2010年-世界发展银行全球_Enterprise_Surveys___Benin_Country_Profile_2009_15页_1mb

Benin Country Profile 2009 Summary

Core Content Overview

The Benin Country Profile 2009 is part of the World Bank's Enterprise Surveys, which assess the business environment and firm productivity across various sectors. The survey includes data from small, medium, and large firms in the non-agricultural formal private economy, and compares Benin's performance with the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region and the low-income group. The report highlights key challenges and indicators affecting the business environment, including corruption, regulations, infrastructure, trade, finance, innovation, and workforce characteristics.

Main Topics Covered

• Business Environment Obstacles
• Average Firm Characteristics
• Infrastructure
• Trade
• Regulations, Taxes, and Business Licensing
• Corruption
• Crime and Informality
• Finance
• Innovation and Workforce

Key Findings and Indicators

Corruption Indicators

• Incidence of Graft Index: 42.8% of firms in Benin reported being asked or expected to pay bribes for public services, compared to 18.3% in SSA and 24.9% in low-income countries.
• Gifts to Tax Inspectors: 26.8% of firms in Benin expect to give gifts during meetings with tax inspectors, higher than the SSA average of 6.8%.
• Gifts to Secure Government Contracts: 60.6% of firms in Benin expect to give gifts to secure government contracts, significantly higher than the SSA average of 0.0%.
• Gifts to Obtain Construction Permit: 47.3% of firms expect to give gifts, compared to 26.8% in SSA.
• Gifts to Obtain Import License: 24.5% of firms expect to give gifts, slightly lower than the SSA average of 17.1%.
• Gifts to Obtain Operating License: 44.6% of firms expect to give gifts, compared to 19.5% in SSA.

Regulations, Taxes, and Business Licensing Indicators

• Days to Obtain Import License: 21.8 days in Benin, compared to 19.2 days in SSA and 16.1 days in low-income countries.
• Days to Obtain Construction Permit: 43.7 days in Benin, higher than the SSA average of 52.6 days.
• Days to Obtain Operating License: 64.3 days in Benin, compared to 23.9 days in SSA.
• Senior Management Time on Government Regulation: 20.7% of senior management time is spent on government regulation, compared to 36.9% in SSA.
• Average Number of Tax Meetings: 1.2 meetings per year in Benin, compared to 2.8 in SSA.
• Open Shareholding Company: Only 8.9% of firms in Benin are open shareholding companies, compared to 24.9% in SSA.
• Closed Shareholding Company: 34.2% of firms in Benin are closed shareholding companies, compared to 69.0% in SSA.
• Sole Proprietorship: 48.7% of firms in Benin are sole proprietorships, compared to 57.0% in SSA.

Average Firm Indicators

• Age of Firms: 10.4 years on average.
• Female Top Manager: 27.5% of firms have a female top manager.
• Female Ownership Participation: 43.9% of firms have female participation in ownership.
• Private Domestic Ownership: 83.6% of firms are privately owned domestically.
• Private Foreign Ownership: 11.6% of firms are privately owned by foreigners.
• Government Ownership: Only 0.1% of firms are government-owned.

Finance Indicators

• Internal Finance for Investment: 95.1% of firms rely on internal finance.
• Bank Finance for Investment: 2.3% of firms use bank finance.
• Trade Credit for Investment: 1.2% of firms use trade credit.
• Equity for Investment: 0.6% of firms use equity.
• Working Capital External Financing: 26.3% of firms use external financing for working capital.
• Collateral Needed for a Loan: 227.6% of the loan amount is required as collateral.
• Firms with Bank Loans/Line of Credit: 42.8% of firms have access to bank loans.
• Firms with Checking or Savings Accounts: 99.2% of firms have such accounts.

Infrastructure Indicators

• Power Outages per Month: 13.9 outages.
• Value Lost Due to Power Outages (% of Sales): 7.5%.
• Water Shortages per Month: 9.9 shortages.
• Average Water Shortage Duration (hours): 19.0 hours.
• Delay in Electrical Connection: 86.8 days.
• Delay in Water Connection: 86.1 days.
• Delay in Telephone Connection: 89.4 days.

Trade Indicators

• Exporter Firms: 16.4% of firms in Benin export.
• Use of Foreign Inputs: 63.9% of firms use foreign material inputs.
• Average Time to Clear Direct Exports (days): 9.6 days.
• Average Time to Clear Imports (days): 33.0 days.
• Losses During Direct Export Due to Theft: 0.0%.
• Losses During Direct Export Due to Breakage/Spoilage: 0.0%.

Crime and Informality Indicators

• Firms Believing Court System is Fair: 9.6%.
• Security Costs (% of Sales): 0.6%.
• Losses Due to Theft, Robbery, etc.: 1.9% of sales.
• Formally Registered Firms: 87.9% of firms are formally registered upon starting operations.

Innovation and Workforce Indicators

• Internationally Recognized Quality Certification: 7.3% of firms have such certifications.
• Annual Financial Statements Reviewed by External Auditor: 62.5% of firms.
• Use of Own Website: 14.8% of firms.
• Use of Email for Communication: 67.0% of firms.
• Average Number of Temporary Workers: 3.9.
• Average Number of Permanent Workers: 11.9.
• % of Full-Time Female Workers: 24.5%.

Conclusion

The Enterprise Surveys for Benin reveal a challenging business environment, marked by high levels of corruption, inefficient regulations, and significant infrastructure deficiencies. These issues affect firm operations, increase costs, and reduce productivity. While the majority of firms are privately owned and formally registered, the high reliance on internal finance and limited access to external financial services indicate a need for improved financial systems. Innovation and workforce development are also underdeveloped, with low rates of quality certification and limited use of modern technologies like email and websites. Overall, the data underscores the importance of reforming regulatory frameworks, improving infrastructure, and enhancing financial access to support sustainable business growth and development in Benin.