About

Business Facilitation

UNCTAD started its business facilitation program in 2005 to help governments improve the enabling environment for business by streamlining administrative processes and mobilizing technology. Since then the business facilitation team has built administrative websites in over 28 countries. It has developed a methodology for simplification (eSimplification) and world-class web platforms that describe administrative processes (eRegulations), allow simultaneous online registrations with several agencies (eRegistrations), and facilitate trade (Trade Portal). These Tools and ongoing systems development and research are funded by governments and donors.

 

Business Facilitation

eRegulations

eRegistrations

Trade Portal

GER

Websites

U.S. Investment Climate Statement (see section 8 on transparency of the regulatory system; reports available on more than 170 countries)
Sustainable Development Goal 8, Target 8.3 "encourage the formalization and growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.."
UNCTAD formalize the informal sector (Business Facilitation Programs in more than 25 countries, results, research and videos)
World Bank Doing Business Reports & Indicators (Business regulations & their enforcement across 189 economies)
ILO reports "the informal economy comprises half to three-quarters of all non-agricultural employment in developing countries."
Database on informal employment in 47 countries by gender.
Women are three times more likely than men to be working in the informal economy. Formalization is the first step toward accessing financial services.
The 2014 corruption perceptions index measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption in 175 countries and territories.
62 percent of the world’s adult population had a bank account in 2014; up from 51 percent in 2011.

Research

Six lessons learned to help governments make businesses registration easier. 2016, March
Let's keep things simple. UNCTAD's Frank Grozel explains why laws and regulations don't have to be complicated.2015, September
Over 85% of the world’s MSMEs are in developing countries and of those about 90% operate in the extralegal or “informal” economy (page 7, para 20). 2015, August
ILO labor standard (R204) recommends that ILO members facilitate workers’ transition from the informal to the formal economy. 2015, June
OECD Policy Framework for Investment (Investment facilitation, p. 45-54, GER.co referenced page 53)2015, April
Five Benefits of Registering a Business Houston Chronicle, Texas, USA2015
Why and how to register your small business(USA) 2012, September
Statistics on employment
in the informal economy2012, June
UNCTAD - Public investment in administrative efficiency for business facilitation- sharing best practices2010, February
UNCTAD - Releasing productive capacities and boosting enterprise development through improved transparency, simplification and automation of administrative procedures2009, May
OECD - Is Informal Normal? Messages,figures and data Nearly two-thirds of the world’s 3 billion workers are informally employed.2009, March

eRegulations

Trade Portal - en

Trade Portal - fr

GER

November

 2019

Enabling Tax Payments
A Novel Approach to Reducing Violence and Poverty in El Salvador

August

 2019

El Salvador Case Study by Ann LOW, US Department of State Combat Corruption by Enabling Tax Payment

October

 2016

Excellence in government through user-centric design.

August

 2016

Cameroon Minister of SMEs press conference on GER.co award for the country's online business registration system.
Watch from Min.7

July

 2016

GER distinguishes Bhutan and Cameroon as top reformers

 

Reforming everything, everywhere, all at once

June

 2016

GEN, UNCTAD, U.S. State Department Partner to Ease Business Registration Worldwide

May

 2016

GER.co is a starting guide for entrepreneurs and governments
Oman’s Invest Easy website receives perfect rating on GER.co
Six lessons learned to help governments make businesses registration easier.
Improving the process and incentives for business registration is a U.S. and global priority.
GER.co presented to U.S. Ambassadors at Chiefs of Mission Conference
GER helps GEN Country Affiliates accelerate new firm formation by identifying bottlenecks.

January

 2016

Kenya first investment facilitation e-platform launched.
Business registrations are fuel for global prosperity.

September

 2015

Let's keep things simple. UNCTAD's Frank Grozel explains why laws and regulations don't have to be complicated.
Vietnam is ranked among the best countries in ger.co thanks to the eRegulations system.
U.S. Investment Climate Statements (see section 8 on transparency of the regulatory system; reports available on more than 170 countries)
Go Green by 2019 - Make registration easy everywhere by 2019

April

 2015

New Business Registration Portal Goes Global: Registering businesses is essential to economic growth and good governance.
Ten Guiding Principles to encourage Foreign Direct Investment: Principle 7 is “Remove red tape (minimize bureaucracy).”
Improving the Investment Climate – a Roadmap for Governments: Simple, online processes improve the investment climate.
See page 24-25
White House Summit to Counter Violent Extremism identified GER.co as a community-led solution to address extremism by facilitating economic opportunity through entrepreneurship, and good governance. See bullet 9

October

 2014

UNCTAD press release: Global Enterprise Registration portal launched during World Investment Forum.
Launch of GER.co: GEW and UNCTAD partner to ease startup registrations.
2016,

February

 - APEC
2016,

January

 - OECD
2015,

November

 - ILO
2015,

October

 - UNCITRAL
2015,

October

 - ANDI