2018/19 Budget Communication 2018_2019 BUDGET COMMUNICATION | Page 41

Improving the Ease of Doing Business That brings me to the matter of the ease of doing business in this country. All will know that we have not fared favourably in the annual country rankings of the ease of doing business developed by the World Bank. Indeed in the latest 2018 rankings, which are based on data as of mid- 2017, we placed 119 th out of 190 countries, with our worst showing in respect of registering property where we actually placed 167 th , followed by trading across borders with a 157 th ranking. Improving the ease of doing business in this country is, therefore, a core component of our strategy to bolster Bahamian entrepreneurship, investment and economic growth. In our Manifesto, we were explicit that we would progress public sector reform to create an efficient public 38