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Viewing cable 07BOGOTA7265, WORLD BANK BOOSTS COLOMBIA'S "DOING BUSINESS"

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07BOGOTA7265 2007-10-09 21:51 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Bogota
VZCZCXYZ0015
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #7265/01 2822151
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 092151Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9378
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7787
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 9393
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 5485
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 0704
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 6086
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS BOGOTA 007265 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EEB/CBA DWINSTEAD; WHA/EPSC JSALAZAR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON BEXP ETRD EFIN CO
SUBJECT: WORLD BANK BOOSTS COLOMBIA'S "DOING BUSINESS" 
RANKING 
 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: According to the World Bank's "Doing 
Business 2008" report released September 27, companies are 
finding it easier to do business in Colombia.  In comparison 
to last year, Colombia improved 13 positions to 66th out of 
178 countries ranked.  The World Bank identified Colombia as 
the top reformer in Latin America in 2007 -- and among the 
top 6 globally -- as a result of progress in trade 
facilitation, investor protection and reducing the tax 
burden. In several areas, USG assistance directly supported 
cited reforms.  However, Colombia slipped backwards in 
facilitating the employment of workers, registering property 
and enforcing contracts.  Local private sector contacts 
acknowledged Colombia's progress but emphasized the GOC must 
do more to expand access to credit.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Progress on Trade, Investor Protection, and Taxes 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
2. (U) Colombia registered its largest improvement in the 
area of trade facilitation, jumping 23 positions as a result 
of its efforts to extend port operating hours and streamline 
duplicative customs inspections.  These steps have reduced 
time in ports by an average of three days.  Colombia improved 
14 positions to 19th in the world for investor protection 
after implementing a decree to require increased 
related-party transaction disclosures.  Colombia moved five 
positions up for its efforts to simplify tax payments and 
filing that cut compliance time by an average of 41 percent 
or 188 hours per year.  The GOC also reduced Colombia's high 
real tax rates on corporations.  Many analysts blame 
Colombia's complex tax system and high rate of taxation for 
fostering the country's high rate of business informality. 
 
USG Assistance Supporting Reforms 
--------------------------------- 
 
3. (U) The U.S. government, through USAID, has provided 
assistance to Colombia in several reform areas commended in 
the 2008 report.  USAID supported trade facilitation through 
the development of a modern risk management model for the 
Colombian customs system and the establishment of 
simultaneous inspection procedures for police, health, and 
customs authorities.  The two reforms eliminate duplication 
and have reduced inspection time in ports by approximately 30 
percent.  In investor protection, USAID assisted the Ministry 
of Finance and Financial Superintendency in organizing the 
securities market information system to require securities 
brokerages to provide more rigorous and regularized 
reporting.  Specific disclosure requirements now replace the 
previous subjective and vague reporting requirements.  On 
taxes, USAID did a comprehensive analysis of the Colombian 
tax structure and its impact on competitiveness that included 
several recommendations incorporated into the GOC's 2006 tax 
reform.  Adopted recommendations included reduction of the 
corporate income tax, elimination of the foreign remittance 
tax, rationalization of investment deductions, simplifying 
tax computations, and eliminating complex subsidy schemes. 
 
Still Room for Improvement 
-------------------------- 
 
4. (U) Despite improvements in several areas, Colombia ranks 
among the least efficient countries (147th) in the world in 
contract enforcement with an average time to enforce a 
contract of 1,346 days.  Colombia also still lags on ease of 
employing workers, starting a business, and accessing credit. 
 Disturbingly, Colombia slid 13 positions compared to 2007 
for registering property.  Finally, even with positive steps 
on taxes, Colombia still ranks 167th in tax burden with small 
businesses paying an average of 82 percent of commercial 
profits in taxes, making 69 tax payments a year and spending 
47 days complying with all tax requirements. 
 
5. (SBU) National Association of Industries (ANDI) Vice 
President Hernan Puyo told EconOff October 4 that the 2008 
report accurately reflected improvements in Colombia, but 
said the single biggest boost for facilitating business has 
been the improved security situation throughout the country. 
He cited limits on access to credit for small and medium 
enterprises as a continuing impediment and said he expected 
contract enforcement to improve as more legal cases are 
handled under the new "oral argument" system rather than the 
previous "written argument" system.  Separately, Hernando 
 
Jose Gomez, President of Colombia's Council on 
Competitiveness, cited conflicting and onerous regulations as 
a major bridle on competitiveness, but said Colombia's 
biggest challenge for long-term economic development remained 
increasing investment in education, infrastructure and 
innovation.  He identified all three as potential areas for 
greater U.S-Colombia economic engagement. 
Brownfield