Administrative Barriers to            Foreign Investment : Reducing Red Tape in Africa

Emery, James J.; Spence, Melvin T., Jr.; Wells, Louis T., Jr.; Buehrer, Timothy S.

Administrative Barriers to Foreign Investment : Reducing Red Tape in Africa

Autores

Emery, James J.

Spence, Melvin T., Jr.

Wells, Louis T., Jr.

Buehrer, Timothy S.

Editor

Washington, DC: International Finance Corporation and the World Bank

Descripción

The book consists of two papers which provide an overview of administrative barriers in Africa, and a very in-depth look at how one country, Mozambique, used a very large foreign investment as a mechanism to begin to tear them down. The first paper is based on a series of country-specific studies on administrative barriers done by Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS) and the United States Agency for International Development. These studies covered Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Uganda. Each country study relied on review of primary materials, laws, and regulations. The second paper is a detailed look at how the administrative barriers that existed in Mozambique threatened to derail the huge Mozal aluminum smelter that was proposed by South African investors. Not only were the barriers overcome for this special project but also the Government used the knowledge gained in the process to reduce barriers for all investors and establish institutions that could facilitate other investments. The message in both papers is that administrative barriers constitute a significant impediment to foreign direct investment in Africa. Many of the administrative procedures required of investors have no real justification. Removal of unnecessary barriers and streamlining other administrative procedures require detailed efforts by governments involving the exercise of significant political leadership.

Palabras clave

BUREAUCRACY, BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, FOREIGN INVESTMENTS, FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS, ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE, FOREIGN EXCHANGE CONTROL, ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION, INVESTMENT BARRIERS, FOREIGN COMPANIES, LICENCING ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, BILATERAL INVESTMENT, BILATERAL INVESTMENT TREATIES, CAPITAL FLIGHT, CAPITAL MARKETS, COLLABORATION, COMMERCIAL BANKS, COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE, COMPETITIVENESS, COMPOUNDING, CONSUMER GOODS, CPI, CUSTOMS, CUSTOMS UNION, DEBT, DEMOCRACY, DOMESTIC MARKETS, DONOR AGENCIES, ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC GROWTH, ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION, ECONOMIC POLICIES, ECONOMIC POLICY REFORM, ECONOMIC PROGRESS, EMPLOYMENT, EXCHANGE RATES, EXPLOITATION, EXPORT PROCESSING ZONES, EXPORT TAXES, EXPORTS, FEASIBILITY STUDIES, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, FINANCIAL MARKETS, FINANCIAL SECTOR, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, FISHERIES, FISHING, FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT, FOREIGN EXCHANGE CONTROLS, FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS, FOREIGN FIRMS, FOREIGN INVESTMENT, FOREIGN INVESTOR, FOREIGN INVESTORS, FOREIGN TRADE, FORESTRY, GDP, GDP PER CAPITA, GLOBAL TRADE, IMPORTS, INCOME, INFLATION, INTEREST RATES, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, INVESTMENT CLIMATE, INVESTMENT CLIMATES, INVESTMENT FLOWS, INVESTMENT INCENTIVES, INVESTMENT LEVELS, INVESTMENT POLICY, INVESTMENT REGIMES, LEGISLATION, LIBERALIZING TRADE, MARKET ECONOMIES, MEMBER COUNTRIES, MONEY SUPPLY, NON-TARIFF BARRIERS, OIL, POLICY MAKERS, POLICY REFORMS, POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, PORTFOLIO, POSTAL SERVICES, POVERTY ALLEVIATION, PRICE CONTROLS, PRIVATE INVESTMENT, PRIVATE INVESTORS, PRIVATE SECTOR, PRODUCERS, PROFITABILITY, PUBLIC SECTOR, PUBLIC SERVICES, QUOTAS, REFORM PROGRAMS, REGULATORY ISSUES, RENT SEEKING, SOCIAL SECURITY, STATEMENTS, STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT, TARIFF STRUCTURES, TAXATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRADE LIBERALIZATION, TRADERS, VALUE-ADDED TAXES, WORLD MARKET