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The Cape Verde Islands Are Among The 10 Most Reformist Countries In The Business Environment

4th November 2010

The Republic of Cape Verde has made it into the top rankings in the report Doing Business 2011: Making a Difference for Entrepreneurs, appearing in the top 10 countries in the worldwide rankings for improving the ease of doing business over the last year, based on the number and impact of changes to the regulations for companies in each country, implemented between June 2009 and May 2010.

The report released today, 4 November 2010, in Washington, is the eighth in a series of annual reports published by the IFC (International Finance Corporation) and the World Bank. In evaluating the results, the Minister for State Reform, Cristina Fontes Lima, highlighted the importance of setting up NOSI (which promotes the use of IT in Government departments) and the Casa do Cidadão (‘Citizens’ House’) for the development of computerised administration, resulting in improvements in the business environment, and "in a public administration which is closer to the people and to businesses, especially small businesses, in order to make citizens more involved in the economy, strengthen the economic base and generate more jobs”.

With the various measures implemented by the Ministry for State Reform, especially the business programme Empresa no Dia (‘Start a Business in just one day’), which simplifies and reduces the cost of starting and running businesses, and also the online payment of taxes, Cape Verde has moved up 10 places compared to the previous year, behind Rwanda which rose 12 places in the overall world rankings, and ahead of Zambia which rose by 8 places.

Cape Verde, which last year carried out its second major reform of its regulation of local businesses, made it easier to start a business with the computerisation of the licensing system. It also made it easier to register property and it abolished some stamp taxes.

The Ministry for State Reform and the improvement in the indicators defined by ‘Doing Business’

The improvement in the indicators defined in the publication ‘Doing Business’, which quantify improvements in the business environment, and the internal and external competitiveness of the Cape Verde islands, has been a challenge in the strategic national plan for developing the country.

To this end, the Ministry for State Reform adopted a plan that has implemented various projects for modernisation and innovation, aimed primarily at improving the business environment in Cape Verde, with the involvement and participation of all the stakeholders in the national economy, including the Government, the various public-sector departments, the Municipal Councils, Chambers of Commerce, the financial institutions and commercial companies.

The various plans to promote innovation and modernisation, implemented by the Ministry for State Reform, with the support of strategic partnerships, both national and international, in recent years have allowed the Cape Verde Islands to achieve considerable improvements measured by some indicators namely in setting up new companies (rising 28 places in the world rankings) and in the payment of taxes (up 4 places).

More recently, the implementation of the project ‘improving the business life cycle’, jointly financed by the Cape Verde Government and the Investment Climate Facility for Africa, has enabled the development and adoption of new integrated systems to modernise company licensing, so that it can be completed automatically within 48 hours, giving predictions for the following results and goals:

The modernisation and computerisation of the services of the State, with strong innovation and use of new technology in public administration, has allowed the Cape Verde Islands to make great improvements in the climate for doing business, throughout the life cycle of companies in Cape Verde, especially in the founding and operation of companies and, hopefully, also reducing the number of closures recorded up to the end of this year.

To meet this challenge and coordinate all these improvements in the business environment, the Government set up a task force with the Coordination Unit for State Reform, in order to find ways to improve the performance of the Cape Verde islands in these areas, and to coordinate, monitor and assess the implementation of the plan to improve the business environment.

The task force had two main policies to promote development: working together with various Government ministries to improve the implementation of the current policies and practices through effective collaboration, coordinated programmes and also working with institutions which measure the performance indicators for the implementation of policies, seeking to improve the quality and accuracy of the data.

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Tanzania to modernise its Customs Administration
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Mauritius to Modernise the Registrar of Companies
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2011 News

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17 Nov 2011 The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) ran a journalist training seminar in Dar es Salaam last week to build the capacity of journalists on the ongoing reforms in the TRA Customs and Excise Department.

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Rwanda Land Registration
18 Oct 2011 The Government of Rwanda, with ICF support, has created a cost effective, efficient titling system allowing rapid registration of land.

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Rwanda makes strides to improve capacity of energy sector
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Cape Verde – A beaming example for other African nations
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2010 News

ICF supports reform in the Tanzanian Police Force
14 Dec 2010 The Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) signed an agreement today with the Tanzanian Police Force to support a project to reform the police, facilitate regional movement of goods and improve security on the highways.

Zambian Judiciary Extends Reforms
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Boost to Investor Confidence as Tanzania Unveils Modernised Judiciary
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The Cape Verde Islands Are Among The 10 Most Reformist Countries In The Business Environment
4 Nov 2010 The Republic of Cape Verde has made it into the top rankings in the report Doing Business 2011: Making a Difference for Entrepreneurs, appearing in the top 10 countries in the worldwide rankings for improving the ease of doing business over the last year.

ICF has won the prestigious ‘Best International Campaign’ award at the 2010 Public Relations Consultancy Awards (PRCAs)
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The ICF Contributors Forum
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ICF Announces Investment Climate Summit in Tanzania
30 Mar 2010 The Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) today announced it will hold its Investment Climate Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Zambia Judiciary Goes Digital
29 Mar 2010 The ICF has announced today that the first phase to modernise the Zambia Judiciary system was successfully launched on 26 March 2010. The first phase focused on the Supreme, High and Magistrate Courts in Lusaka.

ICF and Government of Mauritius Announce Project to Modernise Mauritian Judiciary
8 Mar 2010 The ICF has announced a new project in partnership with the Government of Mauritius that will deliver further improvements to the country’s commercial justice system.

2009 News

ICF and Government of Senegal Announce Further Boost to Investment Climate
1 Dec 2009 The Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) today announced two new projects in partnership with the Government of Senegal, set to deliver further improvements to the country’s business environment.

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Paris Plays Host to Africa’s Most Ambitious Journalist Training Programme
19 Oct 2009 Paris played host to a groundbreaking training programme for African journalists, organised by the Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) and the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

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ICF and Government of Rwanda Announce New Project to Modernise Tax Administration
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ICF commends Rwanda on being named “top reformer” in the World Bank’s ‘Doing Business 2010’ report
11 Sep 2009 The Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) today commends Rwanda for becoming the first Sub-Saharan African economy to be named “top reformer”.

Maputo plays host to Groundbreaking Journalist Training Programme
1 Sep 2009 Maputo played host to a groundbreaking journalist training programme, organised by the Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) and the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

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ICF and the Government of Sierra Leone Announce Registry General Project to Boost the Local Investment Climate
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ICF Announces Project to Harmonise Commercial Laws in the East African Community
20 Aug 2009 The Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) has today announced a project in partnership with the member states of the East African Community (EAC) to harmonise commercial laws within the region.

Government of Cape Verde and ICF Announce Business Life Cycle Services Partnership
17 Aug 2009 The Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) has today announced an 18 month project with the Government of Cape Verde to improve business life cycle services.

Call for Applicants to Groundbreaking Journalist Training Course in Maputo, Mozambique
14 Jul 2009 The Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) and the Thomson Reuters Foundation have today announced a call for applications to the groundbreaking business journalism training course being held in Maputo, Mozambique.

Call for Applicants to Groundbreaking Journalist Training Course in Abidjan, Ivory Coast
26 Jun 2009 The Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) and the Thomson Reuters Foundation have today announced a call for applications to the groundbreaking business journalism training course being held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Nigeria Plays Host to Groundbreaking Journalist Training Course
15 Jun 2009 The Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) and the Thomson Reuters Foundation have today confirmed the next session of their groundbreaking business journalism training course will be held in Nigeria.

Second Annual General Meeting
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Zambia Plays Host to Africa’s Most Ambitious Journalist Training Course
28 May 2009 ICF and the Thomson Reuters Foundation have announced a final call for applications to the groundbreaking business journalism training course being held in Senegal later this month.

African countries making progress on investment climates
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Invitation to submit pre-qualification information and detailed implementation proposals
18 May 2009 ICF invites submission of proposals for an assignment to harmonise commercial laws of the EAC Partner States.

East African Journalists Called To Apply To ICF and Thomson Reuters Foundation Training Course in Zambia
30 Apr 2009 ICF and the Thomson Reuters Foundation have launched a call for applications to the business journalism training course being held in Lusaka, Zambia later this month.

ICF announces two projects to increase investor confidence in Sierra Leone
30 Apr 2009 ICF announced a project in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone to improve Sierra Leone’s airport infrastructure to help make troublesome travel a thing of the past for visitors to the West African country. A second ICF project will speed up commercial justice and dispute resolution in Sierra Leone.

Last Call for Applicants to ICF and Thomson Reuters Foundation Journalist Training Course in Senegal
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ICF and Government of Senegal Transform Port of Dakar’s Customs Administration
20 Mar 2009 ICF announced the second phase of its project in partnership with the Government of Senegal to improve customs administration in the Port of Dakar.

ICF and the Government of Mali Announce Boost for Investors
6 Mar 2009 ICF announced a partnership with the Government of Mali to implement two new projects that will reduce the time and costs businesses spend resolving commercial and fiscal disputes.

ICF and Thomson Reuters Foundation Launch Africa’s Most Ambitious Journalist Training Programme
23 Jan 2009 ICF and the Thomson Reuters Foundation announced a new partnership that will offer a groundbreaking training programme for business journalism in Africa.

2008 News

Zambia to Speed Up Court Case Decisions
5 Dec 2008 ICF signed a landmark agreement with the Government of Zambia to speed up court cases in a move to improve the country’s investment climate.

Investment Climate Facility for Africa to Support Power Sector Development in Rwanda
30 Oct 2008 ICF signed an agreement with the Government of Rwanda for a power sector project that will enhance the country’s investment potential.

Africa’s Investment Climate Facility to Boost Sierra Leone’s Investment Climate
8 Oct 2008 ICF held a press conference in Freetown, Sierra Leone on 8th October.

Investment Climate Facility increases footprint in Africa
17 Sep 2008 ICF announced new projects in Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Sierra Leone and Zambia.

ICF held its first Annual General Meeting
17 Sep 2008 ICF contributors were delighted with the progress ICF has made to date.

Tanzania Announces Programme to Modernise Judiciary System
7 May 2008 Tanzania announced programme to modernise its judiciary system.

Liberia Announces Reform Programme To Formalise Business
22 Jan 2008 Liberia announced reform programme to formalise business.

Notes to editors

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The Investment Climate Facility for Africa is a unique public-private partnership between government and business that aims to help Africa create a more attractive business environment and realise its potential as a global player and trading partner. ICF works to remove real and perceived obstacles to domestic and foreign investment by assisting Africans to prepare and promote the continent as an investment destination. ICF has the support of Africa institutions, international development partners and private sector companies.
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ICF is supported by a range of corporate investors and development partners, as well as African governments, who have all proved receptive to ICF's vision of an improved investment climate for Africa. African Governments working in partnership with ICF include: Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Liberia, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo and Zambia, as well as the East African Community and OHADA. ICF’s Corporate Partners include: Anglo American, Coca-Cola, SAB Miller, Sasol, Standard Bank and Unilever. Development partners include: Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, South Africa, United Kingdom, Africa Development Bank and the International Finance Corporation.

For more information or to request an interview with an ICF spokesperson, please contact:

Emilienne Macauley, Tel : +255 22 212 9211 emacauley@icfafrica.org
Neema Mosha, Tel : +255 22 212 9211 nmosha@icfafrica.org