Doing Business 2015 Report Promises Better Business Environment

A new World Bank Group report has found that it's easier to conduct business this year because 80 percent of world economies surveyed have improved laws and regulations. The most extensive reforms occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Doing Business 2015 report shows that progress has been uneven in the Middle East and North Africa, especially in conflict-ridden areas.

"This year's Doing Business Report finds that one of the regions where there is less incidents of reform is the Middle East and Northern Africa and I think in part because of the civil unrest, although it is a very diverse region, and there are economies where the reform pace is actually quite intense, in particular the United Arab Emirates has implemented three reforms, and it is one of the top ten improvers this year." Lead Author of Doing Business Report Rita Ramalho says.

The report highlights the several countries where doing business is easiest.

The annual World Bank report measures the ease of doing business in 189 economies based on 11 business-related regulations, including those involved with starting businesses, getting credit, getting electricity, and trading across borders.

A new World Bank Group report has found that it's easier to conduct business this year because 80 percent of world economies surveyed have improved laws and regulations. The most extensive reforms occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Doing Business 2015 report shows that progress has been uneven in the Middle East and North Africa, especially in conflict-ridden areas.

The report highlights the several countries where doing business is easiest.

The annual World Bank report measures the ease of doing business in 189 economies based on 11 business-related regulations, including those involved with starting businesses, getting credit, getting electricity, and trading across borders.

SHOTLIST:
29 OCTOBER 2014, WASHINGTON DC

2013 – BURUNDI

People walking past market
Woman counting money
Woman purchasing fish
Vendor counting money

29 OCTOBER 2014, WASHINGTON DC

Report author Rita Ramalho's statements

2014 – BEIRUT, LEBANON

Store owners organizing items in store
Electronics in store window with workers in background
Owner using calculator

2012 – BRAZIL

Woman purchasing food at grocery store
Worker putting food items in grocery bag

2012 – CHINA

People and buses at intersection
Cars in traffic with skyscrapers in background

2013 - BANGLADESH

Port
Trucks driving in port

SOUNDBITE (English) Rita Ramalho, Lead Author, Doing Business 2015:
"Five of the top improvers are from sub-Saharan Africa. For instance, Senegal, improved significantly starting a business, and this has been a continued reform throughout time."

SOUNDBITE (English) Rita Ramalho, Lead Author, Doing Business 2015:
"This year's Doing Business Report finds that one of the regions where there is less incidents of reform is the Middle East and Northern Africa and I think in part because of the civil unrest, although it is a very diverse region, and there are economies where the reform pace is actually quite intense, in particular the United Arab Emirates has implemented three reforms, and it is one of the top ten improvers this year."

SOUNDBITE (English) Rita Ramalho, Lead Author, Doing Business 2015:
"Singapore continues to be the economy where it is easier to do business, but they continue to try and reform, and that is actually a trend we see across the globe, actually, the OECD members that are high income are on average the economies that do better but actually over sixty percent reformed, implemented at least one reform this year, and in particular one of the top ten improvers this year is Ireland, that improved in three areas, for instance, in registering property or in the functioning of courts to enforce a commercial dispute."

DURATION: 02:13