Top 5 surprisingly easy countries to do business in
Now into its 16
th
edition, the World Bank’s
Doing Business
1 – Georgia (6th)
2 – Macedonia, FYR (10th)
3 – Lithuania (14th)
4 – Estonia (16th)
5 – Mauritius (20th)
Georgia continued its impressive climb as it registered sixth in this year’s rankings. Last year’s report recorded 44 business reforms in the Eurasian nation, with 673 improvements launched overall across the past 15 years. Georgia outranked countries such as Sweden, Finland and Australia. Registering a business in Georgia involves just two procedures – taking an average of only 20 days – and, as such, it is regarded as the second most accessible place to start a business. Other recent reforms include granting protection to minority investors, where it also ranks second in the world, and improvements to the insolvency resolution process.
Macedonia, currently in the process of
This year Lithuania climbed to its highest ever ranking, as neighbouring nations fell down the table. Lithuania is ranked as a top 10 country in three categories: dealing with construction permits, registering property and enforcing contracts. Registering property is a particular highlight, with the country ranking third in the world, but resolving insolvency requires work, ranking 85th. The report noted improvements in four different categories: protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders and labour market regulation. This progression follows consistent reform since 2011.
Touted as ‘E-stonia’ – in 2000, the country declared internet access a human right – this Baltic state has long been a champion of digital technologies. Once aged 15, Estonians are granted e-identities, providing means of entry to over 4,000 different services. Despite falling four places when compared to the previous year, Estonia remains a leading nation within Eastern Europe. Known for having one of the most competitive tax
This tiny island in the Indian Ocean – located 2,000km east of the African coast – climbs into the top 20 of the rankings for the first time since 2013. The report recognised improvements in eight different sectors, with its best ranking coming in terms of paying taxes, where the nation ranked sixth overall. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, leader of the Militant Socialist Movement,
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