New Zealand aids Phl in ease of doing business reform

MANILA, Philippines — New Zealand’s Creative HQ has clinched the project aimed at ramping up the Philippines’ efforts to significantly improve ease of doing business, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

DTI said New Zealand presents as an attractive partner for the Philippines as it led first in the World Bank Doing Business survey for two consecutive years now.

Last year, the New Zealand government provided assistance to the country by conducting a scoping mission to identify hurdles in business registration, while also showcasing its expertise in terms of ease of doing business.

Creative HQ is New Zealand’s innovation base which help startups, businesses and government agencies through various services and programs.

DTI said Creative HQ’s assistance would also support the country’s thrust to leapfrog in the Doing Business global rankings. The Philippines dropped to 113th place in the 2018 Doing Business Report, which measures and ranks the ease and cost of doing business in 190 economies. 

In line with continuing efforts to streamline business permits and licensing procedures, the DTI, as temporary secretariat of the Anti-Red Tape Authority following the enactment of Republic Act 11032 known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, said it is set to implement its first project, Project One, which is designed to develop solutions to improve business registration in the country.

The main objective of the project, the agency said, is to improve ease of doing business by streamlining the business registration process in the country, one that is focused on creating a pleasant customer experience, addresses bureaucratic singularity and promotes governance.

It said Project One would make use of a modern innovation format, particularly a method developed by Google Ventures, to solve specific business problems and validate potential solutions in just five days.

 “Project One is the perfect start as the Anti-Red Tape Authority carries the torch of initiating the tech revolution in the Philippines. With the passage of the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Delivery Services Act, DTI’s efforts at pursuing reforms will be further strengthened. The law mandates all government agencies including LGUs to automate business registration procedures,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said. 

 “We are ready to initiate online application, one form, one number, one portal for business registration, and we could realize this by putting technology to work. We do not just automate the process but transform the way government is doing business,” Lopez added.