| Danial Norjidi |
OFFICIALS from the World Bank Group have acknowledged a ‘comprehensive effort’ from Brunei through a number of reforms and initiatives to address all the areas under the ease of doing business, while highlighting the importance of the caring for the ‘socialisation part’ of the reforms by getting feedback from the private sector and ensuring they understand the changes being made.
Jean Arlet and Edgar Chavez, Operations Analysts from the World Bank Group, have been in Brunei for the past week to meet with various agencies and organisations in the country to collect information pertaining to the ease of doing business in the country, in line with the Group’s Doing Business Report.
The report provides objective measures of regulations and their enforcement across 189 economies. In the 2016 edition of the Doing Business Report, Brunei ranked 84th – 21 positions up from 2015.
Arlet and Chavez spoke in an interview with local media yesterday at the Radisson Hotel. Asked by the Weekend Bulletin what their impressions had been so far of Brunei, Chavez said, “We see a comprehensive effort to address all the areas covered by Doing Business, and we see it’s building on the experience of the past. Last year when I came here, there was a sense of urgency at raising these issues, and we see that work keeps going on; it’s not a one-time thing.”
“These reforms require medium-long term vision, so we see that the vision is on the part of the authorities that these reforms will be part of a larger process of improving the business climate.”
Edgar Chavez (L) and Jean Arlet during the interview. PHOTOS: DANIAL NORJIDI
Arlet also shared his thoughts, saying, “The initiatives by the government really span across all indicators. So what we did is we collected the information that was given to us and now we’re going to follow up with some private sector professionals to see what their experience is, because sometimes what you see is that there may be a gap between the law and practice – there might be something that’s implemented but it takes a little time for the gains to be felt.”
“But if you look at last year’s report, I think the areas where there was room for improvement are areas like enforcing contracts or resolving insolvency, two areas where there’s been considerable efforts in terms of the law or in terms of enforcing contracts and a case management system, so again, those are things that are very encouraging.”
Chavez also went on to share, “What we try to emphasise in doing business is the adoption of best practices, and I think the degree that these best practices are adopted, it becomes easier for businesses to operate.”
Considering the Doing Business Report lists information on the ease of doing business in 189 economies, when asked how Brunei compares to others in terms of efficiency to get reforms and initiatives done, Chavez answered, “What we see in terms of difference is the comprehensive agenda. I think there is also a clear understanding that many of these reforms take some time to be reflected in practice. So many of them have to do with laws, and that might have a more concrete effect, but orders that relate to the consolidation of online services or reduction in times to conduct some services takes some time. But I think the awareness from the authorities is clear.”
Arlet said, “What was also encouraging is, if you look at last year’s report, Brunei does well in some areas, with room for improvement in some other areas. We’re seeing initiatives that are improving some areas of Brunei that were already doing well as well as improving some areas that still have room for improvement.”
Asked if they had any recommendations, based on what they have seen during their working visit to the country, Arlet said, “I think what will be interesting is to see, with a lot of these initiatives and reforms, how the impacts are felt over time, because it’s often the case that when you implement a new law, then people have to adopt a law. When you implement a new electronic system, people have to get used to it.”
“So I think, given all these initiatives, what will be important is the socialisation part of the reforms, and also to continue doing workshops with the private sector so they fully understand what the new laws are, how the new systems work. So that’s very important.
“At Doing Business we often say that yes, reforms and a lot of initiatives are important, but just as important is what you do after that. So that’s something that is important to keep in mind.”
Chavez added on to this, saying, “I think involving the private sector and getting feedback from them on the new initiatives, on what’s working and what’s not working, that’s also key not only in the case of Brunei but in every country that has this agenda. Hearing back from the private sector and continuing a policy of transparency are the keys to success.”
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