Competitiveness of, and Challenges for, ACP Countries in the Current International Trading Environment

Ranking of bottlenecks to international business development as perceived by the business community in selected ACP countries (percentage of total responses, text in italics indicates bottlenecks mentioned by both enterprises and associations)

 

Enterprises Business associations
Trade finance  24% Trade finance  32%
Government policies  14% Weaknesses in local enterprises  18%
Bureaucracy  11% Access to international markets  16%
Transport services  11% Infrastructure  13%
Access to international markets  10% Government policies  11%
Inadequate trade support services  9% High duties  11%
Infrastructure  8% Transport services  8%
Taxes  7% Product adaptation and development  5%
Difficult geographical access  7% Weak trade promotion institutions  5%
Weaknesses in local enterprises  7% Bureaucracy  5%
Human resources  6%    
Protectionism  6%    
Foreign exchange controls  6%    
Information on market trends in       
international markets  5%    
Quality control  5%    
Source: Survey carried out by the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO, 1997.