Project Coordinator: Mr. M. H. Khaleque
Project Duration: September, 2005 to October, 2005
Development Partner: South Asian Enterprise Development Facility (SEDF) and Foreign Investors Advisors Service (FIAS)

BEI in collaboration with SEDF and FIAS conducted a review of Administrative Barriers to private enterprise in Bangladesh, targeting six key issues. In the case of Environmental Clearance Certificate, Location Clearance Certificate, Duty Drawback by Customs, Customs Clearances for Equipment and Machinery Imports, surveys of business intermediaries were conducted. In the case of the other two, namely Bonded Warehouse Licensing and Foreign Loan Documentation, firm level surveys were conducted. The surveys were designed to identify constraints faced by the private sector in the process of obtaining these documents. This was done using a generic FIAS Survey instrument, with suitable modifications specifically applicable to the six target issues. BEI hired and trained all required surveyors and data entry personnel for this survey. The questionnaire was pre-tested on intermediaries and firms. Relevant changes to the questionnaire were made. Researchers from BEI oversaw the implementation of the field survey and entry of the data generated, ensuring the quality of the survey. BEI prepared a report on the findings of the survey for FIAS and SEDF.