Members of GLCC Solutions have been leading Georgia legal system reform aiming at reduction and simplification of licenses and permits. Georgia struggled with high entry barriers and corrupt practices; up to 300 types of licenses and 600 permits existed for various businesses. With our teams’ contribution overall number of licenses and permits dramatically reduced: 70% cut in licenses (92) and 90% cut in permits (52) was demonstrated. Statutory time limits and ‘Silence is Consent’ was introduced by legislation. Time to obtain licenses has been reduced to 30 days while permitting has been decreased to 20 days.

Georgia has emerged as a global leader in deregulating businesses and improving its business environment. Both are essential features of a small open economy whose future is inextricably linked to its ability to attract foreign investment in a competitive world. With our contribution, Doing Business assessed the Georgian system as the most efficient permitting system in Doing Business Report 2011 and upgraded it to 2nd place in Dealing with Construction Permits. As for Starting a Business reform, Georgia was upgraded to the top 10 of “Ease of Doing Business” ranking in 2012.

Our team designed and implemented new simple and streamlined regulatory and administrative processes of customs clearance which addressed the roots and grounds of the challenges. Entire field has been rotated and in-depth transformation was enacted. In line with drastic Human Resource reform, innovative Customs Clearance Zones (CCZ) were introduced in various parts of Georgia, providing One-Stop-Shop services for customs clearance processes for land, air, railway and sea cargo. Customs Clearance Zones, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week provide customs services for business community via electronic single application system, which eliminated highly bureaucratic, time and cost consuming procedures.

Georgia’s customs now features state-of-the-art infrastructure, a strong client-oriented service, streamlined clearance, and successful implementation of integrated border management approaches, such as cross-designation of border officials, delegation of powers between agencies, and data sharing. Corruption, once widespread among customs and other border officials, is now under control, with a zero-tolerance Cleaning Up Customs 43 policy, commitment of officials to transparency and integrity, and an operational layout that reduces opportunities for bribe payment and rent-seeking.

Our team members have been leading tax reform of Georgia, which ultimately has been named as “4th Least Tax-Burdened Country” by Forbes Magazine. During 2009-2012 Georgia Revenue Service under the leadership of our senior advisers has undergone through the fundamental anti-corruption and institutional reforms including, drafting of new Tax Code in 2010, streamlining procedures of control and supervision, electronic filing, introduction of several mechanisms of voluntary compliance, introduction of risk based audits and other forms of control, drafting procedural manuals for audits and other procedures for better and efficient tax administration.

Reform of taxation increased tax revenue, helping finance better service provision. It also reduced the tax and corruption burden on citizens and spurred the growth of business start-ups. As in other sectors, the key to success was a stronger accountability framework.

One of the most significant examples of conducted reforms has been Public Service delivery, which was awarded prestigious United Nations Public Service Awards at a ceremony held in New York in June 2012.The Ministry of Justice was granted an award in the category of “Improving of Public Services” for its public service halls.

Tagged ‘Everything in One Space’, Public Service Halls are essentially one-stop-shops delivering key services, such as public access to public records, issuing of passports and IDs as well as business registration and registering property.

The old “paper-based” procurement system was transformed to a more efficient, fully transparent and better managed centralized electronic public procurement system (Ge-GP) for all types of tenders irrespective of size and nature www.procurement.gov.ge. Ge-GP system, which is broadly consistent with best international practices, increased competition among suppliers and ensured greater transparency and simplicity of the procurement process. Thanks to greater transparency and competition the Ge-GP has generated more than $ 400 mln savings since its establishment.

Tagged ‘Everything in One Space’, Public Service Halls are essentially one-stop-shops delivering key services, such as public access to public records, issuing of passports and IDs as well as business registration and registering property.