Central America's economic performance in recent years has benefited from improved macroeconomic management, a favorable external environment, as well as rising investor confidence since the region has pursued greater access to global markets, particularly with the signing Dominican Republic,...

This report addresses the following issues: Chapter one takes stock of the integration policies implemented since the early 1970s and assessed their impact on foreign direct investments (FDI), exports and employment. Chapter two looks at today's major challenges in the manufacturing sector and...

Successive armed conflicts, which lasted almost three decades after independence, have devastated Angola and its economy. However, since the peace accord of April 2002, Angolans have begun a transition toward national reconciliation and lasting peace. For the Government of Angola (GoA), one of...

The objective of the Costa Rica Investment Climate Assessment (ICA) is to evaluate constraints on growth of the private sector in Costa Rica using a survey of 343 manufacturing firms known as the Investment Climate Survey (ICs) and a Logistic Survey in 75 firms in three export sectors (processed...

The Investment Climate Assessment confirms the importance of the investment climate for productivity in Chile. ICA results show that four aspects of the investment climate (business regulation, infrastructure, finance and technology and innovation) affect Chilean firms in terms of their...

The survey on Lao private sector and investment climate covered 303 firms in six sectors and seven provinces (Vientiane City, Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Luangnamtha, Xayaboury, Savannakhet, and Champassack). The survey included 246 firms in manufacturing covering wood processing, construction...

The aim of this report is to identify a set of concrete steps that the government of Mongolia might take to promote private-sector activity and greater integration with the global economy in a way that leads to job creation, broad-based growth and most importantly, poverty reduction. It does...

The World Bank undertook an investment climate assessment in Lithuania in 2004 as part of its efforts to support member countries through in-depth analysis of major microeconomic constraints in their business environments. Lithuania has made serious efforts in recent years to improve its...

Improving the investment climate in Ecuador is essential for taking advantage of the opportunities provided by a Free Trade Agreement with the US., as well as for promoting sustained growth and poverty reduction, through higher levels of productivity growth and foreign direct investment. A free...

This report identifies constraints to Salvadoran manufacturing firms, in the areas of governance and insecurity, physical infrastructure, access to finance and skills, quality and technology. The report uses a survey of manufacturing firms to benchmark El Salvador with respect to other countries...