2016 certainly was a busy year in the world of trade and competitiveness. As you catch up on your end of the year reading, please peruse some of the noteworthy content from the World Bank Group's Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice.
Connecting to Compete 2016: The Logistics Performance Index
June 2016
The 2016 edition of Connecting to Compete scores and benchmarks countries’ performance on logistics. Germany ranked first for the second time in a row.
Small is the New Big: Malaysian SMEs Help Energize and Drive the Economy
July 2016
Breaking Down Barriers: Unlocking Africa's Potential Through Vigorous Competition Policy
July 2016
A World Bank Group report found that reducing the price of food staples by 10% could lift nearly half a million people out of poverty in Kenya, South Africa and Zambia alone.
Opinion: Globalization is the Only Answer
August 2016
Trade & Competitiveness Senior Director Anabel Gonzalez suggests four areas of trade and globalization where policymakers should put their focus. "Trade thrives in an open environment of willing participants acting in good faith and governed by clear rules," she explains.
The Changing Trade Landscape: Trade Agreements, Globalization and Inequality
September 2016
In this interview with Anabel Gonzalez, the senior director for the World Bank Group’s Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice offers her views on mega-regional trade agreements, the role of trade in reducing inequality and the importance of international cooperation and domestic policies in making globalization work for all.
$300 Million to Improve Employment Opportunities for Jordanians and Syrian Refugees
September 2016
A US$300 million World Bank Group program is supporting Jordan’s efforts to improve the investment climate, attract investors, reform the country’s labor market and grant access to the Syrian labor force to contribute to Jordan’s economic growth.
South Asia's Turn: Policies to Boost Competitiveness and Create the Next Export Powerhouse
October 2016
South Asia’s potential is unquestionable: education levels are on the rise, more than one million young workers enter the labor market each month, and the population of the region’s mega agglomerations and sprawling cities is expanding at roughly the same pace. But will it become the world's next export power house?
Results: Easing Business Regulations in Cusco
November 2016
An IFC Advisory project financed by SECO helped streamline procedures for obtaining licenses and permits to start and operate tourism businesses in Cusco. The reforms eliminated 150 unnecessary processes and shaved three years off the business registration process, making it easier for both local and foreign investors to operate in Cusco.
Why Gender Equality in Doing Business Makes Good Economic Sense
November 2016
For the first time since it was launched in 2002, the World Bank Group’s annual Doing Business report this year added a gender dimension to its measures, including to the annual ranking on each country's ease of doing business. Ensuring that women have the same economic opportunities by law and in practice is not only a basic human right, it makes economic sense.
Results: Getting Kazakhstan's Technology Out of the Lab and Into Global Markets
December 2016
Between 2008 and 2015, a World Bank Group project in Kazakhstan kick started 65 new science-based startups in industries including agriculture, gas, oil, medicine.
Connecting to Compete 2016: The Logistics Performance Index
June 2016
The 2016 edition of Connecting to Compete scores and benchmarks countries’ performance on logistics. Germany ranked first for the second time in a row.
Small is the New Big: Malaysian SMEs Help Energize and Drive the Economy
July 2016
Ninety-seven percent of business establishments in Malaysia are SMEs. These businesses account for 65% of the country’s employment. Malaysia’s 2012-2020 SME Masterplan seeks to advance SME development and increase their contributions to the economy.
Breaking Down Barriers: Unlocking Africa's Potential Through Vigorous Competition Policy
July 2016
A World Bank Group report found that reducing the price of food staples by 10% could lift nearly half a million people out of poverty in Kenya, South Africa and Zambia alone.
Opinion: Globalization is the Only Answer
August 2016
Trade & Competitiveness Senior Director Anabel Gonzalez suggests four areas of trade and globalization where policymakers should put their focus. "Trade thrives in an open environment of willing participants acting in good faith and governed by clear rules," she explains.
The Changing Trade Landscape: Trade Agreements, Globalization and Inequality
September 2016
In this interview with Anabel Gonzalez, the senior director for the World Bank Group’s Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice offers her views on mega-regional trade agreements, the role of trade in reducing inequality and the importance of international cooperation and domestic policies in making globalization work for all.
$300 Million to Improve Employment Opportunities for Jordanians and Syrian Refugees
September 2016
A US$300 million World Bank Group program is supporting Jordan’s efforts to improve the investment climate, attract investors, reform the country’s labor market and grant access to the Syrian labor force to contribute to Jordan’s economic growth.
South Asia's Turn: Policies to Boost Competitiveness and Create the Next Export Powerhouse
October 2016
South Asia’s potential is unquestionable: education levels are on the rise, more than one million young workers enter the labor market each month, and the population of the region’s mega agglomerations and sprawling cities is expanding at roughly the same pace. But will it become the world's next export power house?
Results: Easing Business Regulations in Cusco
November 2016
An IFC Advisory project financed by SECO helped streamline procedures for obtaining licenses and permits to start and operate tourism businesses in Cusco. The reforms eliminated 150 unnecessary processes and shaved three years off the business registration process, making it easier for both local and foreign investors to operate in Cusco.
Why Gender Equality in Doing Business Makes Good Economic Sense
November 2016
For the first time since it was launched in 2002, the World Bank Group’s annual Doing Business report this year added a gender dimension to its measures, including to the annual ranking on each country's ease of doing business. Ensuring that women have the same economic opportunities by law and in practice is not only a basic human right, it makes economic sense.
Results: Getting Kazakhstan's Technology Out of the Lab and Into Global Markets
December 2016
Between 2008 and 2015, a World Bank Group project in Kazakhstan kick started 65 new science-based startups in industries including agriculture, gas, oil, medicine.
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