The Doing Business team of the World Bank Group is on a two week mission to India for interacting with various stakeholders and to validate data for the upcoming Doing Business Report (DBR), 2017. A Kick-off meeting, chaired by Additional Secretary (Investment), Department of Economic Affairs to interact with the Doing Business mission team of the World Bank Group was held on July 18, 2016 at New Delhi. The meeting was also attended by the representative from Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).

Additional Secretary (Investment) informed that Government of India accords highest priority to the improvement in the ease of doing business in the country. The Government has undertaken various reforms to bring improvements in legislative and administrative structures and to improve India’s environment for doing business. Government has partnered with all States to improve regulatory environment pan-India and beyond indicators of Doing Business Report. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code has been notified which creates a framework for resolving insolvency in the country. The Doing Business team was urged to note the initiatives of the Government in the upcoming DBR 2017. Additional Secretary (Investment) requested the doing business team that while validating the data from the private sector respondents, if the information is found at variance with the information shared by the Government Departments, the team may cross check the information for factual accuracy with Government Departments concerned. Additional Secretary (Investment) also offered support for facilitation, if required, by the Doing Business Team.

The Doing Business Team also met the representatives from different Central ministries and Departments during the day and propose to meet the Departments in the NCT of Delhi and Government of Maharashtra. The team will also interact with the private sector respondents for a feedback on the reforms implemented in the areas of doing business, during their two weeks mission in India from July 18-29, 2016.

Ease of doing business reforms prompt government engagement with Doing Business mission and cross checking of private sector data. Government prioritised improving the ease of doing business through legislative and administrative reforms and partnerships with subnational governments, and highlighted the notification of the insolvency framework. Officials requested that the Doing Business mission cross check private sector data against government records when discrepancies arise and offered facilitation support; the mission will consult central ministries, selected regional governments, and private respondents to validate data and gather feedback on reforms.