetings.
• Bribery for government contracts is reported by 26.6% of firms, while construction permits and import licenses have lower rates of informal payments.

7. Crime and Informality

• 41.3% of firms believe the court system is fair, impartial, and uncorrupted, which is lower than the SSA average of 43.3%.
• Security costs account for 2.3% of sales, and theft, robbery, vandalism, and arson lead to 0.4% of sales lost.
• Informality is significant, with 63.7% of firms being formally registered when they started operations, indicating a substantial informal sector.

8. Finance

• Internal finance is the primary source of investment, with 92.9% of firms relying on it.
• Bank finance is less common, with 3.2% of firms using it for investment.
• External financing for working capital is 10.4%, and collateral requirements for loans are high, with 63.7% of the loan amount required as collateral.
• Access to banking services is relatively high, with 83.6% of firms having a checking or savings account.

9. Innovation and Workforce

• 18.6% of firms have internationally recognized quality certifications.
• 40.1% of firms have annual financial statements reviewed by external auditors.
• 26.6% of firms use their own websites, and 40.6% use email for communication with clients and suppliers.
• Workforce composition shows that 24.3% of firms employ full-time female workers, with 7.6 average temporary workers and 27.2 average permanent, full-time workers.

Key Findings

• Corruption and regulatory inefficiencies are significant challenges in Gabon, affecting business operations and increasing costs.
• Infrastructure deficiencies, particularly in electricity and water supply, hinder firm productivity and competitiveness.
• Trade processes are relatively efficient compared to regional averages, but customs delays and transport risks still impose costs.
• Informality is a notable issue, with many firms operating without formal registration.
• Financial services are accessible, but collateral requirements are high, limiting access to external financing.
• Innovation and technology use are low, with limited adoption of ICT and quality certifications.
• Female participation in management and ownership is lower than in some other regions, though higher than in the upper middle income group.

Conclusion

The Gabon Country Profile 2009 highlights the challenges faced by firms in the country, particularly in corruption, regulation, and infrastructure. These factors contribute to a less favorable business environment, which in turn affects productivity, investment, and growth. While financial access is relatively good, collateral requirements and informal economic activity remain barriers. The workforce and innovation aspects also indicate room for improvement. Overall, the report serves as a valuable tool for policy analysis and business planning in Gabon.