FIJI is now ranked 160 out of 189 countries surveyed by the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index.
These were announced by the Shadow Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad during his parliamentary address for the 2016 National Budget debate that began in Suva yesterday.
“The World Bank uses a measuring tool ? the Ease of Doing Business Index ? which ranks every country in the world for ease of doing business and investment. For nine years, Fiji’s ranking has gone down this index. It started in 2007 listed at 56. Now it is listed at 82. But for ease of starting a business, Fiji ranks a shocking 160 out of 189 countries in the world.”
Mr Prasad told Parliament the current business licensing form filling procedure for small and medium enterprises featured bureaucratic obstacles.
“Small and medium enterprises suffer from unbelievable bureaucratic obstacles. Let me give you just one example. How hard should it be to get a business licence from the Suva City Council?
“The Business Licensing Act is simple ? fill out a form, pay the licence fee, get your licence. But this not what the council says. This is what you need to produce to get your business licence. If you think I am joking, I am not.
“I am reading from the Suva City Council business licence application form: a thoroughly filled application form, one copy of Business Registration Certificate, one copy of FTIB certificate (if a foreign investor), copy of TIN registration letter (from FRCA), one copy of health licence if operating a restaurant, takeaway bar, butchery, nightclub, hair salon or food business, directors’ names and contacts including one copy of their photo ID, one copy of consent letter from landlord (if renting premises), one copy of liquor licence (if applicable), one copy of OHS letter from Ministry of Labour, one copy of National Fire Authority certificate, one copy of building completion certificate, one copy of permit to store controlled substances (if applicable), one copy of copyright licence from Fiji Intellectual Property Office (for sale or hire of DVDs).
“This is just to get a business licence. Remember, you need this licence in order to operate every year. This is almost comical. Any small to medium business person will have more time filling out forms than actually starting their business.”
In response, the Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Faiyaz Koya defended the form filling procedure that it is streamlined dependent on the type of business operation.
“The business licence application is actually streamlined it is dependent on type of operation. The manner it was read out that it was misleading to the Fijian public in order to clarify read out clearly business requirements list of requirements and I shall read them out.
“The application requirements copy of business registration certificate is a requirement, one copy of FTIB certificate (if a foreign investor) emphasis on foreign investor, one copy of TIN registration letter (from FRCA) is requirement, one copy of health licence if operating a restaurant, takeaway bar, butchery, nightclub, hair salon or food business, directors’ names and contacts including one copy of their photo ID is requirement, one copy of consent letter from landlord (if renting premises), one copy of liquor licence (if applicable), one copy of OHS letter from Ministry of Labour is most definitely required, one copy of National Fire Authority certificate, one copy of building completion certificate, one copy of permit to store controlled substances (if applicable), one copy of copyright licence from Fiji Intellectual Property Office are required.”
