Tajikistan Business Regulation and Investment Policy Project

completed

The project includes four components, two of which relate to improving the quality of business regulation in permits and inspections. A third component focuses on improving investment policy in the country and the final component is a cross-cutting assessment of how to improve the quality of implementation of these reforms once adopted. The project has been designed so that these components are mutually reinforcing - better investment policy attracts new domestic and foreign investment; these new investors benefit from a risk-oriented regulatory structure rather than the legacy control-based approach; and these new regulatory tools actually work in practice with effective governance of implementation. Specific areas of activity include the following: 1. Permits. The Project will continue to support permits reform through additional regulatory changes and a stronger focus on implementation of the law. The regulatory reforms include a further reduction in the number of permits, implementation of one stop shop for construction sector permits, and design and implementation of an electronic application for permits. 2. Inspections. The Project will focus on reducing the number of inspections, improving planning, and introducing monitoring tools to promote better implementation of the reforms. The project will also work with other donors to address additional constraints including an IT system and incentives structures within inspecting agencies. 3. Implementation Gap Assessment. The Project will pilot an assessment of implementation quality with the goal of identifying and measuring the de jure and de facto quality of implementation of key regulations at the point of service delivery. Based on this survey, the Project will explore reforms for businesses to report and solve conflicts with authorities in a transparent, rule-based approach. These may include tools to report on quality of service delivery, establishment of a private sector ombudsman, and improvements to existing dispute resolution tools within government. 4. Investment Policy. The Project will conduct a review of investment policy with the objective of addressing key administrative and regulatory barriers for investors as well as streamlining of procedures for investors, including visa regimes and access to the country. The project will also support the government to adopt and implement international agreements facilitating international trade and investment.