Simplifying government regulations

Many countries are trying to speed up government procedures. Brazil, for example, created a Ministry of Debureaucratization to cut down on regulations and licensing. Since 1979, Brazil has eliminated some of the millions of documents previously required from private firms-saving them, to date, an estimated $1,000 million. In the Philippines, the approval time for export incentives was shortened from ninety to sixty days in 1979; exporters were granted advance tax credits or duty rebates on imported inputs only seven days after exporting the finished product. In the Republic of Korea export and import procedures are being computerized. "One-stop" agencies help to centralize and simplify industry's contacts with government. Indonesia converted its industrial coordination board into a one-stop agency in 1979. Businessmen were then able to get licenses that previously involved several different ministries, although bureaucratic remained a problem. Turkey has centralized export promotion incentives in the Office of Incentives and Implementation. The Singapore Economic Development Board acts as the official liaison with foreign investors and assigns people specially to help cut through red tape.