Publication:
India's Investment Climate : Voices of Indian Business

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Files in English
English PDF (2.49 MB)
903 downloads
English Text (567.8 KB)
83 downloads
Published
2009
ISSN
Date
2012-03-19
Editor(s)
Abstract
This book identifies key investment climate bottlenecks that slow down growth and poverty reduction. Based on face-to-face surveys of owners and managers of firms, combined with extensive dataset analysis, backed by secondary sources, the study analyses the critical factors that influence day-to-day decisions by firms on how to invest. As a result, it identifies growth-enabling reforms that cover macroeconomic policies, governance, institutions, and infrastructure. To get an understanding of investment climate constraints for the entire economy, the book focuses on four key sectors. The manufacturing sector, both organized and unorganized, is important in that it not only contributes a significant share of the overall gross domestic product (GDP), but it is also critical for employment generation and to the growth of the 'lagging' states. Similarly, the retail sector is an important part of the overall economy in its contribution to GDP and to employment. Finally, the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector, though a small part of GDP, has been leading India's services success story and serves as a good example from which the authors may learn. The book presents illustrative case studies of the key constraints identified, and the efforts to address them, along with policy recommendations. Furthermore, the book identifies a number of issues that require further analysis; in those instances the book should be viewed as a first step to bringing the issues into the forefront. The World Bank Group stands ready to work with the government, private sector, and other stakeholders in taking forward this work to help generate real impact on the ground.
Link to Data Set
Citation
Ferrari, Aurora; Dhingra, Inderbir Singh. 2009. India's Investment Climate : Voices of Indian Business. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2579 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
Associated URLs
Associated content
Report Series
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue
Citations

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Publication
    India's Investment Climate : Voices of Indian Business
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2009) Ferrari, Aurora; Dhingra, Inderbir Singh
    This book identifies key investment climate bottlenecks that slow down growth and poverty reduction. Based on face-to-face surveys of owners and managers of firms, combined with extensive dataset analysis, backed by secondary sources, the study analyses the critical factors that influence day-to-day decisions by firms on how to invest. As a result, it identifies growth-enabling reforms that cover macroeconomic policies, governance, institutions, and infrastructure. To get an understanding of investment climate constraints for the entire economy, the book focuses on four key sectors. The manufacturing sector, both organized and unorganized, is important in that it not only contributes a significant share of the overall gross domestic product (GDP), but it is also critical for employment generation and to the growth of the 'lagging' states. Similarly, the retail sector is an important part of the overall economy in its contribution to GDP and to employment. Finally, the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector, though a small part of GDP, has been leading India's services success story and serves as a good example from which the authors may learn. The book presents illustrative case studies of the key constraints identified, and the efforts to address them, along with policy recommendations. Furthermore, the book identifies a number of issues that require further analysis; in those instances the book should be viewed as a first step to bringing the issues into the forefront. The World Bank Group stands ready to work with the government, private sector, and other stakeholders in taking forward this work to help generate real impact on the ground.
  • Publication
    Madagascar : Back to the Future on the Road to Sustained and Balanced Growth, Country Economic Memorandum, Volume 2, Annexes
    (Washington, DC, 2008-12) World Bank
    The objective of this study is to accompany Malagasy authorities in their transition towards economic emergence. If the contribution of foreign capital and the abundance of natural resources should help the Malagasy economy escape from the poverty trap by increasing its domestic savings and investment capacities, as well as its technological capacities. International experience reminds us that this transition is far from being automatic. Indeed, there are more examples of countries that have failed than of those who have succeeded. The successes of Chile, Tunisia, Malaysia, Mauritius, and Botswana can inspire the Malagasy policy makers while showing them which economic policy choices become imperative. This study is divided into four parts. The first part begins with an analysis of Madagascar's economic performance, trying to recall its fragility in spite of the good results recorded over these last few years. This fragility will be highlighted through the relatively narrow basis of the economic growth that has greatly relied on foreign capital inflows, putting the need to follow an adequate foreign exchange management policy at the center of the agenda and, thus, minimize its possible negative impact on exports. The second part will focus on the issue of private sector promotion. Recent diagnoses of Madagascar's economy and the strategy adopted by Malagasy authorities (with the support of its development partners) have shown that to be sustained and shared out over time, economic growth will have to rely on a dynamic and competitive private sector. The third part is dedicated to sharing the fruits of economic growth by giving a special emphasis to the distribution of the benefits related to the large mining and tourism investment projects within the population. These large projects represent a unique opportunity for Madagascar's development but also undoubtedly a danger if they do not allow the emergence of spillover effects among the local businesses and labor force. Finally, the fourth and final part proposes an agenda of economic reforms. Ambition is not to formulate a patchy list of proposals, but rather to propose a series of options that will help address the issues of competitiveness and shared growth that are central to the success of the current strategy followed by the Malagasy authorities.
  • Publication
    Madagascar : Back to the Future on the Road to Sustained and Balanced Growth, Country Economic Memorandum, Volume 1, Main Report
    (Washington, DC, 2008-12) World Bank
    The objective of this study is to accompany Malagasy authorities in their transition towards economic emergence. If the contribution of foreign capital and the abundance of natural resources should help the Malagasy economy escape from the poverty trap by increasing its domestic savings and investment capacities, as well as its technological capacities. International experience reminds us that this transition is far from being automatic. Indeed, there are more examples of countries that have failed than of those who have succeeded. The successes of Chile, Tunisia, Malaysia, Mauritius, and Botswana can inspire the Malagasy policy makers while showing them which economic policy choices become imperative. This study is divided into four parts. The first part begins with an analysis of Madagascar's economic performance, trying to recall its fragility in spite of the good results recorded over these last few years. This fragility will be highlighted through the relatively narrow basis of the economic growth that has greatly relied on foreign capital inflows, putting the need to follow an adequate foreign exchange management policy at the center of the agenda and, thus, minimize its possible negative impact on exports. The second part will focus on the issue of private sector promotion. Recent diagnoses of Madagascar's economy and the strategy adopted by Malagasy authorities (with the support of its development partners) have shown that to be sustained and shared out over time, economic growth will have to rely on a dynamic and competitive private sector. The third part is dedicated to sharing the fruits of economic growth by giving a special emphasis to the distribution of the benefits related to the large mining and tourism investment projects within the population. These large projects represent a unique opportunity for Madagascar's development but also undoubtedly a danger if they do not allow the emergence of spillover effects among the local businesses and labor force. Finally, the fourth and final part proposes an agenda of economic reforms. Ambition is not to formulate a patchy list of proposals, but rather to propose a series of options that will help address the issues of competitiveness and shared growth that are central to the success of the current strategy followed by the Malagasy authorities.
  • Publication
    Uganda - Moving Beyond Recovery : Investment and Behavior Change, For Growth, Volume 1. Summary and Recommendations
    (Washington, DC, 2007-09) World Bank
    In 2006 most of the people of Uganda, with the notable exception of those in the conflict-blighted Northern Region, enjoy a better quality of life and brighter opportunities in a stable and growing economy. Uganda's economy has bounced back beyond what could be regarded as recovery, with real incomes per person now exceeding the levels reached at Independence in 1962. The report structure is as follows: volume one synthesizes the conclusions from analysis in Volume two. In Chapter 1 of Volume two, emphasis is placed on understanding what drove past growth at macro and sector levels, and in particular, on how Uganda's firms and farms have evolved. Chapter 2 continues the retrospective of past growth in agriculture, the most important sector of the economy. The report provides a comprehensive review of growth trends in agriculture, using several data sources. The chapter provides fresh insights on recent trends in poverty and inequality. Chapter 3 presents growth diagnosis and it identifies short-term actions to remove emerging constraints to present and near-term future growth. Chapter 4 models alternative future growth paths and the impact o f alternative public investments on growth using a SAM-based CGE model. The analysis reveals there is little to be gained from 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' for example fixing infrastructure by reducing education financing. Chapters 6 and 7 return to the short-term priorities to remove binding constraints to growth, and put meat on the actions identified in Chapter 3 as being required in the financial sector (Chapter 6) and in infrastructure (Chapter 7). Finally, Chapter 8 ends by assessing the scope for an externally financed scale up of infrastructure.
  • Publication
    Sustainability of Pension Systems in the New EU member States and Croatia : Coping with Aging Challenges and Fiscal Pressures
    (Washington, DC : World Bank, 2008) Kąsek, Leszek; Laursen, Thomas; Skrok, Emilia
    This report concerns recent pension reforms in Europe. Over the last decade, pension reform has been a major issue on the political agenda across Europe. All European countries are profoundly affected by aging populations resulting from lower fertility and increased life expectancy. In order to make pension systems more sustainable in light of prospective demographic developments, and in some cases to address current financing problems, EU10+1countries have been reforming their pension systems since the mid-1990s. The reforms have combined measures to delay retirement, link benefits more closely to contributions, and diversify risk. Three major forces drive the ageing process: increasing life expectancy, low fertility rates, and finally the baby-boom generation reaching retirement age. All these factors, even in countries where the system is currently fiscally balanced, will produce a major financial challenge for pension systems over the coming decades when the number of pensioners will rapidly increase and the size of the working-age population diminish. This report conclude that some countries (in particular, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Romania) will need to do more to safeguard the long-term viability of their pension systems, and others face ongoing and future challenges in ensuring equitable pension systems and adequate living standards for all elderly people.

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

  • Publication
    IFC Annual Report 2005 : Investing in Progress with Experience, Innovation, and Partnership, Volume 2. Financial Statements, Projects, Portfolio, and Organizational Information
    (Washington, DC, 2005) International Finance Corporation
    The International Finance Corporation is at the forefront of private sector development: it is redefining how poverty can be reduced and lives improved through a stronger private sector in emerging markets. Accomplishing this goal means reaching people, regions, and sectors that have not yet shared in the overall growth of emerging markets. It means innovation-forging new partnerships with governments and other multilateral institutions, identifying new roles for the private sector, creating products that develop financial markets, and making it easier for disadvantaged people to launch a business or own a home. It means building on significant strengths in many countries and industries-helping established enterprises become more competitive and sustainable as they expand their operations or extend their reach into new markets. It also means bringing to developing economies proven products and techniques, both from industrialized countries and, increasingly, from other developing countries. Above all, it means tailoring global expertise to local needs. This annual report outlines the strategic objectives of the institution in expanding access to finance, increasing private participation in key sectors, helping successful enterprises grow, focusing where needs are greatest, and ensuring sustainability.
  • Publication
    Policy Options for Liberalizing Philippine Maritime Cabotage Restrictions
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-07) World Bank Group
    The purpose of this policy note is to present reform options on cabotage liberalization. The goal of cabotage liberalization is to help i) foster more competition in the domestic shipping industry, ii) reduce shipping cost, and iii) improve efficiency, maritime services, and safety standards. These, together with complementary reforms in domestic shipping and ports, can help enhance consumer and producer welfare through lower consumer prices, higher household real income, timely delivery of goods, and ultimately, job creation and poverty reduction through greater market access. This policy note on cabotage is organized as follows. Part one provides an overview of the domestic shipping industry and discusses the key issues that it faces. Part two discusses the underlying reasons for the industry’s inefficiency. Part three discusses the concept of cabotage, the cost and benefit of cabotage liberalization, and the cabotage regimes of the Philippines and of selected countries. Part four closes with a discussion of reform options.
  • Publication
    The World Bank Research Program 2004 : Abstracts of Current Studies
    (Washington, DC, 2006) World Bank
    Research at the bank encompasses analytic work designed to produce results with wide applicability across countries or sectors. Bank research, in contrast to academic research, is directed toward recognized and emerging policy issues and is focused on yielding better policy advice. Although motivated by policy problems, Bank research addresses longer-term concerns rather than the immediate need of a particular Bank lending operation or of a particular country or sector report. Activities classified as research at the bank do not, therefore, include the economic and sector work and policy analysis carried out by the Bank staff to support operations in particular countries. Economic and sector work policy studies take the product of research and adapt it to specific projects or country setting, whereas Bank research contributes to the intellectual foundations of future lending operations and policy advice.
  • Publication
    Doing Business in 2005
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2004) World Bank; International Finance Corporation
    2004 was a good year for doing business in most transition economies, the World Bank Group concluded in its Doing Business in 2005 survey, the second in its series tracking regulatory reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business in the world's economies. However, the survey found that conditions for starting and running a business in poorer countries were consistently more burdensome than in richer countries. The top 5 economies on the ease of doing business were, in order: New Zealand, United States, Singapore, Hong Kong (China), and Australia. Slovakia was the leading reformer, together with Lithuania breaking into the list of the 20 economies with the best business conditions. The major impetus for reform in 2003 was competition in the enlarged European Union. Doing Business in 2004 presented indicators in 5 topics (starting a business, hiring and firing workers, enforcing contracts, getting credit and closing a business), so this report updates these measures. There are two additional sets: registering property and protecting investors. The indicators are used to analyze economic and social outcomes, such as productivity, investment, informality, corruption, unemployment, and poverty, and identify what reforms have worked, where and why.
  • Publication
    Doing Business 2010 : Reforming through Difficult Times - Comparing Regulation in 183 Economies
    (World Bank, 2009) International Finance Corporation; World Bank
    Doing Business 2010 is the seventh in a series of annual reports investigating the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 183 economies-from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe-and over time. The methodology for the employing workers indicators changed for Doing Business 2010. Research is ongoing in two new areas: getting electricity and worker protection. Initial results are presented in this report. The paper includes the following headings: overview, starting a business, dealing with construction permits, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and closing a business.