Introduction
In many countries, Business Climate Surveys (BCS) have proved to be a useful tool not only for private sector development, but also for Government-Private Sector dialogue. In most developing countries, while reliable official data is either released with a time lag or is non-existent, business climate surveys provide unique information about current business conditions as well as about investor confidence level and, consequently, about investment and employment forecasts. Private sector organizations like Chambers of Commerce and Industry, by conducting Business Climate Surveys, thus contribute to providing adequate and reliable tools for rational decision-making in business and economic policy.
The Association of SADC Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCCI) embarked on a process to conduct Regional Business Climate Surveys (RBCS) in the SADC region. The pilot surveys were carried out during June and July 2004 with the financial assistance of the Advisory Services for Private Business (ASPB) in Johannesburg and the technical assistance of the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit (NEPRU). The pilot focused on the manufacturing sector in the SADC region and was conducted by the following private sector organisations:
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Industrial Association of Mozambique (AIMO)
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Lesotho Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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Malawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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Swaziland Chamber of Commerce & Industry
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Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Market research firms carried out the survey in Botswana and South Africa.
The surveys deliberately focused on manufacturing firms because empirical evidence has largely demonstrated the unique capacity of this particular sector to provide activities with high value-addition, growth and employment potential. In this sense, the mood of the manufacturing sector is highly reflective of "investor mood" in transient and developing economies such as those in the SADC region.
The main objectives of the RBCS are:
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Strengthening public-private sector dialogue on SADC and national level with such dialogue resting on empirical evidence;
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Strengthening the relationship of private sector organizations and their members through the former providing value-adding service to the latter;
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Monitoring the business climate across the SADC region to facilitate the policy decision-making process by both political authorities and private investors and entrepreneurs;
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Developing a sustainable business climate survey model for the SADC region to ensure follow-up and the development of a dynamic vision of the region; and
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Empowering national business umbrella organizations to develop business climate surveys for domestic advocacy purposes.
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