As part of the research and dialogue to identify the most important business constraints for the SADC region,initiated by the SADC Secretariat in collaboration with Deutsch Gessells fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the top ten business constraints were identified and published by the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA). It is difficult to conduct business in the majority of SADC countries, for a variety of reasons which contribute to a regional economic climate that is not conducive to investment or development in general. Business Surveys over the years have identified the lack of stability and predictability of macroeconomic policy,and the unfavourable investment climate, as the primary obstacles behind sustaining and attracting new business investment. The 10 most cited business constraints in the SADC region are:
1.Access to and cost of Finance
2.Tax rates and or administration (including direct and indirect taxes)
3.Access to skilled labour (including issues related to free movement of people)
4.Economic and regulatory policy uncertainty
5.Flactuation of the exchange rate, foreign currency regulations
6.Customs regulations, procedures and bureaucracy
7.Supply of reliable and efficient infrastructure, including transport,telecoms, IT and energy.
8.Corruption
9.Ineffecient bureaucracy including transparency of rules and regulations, business licensing and investment permits.
10.Non-tariff and other trade barriers, including technical barriers to trade barriers, sanitary and non Phyto sanitary measures and standards, quality assurance, accreditation and metrology issues.