bureaucracy

An independent Catalonia would be the world’s 38th most competitive country

February 24, 2015 05:42 PM | ACN / Harneet Bahal

According to a recent study published by the Swiss research centre, IMD World Competitiveness Centre, Catalonia would be the 38th most competitive state in the world if it were independent. The list, headed by the United States, shows that an independent Catalonia would be 2 places above Spain, which currently occupies 40th position (including Catalonia). The report highlights the strengths of Catalonia such as business efficiency, as well as the weaknesses, which stem from certain inefficiencies of the public sector. Apart from focusing on quantitative indicators, the study also has a section that is based on qualitative surveys of a country’s companies. Catalan executives consider Singapore, Germany, Ireland and the UAE to be the most lucrative for business development and ranked Catalonia 24th on the list, which is 21 places above Spain.

Private companies to be created within 2 days in Catalonia

December 16, 2014 08:26 PM | ACN

The Catalan Government has issued the Bureaucratic Simplification Law, which should speed up the creation of new private businesses. The new bill should make things easier for 75% of new business initiatives, according to the Catalan Minister for Business and Employment, Felip Puig. He explained that entrepreneurs carrying out innocuous or low-risk activities will be able to create a new company and start working within 48 hours, after having signed a responsibility statement, registered the new company and made sure that their premises respect all the regulations. Therefore, it will be the entrepreneurs' responsibility to make sure that the new business respects the legal framework, setting up "a framework of trust" between the entrepreneurs and the Government, said Puig. Once the business activity launches, public bodies may run inspections to make sure everything is in order.

Catalonia’s Single Window for Business eliminates 48 procedures and simplifies 119 others in the first 9 months

September 19, 2012 01:37 PM | CNA

The Catalan Government approved a simplification of the red tape businesses need to get through by unifying all the public institution windows in a single point of contact and by rationalising procedures and certificates. By 2014 it is expected that 20% of the administrative procedures will be eliminated and 68% will simplified, involving procedures at local, Catalan and Spanish level. The measure will represent a €640 million saving for companies, according to the Catalan Government.