2014年-世界发展银行全球_Enterprise_Surveys___Slovenia_Country_Profile_2013_15页_1mb

Slovenia Country Profile 2013 Summary

Core Content Overview

The Slovenia Country Profile 2013 provides a detailed analysis of the business environment in Slovenia, based on data from the Enterprise Surveys conducted by the World Bank and its partners. The surveys focus on various aspects of the business environment, including infrastructure, trade, regulations, corruption, crime, finance, innovation, and workforce characteristics. The data is benchmarked against the Eastern Europe & Central Asia (ECA) region and the High Income: Non-OECD income group.

Main Points and Key Information

1. Business Environment Obstacles

• The top business environment obstacles are identified through firm responses, benchmarked against the regional average.
• Slovenia's firms generally report fewer obstacles compared to the regional average, indicating a relatively favorable business environment.
• Small, medium, and large firms differ in the constraints they face, with large firms reporting the highest levels of challenges.

2. Average Firm Characteristics

• The average firm in Slovenia is 19.5 years old, with a slight variation across firm sizes.
• Female participation in top management and ownership is notable, with 18.8% of firms having a female top manager and 34.4% having female ownership.
• Ownership structure is dominated by private domestic firms (89.6%), with a smaller share of private foreign firms (9.2%) and negligible government involvement.

3. Infrastructure

• Infrastructure quality is a critical factor for firm productivity and competitiveness.
• Slovenia reports low levels of power outages (0.2 per month) and minimal water shortages (0.0 per month), with no reported losses due to power outages.
• Delays in obtaining infrastructure services are present, particularly for construction-related permits, with an average delay of 187.9 days.
• Water connection delays are relatively short, averaging 29.4 days.

4. Trade

• 52.5% of firms in Slovenia are exporters, with 75.8% using foreign material inputs.
• Customs clearance times are relatively low, with an average of 4.6 days for exports and 5.2 days for imports.
• Transport-related losses are minimal, with no reported losses due to theft or breakage during direct exports.

5. Regulations, Taxes, and Business Licensing

• Regulatory efficiency is a key determinant of firm performance.
• Days to obtain an import license are 15.5 days, while construction-related permits take 187.9 days.
• Senior management time spent on regulatory requirements is 10.1%, with medium firms spending more time.
• Tax inspections are relatively infrequent, with an average of 0.4 visits per firm.
• Shareholding structures are predominantly closed shareholding companies (74.5%), with sole proprietorships making up 21.7%.

6. Corruption

• Corruption indicators are generally low in Slovenia, with 0.2% of firms reporting graft index issues.
• Gift-giving to secure government contracts is reported by 31.7% of firms, which is lower than the regional average of 24.4%.
• No firms report expecting to give gifts for import licenses or operating licenses.

7. Crime and Informality

• Firms in Slovenia generally perceive the court system as fair (12.9% of firms believe it is fair, impartial, and uncorrupted).
• Security costs are low, averaging 0.2% of sales.
• Losses due to theft, robbery, etc. are minimal, at 0.1% of sales.
• All firms are formally registered upon starting operations, indicating a low level of informality.

8. Finance

• Internal finance is the primary source for investment, with 76.5% of firms relying on it.
• Bank finance accounts for 17.8% of investment, with medium firms more likely to use it.
• Working capital external financing is reported by 18.9% of firms.
• Collateral requirements are high, with an average of 153.7% of the loan amount needed.
• Almost all firms (99.1%) have checking or savings accounts, showing good access to financial services.

9. Innovation and Workforce

• 22.3% of firms have internationally recognized quality certifications, indicating some level of innovation and quality awareness.
• 14.3% of firms have annual financial statements reviewed by external auditors.
• 82.4% of firms use their own websites, and 97.2% use email for communication with clients and suppliers.
• Female participation in full-time employment is 33.6%, with medium firms showing the lowest level of female participation.

Key Takeaways

• Slovenia has a relatively efficient business environment compared to the Eastern Europe & Central Asia region.
• Infrastructure is generally strong, with low power and water outages and moderate delays in obtaining services.
• Trade is active, with a high percentage of firms involved in exports and using foreign inputs.
• Corruption and crime are not major concerns, with low incidence of informal payments and minimal security costs.
• Regulatory processes are time-consuming, especially for construction-related permits.
• Financial access is good, but collateral requirements are high, which may affect small businesses.
• Innovation and workforce diversity are present, with a notable use of ICT and quality certifications.

Conclusion

The Enterprise Surveys provide a comprehensive overview of Slovenia's business environment, highlighting its strengths in infrastructure, trade, and financial access, while also identifying areas for improvement, particularly in regulatory efficiency and formalization of business practices. The data underscores the importance of good governance and efficient regulatory frameworks in fostering a productive and competitive private sector.