According to the latest “Doing Business 2018” report by the World Bank, Botswana is ranked 11 spots down (81 position) compared to the 2017 report in terms of ease of doing business in the country. We will go through the different reasons below. However, it still remains one of the best countries in Africa to do business in, as the only countries above in the ranking are Kenya (80), Morocco (69), Rwanda (41) and Mauritius (25) so on an overall, Botswana is the fifth easiest country to do business in Africa.
The report captures several criteria, like regulations, construction permits, starting a business, getting electricity, registering a business, taxes, getting credits, getting investors, trading across borders, resolving insolvency and others.
According to the report, two great enhancements are about paying taxes and trading across borders. Paying taxes is now much easier since last year, thanks to an online filling and payment system. Trading across borders is now also much easier thanks to a new automated customs management system. Enhancing tax compliance systems will definitely improve transparency in the country and help local and foreign companies to do business locally. Situation will definitely improve in the years to come.
On the downside, registering property has been made more complex due to a change in the efficiency of its Registrar of Deeds as it implements the computerisation of its records. It should get much better in the year to come and Botswana’s ranking should go up again! It currently takes about 27 days on an average, with around 4 different procedures and 5.1% of the property price to register a property locally.
This report has been prepared for Botswana with the help and support of local experts like PWC Botswana, Collins Newman & Co, KPMG, Modimo & Associates and others.
Read the full report here.
Source: World Bank
