Good Regulatory Practices to Support Small and Medium Enterprises in Southeast Asia
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can find it challenging to cope and comply with regulations and adapt regulatory changes. Good regulatory practice (GRP) helps create a stable and enabling regulatory environment for investment, trade, and entrepreneurhsip, and thus supports healthy economies and regional competitiveness. This report is the first comprehensive stock-taking of GRP implementation in Southeast Asia to support local SMEs and their integration into global value chains. For each of the ten countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the report provides examples of GRP tools and approaches in areas such as administrative burden reduction, e-government, regulatory impact assessment, ex post evaluation, and stakeholder consultation. The report also includes an overview of collective efforts pursued at the ASEAN level to promote the GRP agenda across the region.
Philippines
The Philippines is improving its regulatory framework to improve the country’s business climate. Many activities conducted by the National Competitive Council have focused on reducing administrative burden and cutting red tape for businesses. Government agencies across the country are also making meaningful steps to improve databases and information systems to provide practical and timely information to its citizens. For example, the government has automised a number of its services through the use of one‑stop shops or “negosyo” (business) centres to simplify the business registration process. The government also offers programmes to increase small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) capacity to adhere to design and labelling requirements, including information and mentoring sessions organised specifically for SMEs.