LIBERIA BETTER BUSINESS FORUM (LBBF)

Presented by W. Bako Freeman

Program Coordinator - LBBF

Objectives• Improve the business culture and ethics in Liberia through joint Public and

Private Sector Working Groups partnering to advocate, based on technical analysis of viable options.

• Ensure that the Private Sector is fully engaged as a responsible partner with Government to contribute evidence-based recommendations and inputs into economic planning and policy in a regular and structured dialogue.

• Develop issue-specific Public and Private Sector Working Groups who will focus on analyzing identified issues/challenges/obstacles and barriers to doing business in Liberia and will together, propose and champion viable recommendations for reform.

• Support the development of awareness creation, inclusion, consensus building and cooperation within a Private Sector that will be equally as accountable as the Public Sector for providing technical input into public policy.

Structure

Secretariat : Program CoordinatorOperations OfficerProgram AssistantCommunications Officer

Legal & Regulatory Framework

Physical & Social Infrastructure

Administrative Processes:

-Business Startup

-Trade Facilitation

Institutional Enhancement (Cap. building)

Trade & Export Promotion

Private Sector Coordination

Govt. coordination

Private/Public sector members co-chaired by both private sector and public sector champions

Governing Board: Minister of CommerceChair, National Investment Commission (NIC)Coordinator, LRDC (Pres. Office)Private Sector Leaders

Governing Board: Minister of Commerce

Chair, National Investment Commission (NIC)Coordinator, LRDC (Pres. Office)

Private Sector Leaders

Governing Board: Minister of Commerce

Chair, National Investment Comm. (NIC)Coordinator, LRDC (Pres. Office)

Private Sector LeadersGovt. coordinationPrivate Sector

Coordination

Secretariat : Program Coordinator

Operations OfficerCommunications Officer

WG 1: Legal and

Regulatory Framework

WG 2:Physical and Social

Infrastructure

WG 4:Institutional Enhance-ment (Cap. Building)

WG 5:Trade and Export

Promotion

WG 3:Adminis. Processes:

-Business Startup

-Trade Facilitation

Progress• Link to Cabinet Level Business Reform Committee (est. by

President Johnson-Sirleaf)– Leveraging DB Results

• Areas of Focus/ Reforms: – Starting a business: Reduction in time from 99 days to 10– Trading across borders: Number of steps reduced from19 to 7– Dealing with Licenses: Reduction in time and fees

• Investment Law– Draft completed and LBBF helping to spearhead consultation along with

Office of the President

• General Business and Associations Law– Review of current law planned and recruitment of experts in process

Progress Cont’dBusiness Start-Up

• Reducing costs of starting and doing business• Streamlining processes• Publication of regulations and procedures

Trade Facilitation

• Reduce the amount of time and effort to clear goods from the port.• Establishment of a “one-stop” shop of all related agencies• Reduce the number of signatures for customs clearance

Legal and Regulatory Framework

• Legislative changes to support implementation (ex. Investment law, Gen. Business, etc.)

• Capacity-building/training

Dealing with Licenses

• Reduce the administrative burden associated with obtaining a constrction license• Reduction in number of signatures

Objectives

Reforms

Business Start-Up

• A standard form for articles of incorporation

•MOFA, MOF and Central Bank will second staff to the

MOCI so that the entire process will be completed at

Commerce. • Approval of new businesses

within 10 business days.

Trade Facilitation

• Reduction in number of steps from 19 to 9• Establishment of “one-stop” shop.• Standardized forms for export and import• Streamlining of approval process/ signatures

Legal and Regulatory Framework

• Draft Investment Law completed• Review of General Business and Associations Law planned• Capacity building plan for NIC completed and some training has begun

Dealing with Licenses

• Standard checklist that will provide businesses with a list of all required forms and fees

• Reduction of the approval time from 90 days (as reported

in last years' survey) to 30 days.

• Reduction of the signatures at Public Works from 4 to 2

Communications

• Newsletter/Website– Template completed and launch scheduled for end of

April.

• Sponsorship of Radio Program: “Business World”– Weekly program

• Liberian Economic Journalists Association (LEJA)

Next Steps

• Second Annual Private Sector Day – Planned for 2nd half of the year

• Advocacy Training– Partnership with Center for International Private

Enterprise (CIPE)

• Continued participation on the Business Reform Committee