LIBERIA BETTER BUSINESS FORUM (LBBF) Presented by W. Bako Freeman Program Coordinator - LBBF

Objectives Improve the business culture and ethics in Liberia through joint Public and Private Sector Working Groups partnering to advocate, based on technical analysis of viable options. Ensure that the Private Sector is fully engaged as a responsible partner with Government to contribute evidence-based recommendations and inputs into economic planning and policy in a regular and structured dialogue. Develop issue-specific Public and Private Sector Working Groups who will focus on analyzing identified issues/challenges/obstacles and barriers to doing business in Liberia and will together, propose and champion viable recommendations for reform. Support the development of awareness creation, inclusion, consensus building and cooperation within a Private Sector that will be equally as accountable as the Public Sector for providing technical input into public policy.

Structure Secretariat : Program Coordinator Operations Officer Program Assistant Communications Officer Legal & Regulatory Framework Physical & Social Infrastructure Administrative Processes: -Business Startup -Trade Facilitation Institutional Enhancement (Cap. building) Trade & Export Promotion Private Sector Coordination Govt. coordination Private/Public sector members co-chaired by both private sector and public sector champions Governing Board: Minister of Commerce Chair, National Investment Commission (NIC) Coordinator, LRDC (Pres. Office) Private Sector Leaders Governing Board: Minister of Commerce Chair, National Investment Commission (NIC) Coordinator, LRDC (Pres. Office) Private Sector Leaders Governing Board: Minister of Commerce Chair, National Investment Comm. (NIC) Coordinator, LRDC (Pres. Office) Private Sector Leaders Govt. coordination Private Sector Coordination Secretariat : Program Coordinator Operations Officer Communications Officer WG 1: Legal and Regulatory Framework WG 2: Physical and Social Infrastructure WG 4: Institutional Enhance- ment (Cap. Building) WG 5: Trade and Export Promotion WG 3: Adminis. Processes: -Business Startup -Trade Facilitation

Progress Link to Cabinet Level Business Reform Committee (est. by President Johnson-Sirleaf) –Leveraging DB Results Areas of Focus/ Reforms: –Starting a business: Reduction in time from 99 days to 10 –Trading across borders: Number of steps reduced from19 to 7 –Dealing with Licenses: Reduction in time and fees Investment Law –Draft completed and LBBF helping to spearhead consultation along with Office of the President General Business and Associations Law –Review of current law planned and recruitment of experts in process

Progress Cont’d Business Start-Up Reducing costs of starting and doing business Streamlining processes Publication of regulations and procedures Trade Facilitation Reduce the amount of time and effort to clear goods from the port. Establishment of a “one- stop” shop of all related agencies Reduce the number of signatures for customs clearance Legal and Regulatory Framework Legislative changes to support implementation (ex. Investment law, Gen. Business, etc.) Capacity-building/training Dealing with Licenses Reduce the administrative burden associated with obtaining a constrction license Reduction in number of signatures Objectives Reforms Business Start-Up A standard form for articles of incorporation MOFA, MOF and Central Bank will second staff to the MOCI so that the entire process will be completed at Commerce. Approval of new businesses within 10 business days. Trade Facilitation Reduction in number of steps from 19 to 9 Establishment of “one- stop” shop. Standardized forms for export and import Streamlining of approval process/ signatures Legal and Regulatory Framework Draft Investment Law completed Review of General Business and Associations Law planned Capacity building plan for NIC completed and some training has begun Dealing with Licenses Standard checklist that will provide businesses with a list of all required forms and fees Reduction of the approval time from 90 days (as reported in last years' survey) to 30 days. Reduction of the signatures at Public Works from 4 to 2

Communications Newsletter/Website –Template completed and launch scheduled for end of April. Sponsorship of Radio Program: “Business World” –Weekly program Liberian Economic Journalists Association (LEJA)

Next Steps Second Annual Private Sector Day –Planned for 2 nd half of the year Advocacy Training –Partnership with Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) Continued participation on the Business Reform Committee