Leveraging Technology to Support Business Registration Reform : Insights from Recent Country Experience

Governments are revamping their processes for business registration, which can help improve the competitiveness of their investment climates and drive growth in formally registered firms. Company registrars are deploying Information and Communications Technology (ICT) applications to reduce the time and effort required for new businesses to register, improve regulatory oversight by government, and facilitate access to company information. A recent survey conducted by the doing business and investment climate teams of the World Bank Group examines the experience of 34 company registrars in implementing new or upgraded technology solutions. This note discusses the survey's key findings, identifies several factors influencing the registrars' approaches, and summarizes key lessons in choosing and implementing ICT solutions