10 Best African Countries for Doing Business 2019

Updated by May ,21, 2019

The Doing Business index is a ranking index system, created by the World Bank Group, which indicates the regularity environment of businesses. A higher ranking, which is indicated by a lower numerical value, specifies a stronger protection of property rights, and visa versa.
The World Bank has annually been measuring the quality of worldwide business environments, for the past fifteen years, with its Doing Business ranking system. Over 190 economies have been scrutinized on criteria including: electrification and ease of business creation, the tax burden and the protection of property rights.
Doing Business measures regulations of the labour market (which has not been included in this year’s ranking) and for eleven areas in the life cycle of a business. Ten of these areas have been included in this year’s ranking on the “ease of doing business”. They are:

   •   Starting a business.
   •   Obtaining a building permit.
   •   Connecting to electricity.
   •   Transferring ownership.
   •   Getting credits.
   •   Protecting minority investors.
   •   Payment of taxes.
   •   Cross-border trading.
   •   Enforcing contracts.
   •   Resolving insolvency.

Following this criteria here are the top ten African economies, as ranked in the 2019 Doing Business report.

Mauritius

The World Bank has revealed that Mauritius is positioned in 20th place worldwide, and in 1st place in Africa with a score of 79.58. The country is ranked twentieth place higher this year, from its position in the 2018 Doing Business report.
With a score of 79.58 points (out of a total of 100), Mauritius has improved its ranking in eight of the ten previously mentioned business lifestyle areas.

The ranks occupied by Mauritius under these various indicators are as follows:

   •   Start-up (21st).
   •   Obtaining a building permit (15th).
   •   Connection to electricity (34th).
   •   Registering property (35th)
   •   Access to credits (60th).
   •   Protection of minority investors (15th).
   •   Payment of taxes (6th).
   •   Cross-border trade (69th).
   •   Execution of contracts (27th).
   •   Resolving of insolvency (35th).

The World Bank revealed that Mauritius has also implemented four reforms:
   •   Outsourcing of sewerage design and connection.
   •   Facilitation of cross-border trade.
   •   Simplification of ownership transfers – with a reduction of transfer costs.
   •   The introduction of a recourse mechanism for the publication of service standards.

Rwanda

Rwanda emerged in the top 30 countries of the World Bank’s Doing Business report for the first time with a score of 77.88. Globally, Rwanda is 29st on the “ease of doing business” ranking, compared to the 41th position in last year’s report. In addition, the country has made 52 reforms over the last decade, bringing significant improvements to the environments of business and investment. Notable reforms include that of improving the building permit process, by increasing quality control during construction, with the introduction of risk-based inspections.
Rwanda has made the task of registering goods easier by using online services that facilitate the registration of property transfers. The country has an effective land registry that takes seven days to transfer the property, and it costs 0.1% of the property value. On this indicator, Rwanda is now ranked 2nd in the world.

Rwanda has also strengthened the protection of minority investors by facilitating the prosecution of directors. This has clarified ownership and control structures, and demanded greater corporate transparency. Tax policy reforms have also facilitated the payment of taxes by establishing an online system for filing and paying taxes.
Additionally, the report also states that Rwanda has facilitated the execution of contracts. This has been achieved by making judgments in commercial cases, rendered at all levels, accessible to the general public through publication on the judicial website.
The ranks occupied by Rwanda under these various indicators are as follows:
   •   Start-up (51st).
   •   Obtaining a building permit (106th).
   •   Connection to electricity (68th).
   •   Registering property (2th)
   •   Access to credits (3rd).
   •   Protection of minority investors (14th).
   •   Payment of taxes (35th).
   •   Cross-border trade (88th).
   •   Execution of contracts (78th).
   •   Resolving of insolvency (58th)

For more of the rankings kindly click on the link to view all the rankings for the best place og doing business in Africa