Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Economy Pro le of Cameroon Doing Business 2018 Indicators (in order of appearance in the document) Starting a business Procedures, time, cost and paid-in minimum capital to start a limited liability company Dealing with construction Procedures, time and cost to complete all formalities to build a warehouse and the quality control and permits safety mechanisms in the construction permitting system Getting electricity Procedures, time and cost to get connected to the electrical grid, the reliability of the electricity supply and the transparency of tariffs Registering property Procedures, time and cost to transfer a property and the quality of the land administration system Getting credit Movable collateral laws and credit information systems Protecting minority investors Minority shareholders’ rights in related-party transactions and in corporate governance Paying taxes Payments, time and total tax rate for a firm to comply with all tax regulations as well as post-filing processes Trading across borders Time and cost to export the product of comparative advantage and import auto parts Enforcing contracts Time and cost to resolve a commercial dispute and the quality of judicial processes Resolving insolvency Time, cost, outcome and recovery rate for a commercial insolvency and the strength of the legal framework for insolvency Labor market regulation Flexibility in employment regulation and aspects of job quality About Doing Business The Doing Business project provides objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement across 190 economies and selected cities at the subnational and regional level. The Doing Business project, launched in 2002, looks at domestic small and medium-size companies and measures the regulations applying to them through their life cycle. Doing Business captures several important dimensions of the regulatory environment as it applies to local rms. It provides quantitative indicators on regulation for starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency. Doing Business also measures features of labor market regulation. Although Doing Business does not present rankings of economies on the labor market regulation indicators or include the topic in the aggregate distance to frontier score or ranking on the ease of doing business, it does present the data for these indicators. By gathering and analyzing comprehensive quantitative data to compare business regulation environments across economies and over time, Doing Business encourages economies to compete towards more e cient regulation; o ers measurable benchmarks for reform; and serves as a resource for academics, journalists, private sector researchers and others interested in the business climate of each economy. In addition, Doing Business o ers detailed subnational reports, which exhaustively cover business regulation and reform in di erent cities and regions within a nation. These reports provide data on the ease of doing business, rank each location, and recommend reforms to improve performance in each of the indicator areas. Selected cities can compare their business regulations with other cities in the economy or region and with the 190 economies that Doing Business has ranked. The rst Doing Business report, published in 2003, covered 5 indicator sets and 133 economies. This year’s report covers 11 indicator sets and 190 economies. Most indicator sets refer to a case scenario in the largest business city of each economy, except for 11 economies that have a population of more than 100 million as of 2013 (Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Russian Federation and the United States) where Doing Business, also collected data for the second largest business city. The data for these 11 economies are a population-weighted average for the 2 largest business cities. The project has bene ted from feedback from governments, academics, practitioners and reviewers. The initial goal remains: to provide an objective basis for understanding and improving the regulatory environment for business around the world. Page 2   for insolvency Doing Business Labor market 2018 regulation Cameroon Flexibility in employment regulation and aspects of job quality About Doing Business The Doing Business project provides objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement across 190 economies and selected cities at the subnational and regional level. The Doing Business project, launched in 2002, looks at domestic small and medium-size companies and measures the regulations applying to them through their life cycle. Doing Business captures several important dimensions of the regulatory environment as it applies to local rms. It provides quantitative indicators on regulation for starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency. Doing Business also measures features of labor market regulation. Although Doing Business does not present rankings of economies on the labor market regulation indicators or include the topic in the aggregate distance to frontier score or ranking on the ease of doing business, it does present the data for these indicators. By gathering and analyzing comprehensive quantitative data to compare business regulation environments across economies and over time, Doing Business encourages economies to compete towards more e cient regulation; o ers measurable benchmarks for reform; and serves as a resource for academics, journalists, private sector researchers and others interested in the business climate of each economy. In addition, Doing Business o ers detailed subnational reports, which exhaustively cover business regulation and reform in di erent cities and regions within a nation. These reports provide data on the ease of doing business, rank each location, and recommend reforms to improve performance in each of the indicator areas. Selected cities can compare their business regulations with other cities in the economy or region and with the 190 economies that Doing Business has ranked. The rst Doing Business report, published in 2003, covered 5 indicator sets and 133 economies. This year’s report covers 11 indicator sets and 190 economies. Most indicator sets refer to a case scenario in the largest business city of each economy, except for 11 economies that have a population of more than 100 million as of 2013 (Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Russian Federation and the United States) where Doing Business, also collected data for the second largest business city. The data for these 11 economies are a population-weighted average for the 2 largest business cities. The project has bene ted from feedback from governments, academics, practitioners and reviewers. The initial goal remains: to provide an objective basis for understanding and improving the regulatory environment for business around the world. The distance to frontier (DTF) measure shows the distance of each economy to the “frontier,” which represents the best performance observed on each of the indicators across all economies in the Doing Business sample since 2005. An economy’s distance to frontier is re ected on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the lowest performance and 100 represents the frontier. The ease of doing business ranking ranges from 1 to 190. The ranking of 190 economies is determined by sorting the aggregate distance to frontier scores, rounded to two decimals. More about Doing Business (PDF, 5MB) Ease of Doing Business in Region Sub-Saharan Africa DB 2018 Rank 190 1 Cameroon Income Category Lower middle income 163 Population 23,439,189 DB 2018 Distance to Frontier (DTF) GNI Per Capita (US$) 1,200 0 100 47.23 City Covered Douala DB 2018 Distance to Frontier (DTF) 0 100 57.24: Ghana (Rank: 120) 50.43: Regional Average (Sub­Saharan Africa) 47.23: Cameroon (Rank: 163) 46.19: Gabon (Rank: 167) 41.66: Equatorial Guinea (Rank: 173) Page 3   39.57: Congo, Rep. (Rank: 179) aggregate distance to frontier scores, rounded to two decimals. More Doingabout 2018 (PDF, Doing Business Business 5MB) Cameroon Ease of Doing Business in Region Sub-Saharan Africa DB 2018 Rank 190 1 Cameroon Income Category Lower middle income 163 Population 23,439,189 DB 2018 Distance to Frontier (DTF) GNI Per Capita (US$) 1,200 0 100 47.23 City Covered Douala DB 2018 Distance to Frontier (DTF) 0 100 57.24: Ghana (Rank: 120) 50.43: Regional Average (Sub­Saharan Africa) 47.23: Cameroon (Rank: 163) 46.19: Gabon (Rank: 167) 41.66: Equatorial Guinea (Rank: 173) 39.57: Congo, Rep. (Rank: 179) Note: The distance to frontier (DTF) measure shows the distance of each economy to the “frontier,” which represents the best performance observed on each of the indicators across all economies in the Doing Business sample since 2005. An economy’s distance to frontier is re ected on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the lowest performance and 100 represents the frontier. The ease of doing business ranking ranges from 1 to 190. Rankings on Doing Business topics - Cameroon 1 28 55 68 82 Rank 109 122 121 125 140 138 136 162 163 176 183 186 190 Starting Dealing Getting Registering Getting Protecting Paying Trading Enforcing Resolving a with Electricity Property Credit Minority Taxes across Contracts Insolvency Business Construction Investors Borders Permits Distance to Frontier (DTF) on Doing Business topics - Cameroon 100 82.39 80 59.74 60.35 60.00 60 DTF 41.67 41.76 37.33 36.34 36.73 40 20 15.99 0 Starting Dealing Getting Registering Getting Protecting Paying Trading Enforcing Resolving a with Electricity Property Credit Minority Taxes across Contracts Insolvency Business Construction Change:-9.93 Change:0.00 Change:+25.00 Investors Change:+0.93 Borders Change:0.00 Change:+0.10 Change:+7.12 Permits Change:0.00 Change:0.00 Change:-1.44 Starting a Business Page 4   This topic measures the paid-in minimum capital requirement, number of procedures, time and cost for a small- to medium-sized a with Electricity Property Credit Minority Taxes across Contracts Insolvency Business Construction Change:-9.93 Change:0.00 Change:+25.00 Investors Change:+0.93 Borders Change:0.00 Change:+0.10 Change:+7.12 Permits Change:0.00 Change:0.00 Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Change:-1.44 Starting a Business This topic measures the paid-in minimum capital requirement, number of procedures, time and cost for a small- to medium-sized limited liability company to start up and formally operate in economy’s largest business city. To make the data comparable across 190 economies, Doing Business uses a standardized business that is 100% domestically owned, has start-up capital equivalent to 10 times income per capita, engages in general industrial or commercial activities and employs between 10 and 50 people one month after the commencement of operations, all of whom are domestic nationals. Starting a Business considers two types of local limited liability companies that are identical in all aspects, except that one company is owned by 5 married women and the other by 5 married men. The distance to frontier score for each indicator is the average of the scores obtained for each of the component indicators. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Procedures to legally start and operate a To make the data comparable across economies, several assumptions company (number) about the business and the procedures are used. It is assumed that any required information is readily available and that the entrepreneur will pay Pre-registration (for example, name verification no bribes. or reservation, notarization) Registration in economy’s largest business city The business: - Is a limited liability company (or its legal equivalent). If there is more than Post-registration (for example, social security one type of limited liability company in the economy, the most common registration, company seal) among domestic rms is chosen. Information on the most common form is Obtaining approval from spouse to start business obtained from incorporation lawyers or the statistical o ce. or leave home to register company - Operates in the economy’s largest business city and the entire o ce Obtaining any gender-specific permission that space is approximately 929 square meters (10,000 square feet). For 11 can impact company registration, company economies the data are also collected for the second largest business city. operations and process of getting national - Is 100% domestically owned and has ve owners, none of whom is a legal identity card entity; and has a start-up capital of 10 times income per capita and has a Time required to complete each procedure turnover of at least 100 times income per capita. (calendar days) - Performs general industrial or commercial activities, such as the production or sale of goods or services to the public. The business does Does not include time spent gathering not perform foreign trade activities and does not handle products subject information to a special tax regime, for example, liquor or tobacco. It does not use Each procedure starts on a separate day (2 heavily polluting production processes. procedures cannot start on the same day) - Leases the commercial plant or o ces and is not a proprietor of real Procedures fully completed online are recorded estate and the amount of the annual lease for the o ce space is equivalent as ½ day to 1 times income per capita. Procedure is considered completed once final - Does not qualify for investment incentives or any special bene ts. document is received - Has at least 10 and up to 50 employees one month after the commencement of operations, all of whom are domestic nationals. No prior contact with officials - Has a company deed 10 pages long. Cost required to complete each procedure (% of The owners: income per capita) - Have reached the legal age of majority. If there is no legal age of majority, Official costs only, no bribes they are assumed to be 30 years old. No professional fees unless services required by - Are sane, competent, in good health and have no criminal record. law or commonly used in practice - Are married and the marriage is monogamous and registered with the authorities. Paid-in minimum capital (% of income per capita) - Where the answer di ers according to the legal system applicable to the Funds deposited in a bank or with third party woman or man in question (as may be the case in economies where there before registration or up to 3 months after is legal plurality), the answer used will be the one that applies to the incorporation majority of the population. Standardized Company Page 5   before registration or up to 3 months after is legal plurality), the answer used will be the one that applies to the incorporation majority of the population. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Standardized Company Legal form Limited Liability Company, Sociétés à Responsabilité Limitée (SARL) Paid-in minimum capital requirement XAF 100,000 City Covered Douala Sub-Saharan OECD high Indicator Cameroon Africa income Overall Best Performer Procedure – Men (number) 6 7.6 4.9 1.00 (New Zealand) Time – Men (days) 16 24.0 8.5 0.50 (New Zealand) Cost – Men (% of income per capita) 35.5 49.9 3.1 0.00 (United Kingdom) Procedure – Women (number) 7 7.7 4.9 1.00 (New Zealand) Time – Women (days) 17 24.1 8.5 0.50 (New Zealand) Cost – Women (% of income per capita) 36.0 49.9 3.1 0.00 (United Kingdom) Paid-in min. capital (% of income per capita) 16.6 25.6 8.7 0.00 (113 Economies) Figure – Starting a Business in Cameroon and comparator economies – Ranking and DTF DB 2018 Distance to Frontier (DTF) 0 100 84.02: Ghana (Rank: 110) 82.39: Cameroon (Rank: 122) 80.48: Gabon (Rank: 132) 76.82: Regional Average (Sub-Saharan Africa) 64.69: Congo, Rep. (Rank: 177) 54.96: Equatorial Guinea (Rank: 182) Note: The ranking of economies on the ease of starting a business is determined by sorting their distance to frontier scores for starting a business. These scores are the simple average of the distance to frontier scores for each of the component indicators. Figure – Starting a Business in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost Time Cost 25 16 14 20 ost (% of income per capita) 12 Time (days) 10 15 8 10 6 Page 6   4 starting a business. These scores are the simple average of the distance to frontier scores for each of the component indicators. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Figure – Starting a Business in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost Time Cost 25 16 14 20 Cost (% of income per capita) 12 Time (days) 10 15 8 10 6 4 5 2 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Procedures (number) * This symbol is shown beside procedure numbers that take place simultaneously with the previous procedure. Note: Online procedures account for 0.5 days in the total time calculation. For economies that have a di erent procedure list for men and women, the graph shows the time for women. For more information on methodology, see the Doing Business website (http://www.doingbusiness.org/methodology). For details on the procedures re ected here, see the summary below. Details – Starting a Business in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs  1 APPLIES TO WOMEN ONLY: Obtain marriage certi cate for national 1 day XAF 3,000 identi cation card Agency : Municipality According to the decree N° 2007/254 of September 4th, 2007 regarding the characteristics to obtain a National identity card, married women need to present a marriage certi cate when obtaining a national ID. Moreover, women need a national ID when registering a business. A certi ed copy of a marriage certi cate can be obtained from the Civil Status O ce in 1 day on average. There is a cost of XAF 3,000 associated with this procedure. 2 A public notary drafts a certi cate requesting to a commercial bank to 1 day no charge open a bank account for the new company Agency : Notary In practice, banks require that a notary public issues a certi cate that the company is in the process of creation (attestation d'ouverture de compte de société en création) before the entrepreneur can open a temporary bank account called "account of company in the process of creation". The registry provides the name-checking service free of charge to notaries or lawyers/attorneys who have access to the court’s information retrieval and relational database. 3 Deposit the initial capital in a bank and obtain a receipt 1 day no charge Agency : Bank Page 7   Under Article 313 of the Uniform Act (the company law of the Organization (http://www.doingbusiness.org/methodology). For details on the procedures re ected here, see the summary below. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Details – Starting a Business in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs  1 APPLIES TO WOMEN ONLY: Obtain marriage certi cate for national 1 day XAF 3,000 identi cation card Agency : Municipality According to the decree N° 2007/254 of September 4th, 2007 regarding the characteristics to obtain a National identity card, married women need to present a marriage certi cate when obtaining a national ID. Moreover, women need a national ID when registering a business. A certi ed copy of a marriage certi cate can be obtained from the Civil Status O ce in 1 day on average. There is a cost of XAF 3,000 associated with this procedure. 2 A public notary drafts a certi cate requesting to a commercial bank to 1 day no charge open a bank account for the new company Agency : Notary In practice, banks require that a notary public issues a certi cate that the company is in the process of creation (attestation d'ouverture de compte de société en création) before the entrepreneur can open a temporary bank account called "account of company in the process of creation". The registry provides the name-checking service free of charge to notaries or lawyers/attorneys who have access to the court’s information retrieval and relational database. 3 Deposit the initial capital in a bank and obtain a receipt 1 day no charge Agency : Bank Under Article 313 of the Uniform Act (the company law of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa), founders are required to deposit the start up capital in a bank or with a notary. 4 Have an attorney/notary or shareholders draft the memorandum and 2 days 2% of the share article of association; sign company bylaws before the notary capital up to XAF Agency : Notary 3,000,000 and 1,5% for the capital from Article 10 of the Uniform Act of the Organisation pour l'Harmonisation du XAF 3,000,001 to Droit des A aires en Afrique (OHADA) states that the articles of association 10,000,000 + XAF shall be established by a notarial deed or by any other instrument that 1000 per stamp (10 ensures legal validity in Cameroon where the registered o ce will be located. Such instrument, together with a certi cation of the writing and stamps) signatures of all parties, should be deposited as originals in a notary’s o ce. They may be amended only by the same procedure. Based on Decree No. 2017/0877/PM, notarization of the articles of association is not required for limited liability companies with a start-up capital of up to XAF 999,999. 5 The Notary or the entrepreneur les the registration documents at the 8 days XAF 41,500 for One-Stop-Shop Registration Agency : One-Stop Shop (Centre de Formalités de Création des Entreprises, CFCE) A notary submits all company documents and forms at the front desk of the One-Stop Shop (Centre de Formalités de Création des Entreprises). The sta will register the company with the Registre du Commerce et du Crédit Mobilier and with the Tax Administration Page 8   . 2017/0877/PM, notarization of the articles of association is not required for Doing limited liability Business 2018companies with a start-up capital of up to XAF 999,999. Cameroon 5 The Notary or the entrepreneur les the registration documents at the 8 days XAF 41,500 for One-Stop-Shop Registration Agency : One-Stop Shop (Centre de Formalités de Création des Entreprises, CFCE) A notary submits all company documents and forms at the front desk of the One-Stop Shop (Centre de Formalités de Création des Entreprises). The sta will register the company with the Registre du Commerce et du Crédit Mobilier and with the Tax Administration . The following documents are required to le an application with the court: • Articles of association (copy). • Location plan of business premises to get exoneration of the Patente. • Criminal record of the directors of the company or sworn declaration • Certi cate of non conviction (normally for nationals or resident aliens who are shareholders). • Photocopy of marriage certi cates (if any). • Declaration of regularity and conformity, drawn by the notary public and signed by the incorporators, or a notarial statement of subscription and payment in lieu thereof. Each page of the memorandum and articles of association must also carry the current scal year’s scal stamp (XAF 1,000 a page). 6 Publish the incorporation of the company in one of the authorized 3 days XAF 57000 newspapers. Agency : Cameroun Tribune or any other authorized newspaper The publication fee for announcing the company incorporation in the Cameroun Tribune is XAF 57,000. In 2015, the government passed a legislation expanding the number of newspapers that are allowed to publish the notice of incorporation. In practice, most companies still choose to publish it in the Cameroun Tribune. 7 Register the company and the employees before the National Social 1 day no charge Insurance Fund (Caisse Nationale de Prévoyance Sociale, CNPS) Agency : National Social Insurance Fund (Caisse Nationale de Prévoyance Sociale, CNPS) The entrepreneur must register the company and its employees with the National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS) to obtain a company number (numéro d'immatriculation). For this registration it is necessary to present the following documents: taxpayer ID (carte de contribuable), registration certi cate and the company's location map. Applies to women only. Takes place simultaneously with previous procedure. Dealing with Construction Permits This topic tracks the procedures, time and cost to build a warehouse—including obtaining necessary the licenses and permits, submitting all required noti cations, requesting and receiving all necessary inspections and obtaining utility connections. In addition, the Dealing with Construction Permits indicator measures the building quality control index, evaluating the quality of building regulations, the strength of quality control and safety mechanisms, liability and insurance regimes, and professional certi cation requirements. The most recent round of data collection was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information Page 9   Applies to women only. Takes place simultaneously with previous procedure. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Dealing with Construction Permits This topic tracks the procedures, time and cost to build a warehouse—including obtaining necessary the licenses and permits, submitting all required noti cations, requesting and receiving all necessary inspections and obtaining utility connections. In addition, the Dealing with Construction Permits indicator measures the building quality control index, evaluating the quality of building regulations, the strength of quality control and safety mechanisms, liability and insurance regimes, and professional certi cation requirements. The most recent round of data collection was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Procedures to legally build a warehouse (number) To make the data comparable across economies, several assumptions about the construction company, the warehouse project and the utility Submitting all relevant documents and obtaining connections are used. all necessary clearances, licenses, permits and certificates The construction company (BuildCo): Submitting all required notifications and - Is a limited liability company (or its legal equivalent) and operates in the receiving all necessary inspections economy’s largest business city. For 11 economies the data are also collected for the second largest business city. Obtaining utility connections for water and - Is 100% domestically and privately owned; has ve owners, none of whom sewerage is a legal entity. Has a licensed architect and a licensed engineer, both Registering and selling the warehouse after its registered with the local association of architects or engineers. BuildCo is completion not assumed to have any other employees who are technical or licensed Time required to complete each procedure experts, such as geological or topographical experts. (calendar days) - Owns the land on which the warehouse will be built and will sell the warehouse upon its completion. Does not include time spent gathering information The warehouse: Each procedure starts on a separate day— - Will be used for general storage activities, such as storage of books or though procedures that can be fully completed stationery. online are an exception to this rule - Will have two stories, both above ground, with a total constructed area of Procedure is considered completed once final approximately 1,300.6 square meters (14,000 square feet). Each oor will document is received be 3 meters (9 feet, 10 inches) high and will be located on a land plot of No prior contact with officials approximately 929 square meters (10,000 square feet) that is 100% owned by BuildCo, and the warehouse is valued at 50 times income per capita. Cost required to complete each procedure (% of - Will have complete architectural and technical plans prepared by a warehouse value) licensed architect. If preparation of the plans requires such steps as Official costs only, no bribes obtaining further documentation or getting prior approvals from external Building quality control index (0-15) agencies, these are counted as procedures. - Will take 30 weeks to construct (excluding all delays due to administrative Sum of the scores of six component indices: and regulatory requirements). Quality of building regulations (0-2) The water and sewerage connections: Quality control before construction (0-1) - Will be 150 meters (492 feet) from the existing water source and sewer Quality control during construction (0-3) tap. If there is no water delivery infrastructure in the economy, a borehole Quality control after construction (0-3) will be dug. If there is no sewerage infrastructure, a septic tank in the smallest size available will be installed or built. Liability and insurance regimes (0-2) - Will have an average water use of 662 liters (175 gallons) a day and an Professional certifications (0-4) average wastewater ow of 568 liters (150 gallons) a day. Will have a peak water use of 1,325 liters (350 gallons) a day and a peak wastewater ow of 1,136 liters (300 gallons) a day. - Will have a constant level of water demand and wastewater ow throughout the year; will be 1 inch in diameter for the water connection and 4 inches in diameter for the sewerage connection. Standardized Warehouse Page 10   and 4 inches in diameter for the sewerage connection. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Standardized Warehouse Estimated value of warehouse XAF 30,142,801.70 City Covered Douala Sub-Saharan OECD high Indicator Cameroon Africa income Overall Best Performer Procedures (number) 15 14.8 12.5 7.00 (Denmark) Time (days) 135 147.5 154.6 27.5 (Korea, Rep.) Cost (% of warehouse value) 15.3 9.9 1.6 0.10 (5 Economies) Building quality control index (0-15) 13.0 8.0 11.4 15.00 (3 Economies) Figure – Dealing with Construction Permits in Cameroon and comparator economies – Ranking and DTF DB 2018 Distance to Frontier (DTF) 0 100 63.07: Congo, Rep. (Rank: 125) 61.90: Ghana (Rank: 131) 59.74: Cameroon (Rank: 140) 58.33: Gabon (Rank: 149) 56.91: Regional Average (Sub-Saharan Africa) 54.95: Equatorial Guinea (Rank: 160) Note: The ranking of economies on the ease of dealing with construction permits is determined by sorting their distance to frontier scores for dealing with construction permits. These scores are the simple average of the distance to frontier scores for each of the component indicators. Figure – Dealing with Construction Permits in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost Time Cost 8 120 7 Cost (% of warehouse value) 100 6 5 Time (days) 80 4 60 3 40 2 20 1 0 0 1 *2 *3 *4 *5 *6 7 8 9 10 11 12 * 13 14 15 Procedures (number) * This symbol is shown beside procedure numbers that take place simultaneously with the previous procedure. Page 11   component indicators. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Figure – Dealing with Construction Permits in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost Time Cost 8 120 7 Cost (% of warehouse value) 100 6 5 Time (days) 80 4 60 3 40 2 20 1 0 0 1 *2 *3 *4 *5 *6 7 8 9 10 11 12 * 13 14 15 Procedures (number) * This symbol is shown beside procedure numbers that take place simultaneously with the previous procedure. Note: Online procedures account for 0.5 days in the total time calculation. For economies that have a di erent procedure list for men and women, the graph shows the time for women. For more information on methodology, see the Doing Business website (http://www.doingbusiness.org/methodology). For details on the procedures re ected here, see the summary below. Figure – Dealing with Construction Permits in Cameroon and comparator economies – Measure of Quality 14 13.0 12 10 9.0 9.0 Index score 8.0 8 7.0 6 4 2 1.0 0 Cameroon Congo, Rep. Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana Sub-Saharan Africa Details – Dealing with Construction Permits in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs 1 Obtain recent proof of land ownership 15 days XAF 6,000 Agency : Ministry of Urban Development A recent proof of land ownership or property certi cate can now be obtained from the Ministry of Urban Planning Development (Ministere du Developpement Urbain). This was previously obtained from the Land Registrar (Service des domaines). Although the o cial fee is XAF 6,000.00, applicants often must pay an informal fee to obtain the property certi cate. 2 Obtain a re clearance certi cate from the Fire Department 7 days XAF 300,000 Agency : Fire Department Since July 2014, it is a requirement to obtain a security instructions clearance Page 12   Cameroon Congo, Rep. Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana Sub-Saharan Africa Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Details – Dealing with Construction Permits in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs 1 Obtain recent proof of land ownership 15 days XAF 6,000 Agency : Ministry of Urban Development A recent proof of land ownership or property certi cate can now be obtained from the Ministry of Urban Planning Development (Ministere du Developpement Urbain). This was previously obtained from the Land Registrar (Service des domaines). Although the o cial fee is XAF 6,000.00, applicants often must pay an informal fee to obtain the property certi cate. 2 Obtain a re clearance certi cate from the Fire Department 7 days XAF 300,000 Agency : Fire Department Since July 2014, it is a requirement to obtain a security instructions clearance issued by the Fire Brigade for buildings that are more than 400 sq. m, which would apply to the Doing Business case study warehouse. 3 Obtain a certi cate of urban planning (certi cat d'urbanisme) 10 days XAF 16,200 Agency : Communauté Urbaine The Planning Certi cate shows whether this is a building land, provides information on the density of permitted construction, and noti es of the existence of easements. It also provides information on whether utilities are available on this land or planned in the future (water, electricity) and nally it provides information on the rules for construction. 4 Obtain the approval of the overall plan and the site plan by the Cadastre 10 days XAF 100,000 Agency : Cadastre The overall plan and the site plan must both be approved by the Registry before the request for a building permit can be submitted. 5 Obtain geo-technical assessment 7 days XAF 1,200,000 Agency : Certi ed companies, such as LABOGENIE, GEOFOR, APAVE A geo-technical study is required by law (Article 3 of Loi n° 99/017 du 22 décembre 1999 régissant le contrôle de qualité des sols, des matériaux de construction et des études géotechniques). The services of a professional certi ed company are requested. Upon completing a soil analysis, the company will produce and sign a report, a copy of which will be included in the building permit application. The permit fee is negotiable. 6 Hire an authorized supervision agency 1 day XAF 2,260,710 Agency : Private Firm For buildings with a surface area of more than 400 sq. m., contractors must hire a private company “Bureau d’Etude” to supervise the construction phase. According to Decree Nº 201/1005 PM/ of May 21, 2014, the Communauté Urbaine de Doula now requires that a contract with a Bureau d’Etude be submitted when requesting a building permit. 7 Receive on-site inspection by the Douala Urban Council 1 day XAF 15,000 Agency : Douala Urban Council This inspection takes place before the building permit approval. 8 Obtain building permit 30 days XAF 302,428 Page 13   Agency : Douala Urban Council Agency : Douala Urban Council Doing This inspection Business place before the building permit approval. takes Cameroon 2018 8 Obtain building permit 30 days XAF 302,428 Agency : Douala Urban Council To obtain a building permit, BuildCo must submit four copies of each of the following documents: • Application (stamped, with forms provided by the Douala Urban Council). The scal stamp and two communal stamps (timbre scal et deux timbre communaux) are required. • Certi cates of ownership • Certi cates of urban planning (Certi cat d’urbanisme) • Block and location plans (plan de situation et plan de masse) • Site, foundation, roo ng, view or elevation, and septic tank plans • Descriptive estimates All plans must be signed by an architect accredited by the National Order of Architects (l’Ordre National des Architectes du Cameroun, ONAC). The company hires a structural engineer, accredited by the National Order of Structural Engineers, to develop a structural design that then serves as the execution plan. Because the engineer signs this document, it is not modi able without his express consent. Although an FCFA 1,000.00 application fee is payable upon submission, the building permit fee is paid upon permit approval. The o cial time limit for permit approval is 90 days. Afterwards, the silent-is-consent rule applies. 9 Receive inspection to verify the location (implantation) 1 day no charge Agency : Service Technique The Technical Committee must then inspect the site and issue a report (Proces Verbal). 10 Apply for the certi cate of conformity 1 day no charge Agency : City Hall of Douala Under the Decree Nº2013/0042/PM of January 2013, the owner of the newly constructed warehouse must apply for a certi cate of con rmity with the City Hall (La Mairie de Douala). 11 Receive joint inspection from the Commite Consultatif 15 days no charge Agency : Comité Consultatif Once the application for the certi cate of conformity has been submitted, the Comité Consultatif must then inspect the site and issue a report (Proces Verbal). 12 Obtain certi cate of conformity 21 days no charge Agency : Comité Consultatif Once the nal inspection is completed, a report is made by the Advisory Committee and the certi cate of conformity will be signed by the Mayor, once the record is transmitted. Request water connection 1 day no charge 13 Agency : Camerounaise des Eaux 14 Receive inspection by customer service for a cost estimate 1 day no charge Agency : Camerounaise des Eaux Two days after the application has been received and process, customer Page 14   service will visit the site to do a cost estimate. The client will be informed of Request water connection 1 day no charge 13 Agency : Camerounaise des Eaux Doing Business 2018 Cameroon 14 Receive inspection by customer service for a cost estimate 1 day no charge Agency : Camerounaise des Eaux Two days after the application has been received and process, customer service will visit the site to do a cost estimate. The client will be informed of the cost estimate and must pay the entire amount. 15 Obtain water connection after payment 50 days XAF 400,000 Agency : Camerounaise des Eaux Installation of the meter is done in 15 business days. If there are more than 50 meters of pipe, then there will be an extension of the network and this will take longer and cost more. The o cial fee is published in every agency and it is FCFA100 000 for a regular installation, of 50 meters. In the case of an extension of the network, such the Doing Business case study, then the cost can go up to FCFA 400,000 Takes place simultaneously with previous procedure. Details – Dealing with Construction Permits in Cameroon – Measure of Quality Answer Score Building quality control index (0-15) 13.0 Quality of building regulations index (0-2) 2.0 How accessible are building laws and regulations in your economy? (0-1) Available online; 1.0 Free of charge. Which requirements for obtaining a building permit are clearly speci ed in the building List of required 1.0 regulations or on any accessible website, brochure or pamphlet? (0-1) documents; Fees to be paid; Required preapprovals. Quality control before construction index (0-1) 1.0 Which third-party entities are required by law to verify that the building plans are in Licensed 1.0 compliance with existing building regulations? (0-1) architect; Licensed engineer; Private rm. Quality control during construction index (0-3) 2.0 What types of inspections (if any) are required by law to be carried out during Inspections by 1.0 construction? (0-2) external engineer or rm; Inspections at various phases. Do legally mandated inspections occur in practice during construction? (0-1) Mandatory 1.0 inspections are always done in practice; Inspections are not mandated by Page 15   law but Takes place simultaneously with previous procedure. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Details – Dealing with Construction Permits in Cameroon – Measure of Quality Answer Score Building quality control index (0-15) 13.0 Quality of building regulations index (0-2) 2.0 How accessible are building laws and regulations in your economy? (0-1) Available online; 1.0 Free of charge. Which requirements for obtaining a building permit are clearly speci ed in the building List of required 1.0 regulations or on any accessible website, brochure or pamphlet? (0-1) documents; Fees to be paid; Required preapprovals. Quality control before construction index (0-1) 1.0 Which third-party entities are required by law to verify that the building plans are in Licensed 1.0 compliance with existing building regulations? (0-1) architect; Licensed engineer; Private rm. Quality control during construction index (0-3) 2.0 What types of inspections (if any) are required by law to be carried out during Inspections by 1.0 construction? (0-2) external engineer or rm; Inspections at various phases. Do legally mandated inspections occur in practice during construction? (0-1) Mandatory 1.0 inspections are always done in practice; Inspections are not mandated by law but commonly occur in practice during construction. Quality control after construction index (0-3) 2.0 Is there a nal inspection required by law to verify that the building was built in Yes, nal 2.0 accordance with the approved plans and regulations? (0-2) inspection is done by government agency; Yes, external engineer submits report for nal inspection. Do legally mandated nal inspections occur in practice? (0-1) Final inspection 0.0 Page 16   does not always control after QualityBusiness Doing 2018construction Cameroonindex (0-3) 2.0 Is there a nal inspection required by law to verify that the building was built in Yes, nal 2.0 accordance with the approved plans and regulations? (0-2) inspection is done by government agency; Yes, external engineer submits report for nal inspection. Do legally mandated nal inspections occur in practice? (0-1) Final inspection 0.0 does not always occur in practice; Final inspection occurs most of the time. Liability and insurance regimes index (0-2) 2.0 Which parties (if any) are held liable by law for structural aws or problems in the Architect or 1.0 building once it is in use (Latent Defect Liability or Decennial Liability)? (0-1) engineer; Professional in charge of the supervision; Construction company. Which parties (if any) are required by law to obtain an insurance policy to cover Architect or 1.0 possible structural aws or problems in the building once it is in use (Latent Defect engineer; Liability Insurance or Decennial Insurance)? (0-1) Professional in charge of the supervision; Construction company; Insurance is commonly taken in practice. Professional certi cations index (0-4) 4.0 What are the quali cation requirements for the professional responsible for verifying Minimum 2.0 that the architectural plans or drawings are in compliance with existing building number of years regulations? (0-2) of experience; University degree in architecture or engineering; Being a registered architect or engineer. What are the quali cation requirements for the professional who supervises the Minimum 2.0 construction on the ground? (0-2) number of years of experience; University degree in Page 17   engineering, architect or Doing Business 2018 Cameroon engineer. What are the quali cation requirements for the professional who supervises the Minimum 2.0 construction on the ground? (0-2) number of years of experience; University degree in engineering, construction or construction management; Being a registered architect or engineer. Getting Electricity This topic measures the procedures, time and cost required for a business to obtain a permanent electricity connection for a newly constructed warehouse. Additionally, the reliability of supply and transparency of tari s index measures reliability of supply, transparency of tari s and the price of electricity. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Procedures to obtain an electricity connection To make the data comparable across economies, several assumptions are (number) used. Submitting all relevant documents and obtaining The warehouse: all necessary clearances and permits - Is owned by a local entrepreneur and is used for storage of goods. Completing all required notifications and - Is located in the economy’s largest business city. For 11 economies the receiving all necessary inspections data are also collected for the second largest business city. Obtaining external installation works and possibly - Is located in an area where similar warehouses are typically located and is purchasing material for these works in an area with no physical constraints. For example, the property is not Concluding any necessary supply contract and near a railway. obtaining final supply - Is a new construction and is being connected to electricity for the rst time. Time required to complete each procedure - Has two stories with a total surface area of approximately 1,300.6 square (calendar days) meters (14,000 square feet). The plot of land on which it is built is 929 Is at least 1 calendar day square meters (10,000 square feet). Each procedure starts on a separate day Does not include time spent gathering The electricity connection: information - Is a permanent one with a three-phase, four-wire Y connection with a subscribed capacity of 140-kilo-volt-ampere (kVA) with a power factor of 1, Reflects the time spent in practice, with little when 1 kVA = 1 kilowatt (kW). follow-up and no prior contact with officials - Has a length of 150 meters. The connection is to either the low- or Cost required to complete each procedure (% of medium-voltage distribution network and is either overhead or income per capita) underground, whichever is more common in the area where the Official costs only, no bribes warehouse is located and requires works that involve the crossing of a 10- meter road (such as by excavation or overhead lines) but are all carried out Value added tax excluded on public land. There is no crossing of other owners’ private property The reliability of supply and transparency of because the warehouse has access to a road. tari s index (0-8) - Does not require work to install the internal wiring of the warehouse. This has already been completed up to and including the customer’s service Duration and frequency of power outages (0–3) panel or switchboard and the meter base. Tools to monitor power outages (0–1) Tools to restore power supply (0–1) The monthly consumption: Regulatory monitoring of utilities’ performance Page 18   - It is assumed that the warehouse operates 30 days a month from 9:00 architect or engineer. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Getting Electricity This topic measures the procedures, time and cost required for a business to obtain a permanent electricity connection for a newly constructed warehouse. Additionally, the reliability of supply and transparency of tari s index measures reliability of supply, transparency of tari s and the price of electricity. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Procedures to obtain an electricity connection To make the data comparable across economies, several assumptions are (number) used. Submitting all relevant documents and obtaining The warehouse: all necessary clearances and permits - Is owned by a local entrepreneur and is used for storage of goods. Completing all required notifications and - Is located in the economy’s largest business city. For 11 economies the receiving all necessary inspections data are also collected for the second largest business city. Obtaining external installation works and possibly - Is located in an area where similar warehouses are typically located and is purchasing material for these works in an area with no physical constraints. For example, the property is not Concluding any necessary supply contract and near a railway. obtaining final supply - Is a new construction and is being connected to electricity for the rst time. Time required to complete each procedure - Has two stories with a total surface area of approximately 1,300.6 square (calendar days) meters (14,000 square feet). The plot of land on which it is built is 929 Is at least 1 calendar day square meters (10,000 square feet). Each procedure starts on a separate day Does not include time spent gathering The electricity connection: information - Is a permanent one with a three-phase, four-wire Y connection with a subscribed capacity of 140-kilo-volt-ampere (kVA) with a power factor of 1, Reflects the time spent in practice, with little when 1 kVA = 1 kilowatt (kW). follow-up and no prior contact with officials - Has a length of 150 meters. The connection is to either the low- or Cost required to complete each procedure (% of medium-voltage distribution network and is either overhead or income per capita) underground, whichever is more common in the area where the Official costs only, no bribes warehouse is located and requires works that involve the crossing of a 10- meter road (such as by excavation or overhead lines) but are all carried out Value added tax excluded on public land. There is no crossing of other owners’ private property The reliability of supply and transparency of because the warehouse has access to a road. tari s index (0-8) - Does not require work to install the internal wiring of the warehouse. This has already been completed up to and including the customer’s service Duration and frequency of power outages (0–3) panel or switchboard and the meter base. Tools to monitor power outages (0–1) Tools to restore power supply (0–1) The monthly consumption: Regulatory monitoring of utilities’ performance - It is assumed that the warehouse operates 30 days a month from 9:00 (0–1) a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (8 hours a day), with equipment utilized at 80% of capacity Financial deterrents limiting outages (0–1) on average and that there are no electricity cuts (assumed for simplicity reasons) and the monthly energy consumption is 26,880 kilowatt-hours Transparency and accessibility of tariffs (0–1) (kWh); hourly consumption is 112 kWh. Price of electricity (cents per kilowatt-hour)* - If multiple electricity suppliers exist, the warehouse is served by the Price based on monthly bill for commercial cheapest supplier. warehouse in case study - Tari s e ective in March of the current year are used for calculation of the price of electricity for the warehouse. Although March has 31 days, for * N o t e : Doing Business m e a s u r e s t h e p r i c e o f calculation purposes only 30 days are used. electricity, but it is not included in the distance to frontier score nor the ranking on the ease of getting electricity. Page 19   Standardized Connection frontier score nor the ranking on the ease of getting electricity. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Standardized Connection Price of electricity (US cents per kWh) 17.1 Name of utility Eneo Cameroun City Covered Douala Sub-Saharan OECD high Indicator Cameroon Africa income Overall Best Performer Procedures (number) 4 5.3 4.7 2 (United Arab Emirates) Time (days) 64 115.3 79.1 10 (United Arab Emirates) Cost (% of income per capita) 1776.9 3737.0 63.0 0.00 (Japan) Reliability of supply and transparency of tariff 0 0.9 7.4 8.00 (28 Economies) index (0-8) Figure – Getting Electricity in Cameroon and comparator economies – Ranking and DTF DB 2018 Distance to Frontier (DTF) 0 100 60.35: Cameroon (Rank: 121) 56.81: Ghana (Rank: 136) 53.44: Equatorial Guinea (Rank: 146) 45.91: Regional Average (Sub-Saharan Africa) 40.21: Gabon (Rank: 170) 28.42: Congo, Rep. (Rank: 181) Note: The ranking of economies on the ease of getting electricity is determined by sorting their distance to frontier scores for getting electricity. These scores are the simple average of the distance to frontier scores for each of the component indicators. Figure – Getting Electricity in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost Time Cost 1800 60 1600 Cost (% of income per capita) 50 1400 1200 40 Time (days) 1000 30 800 600 20 400 10 Page 20   200 getting electricity. These scores are the simple average of the distance to frontier scores for each of the component indicators. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Figure – Getting Electricity in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost Time Cost 1800 60 1600 Cost (% of income per capita) 50 1400 1200 40 Time (days) 1000 30 800 600 20 400 10 200 0 0 1 *2 3 4 Procedures (number) * This symbol is shown beside procedure numbers that take place simultaneously with the previous procedure. Note: Online procedures account for 0.5 days in the total time calculation. For economies that have a di erent procedure list for men and women, the graph shows the time for women. For more information on methodology, see the Doing Business website (http://www.doingbusiness.org/methodology). For details on the procedures re ected here, see the summary below. Figure – Getting Electricity in Cameroon and comparator economies – Measure of Quality 1 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.7 Index score 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cameroon Congo, Rep. Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana Sub-Saharan Africa Details – Getting Electricity in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs 1 Submit application to Eneo and await estimate 14 calendar days XAF 0 Agency : Eneo Cameroon Along with the application (that can be submitted only in person), the client needs to submit the following when requesting an electricity connection: • Location map (“plan de localization”) • Copy of registered lease agreement (if tenant) • Taxpayer’s ID card • Commercial register • Establishing shot (“plan de situation”) 2 Receive external inspection by Eneo 1 calendar day USD 952.38 Page 21   Agency : Eneo Cameroon Cameroon Congo, Rep. Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana Sub-Saharan Africa Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Details – Getting Electricity in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs 1 Submit application to Eneo and await estimate 14 calendar days XAF 0 Agency : Eneo Cameroon Along with the application (that can be submitted only in person), the client needs to submit the following when requesting an electricity connection: • Location map (“plan de localization”) • Copy of registered lease agreement (if tenant) • Taxpayer’s ID card • Commercial register • Establishing shot (“plan de situation”) 2 Receive external inspection by Eneo 1 calendar day USD 952.38 Agency : Eneo Cameroon Eneo inspects the site and prepares an estimate of the connection fees. A contract is signed after the client has paid the fees. 3 Sign contract with and obtain external works from Eneo 43 calendar days USD 19,047.62 Agency : Eneo Cameroon In this case, a unit substation is necessary. All material is provided by Eneo 4 Obtain meter installation and nal connection from Eneo 7 calendar days XAF 664,334 Agency : Eneo Cameroon When the works are completed, Eneo installs the meter. Subscription is also made at the time of obtaining the connection Takes place simultaneously with previous procedure. Details – Getting Electricity in Cameroon – Measure of Quality Answer Reliability of supply and transparency of tari index (0-8) 0 Total duration and frequency of outages per customer a year (0-3) 0 System average interruption duration index (SAIDI) 103.0 System average interruption frequency index (SAIFI) 26.4 What is the minimum outage time (in minutes) that the utility considers for the calculation of SAIDI/SAIFI 5.0 Mechanisms for monitoring outages (0-1) 0 Does the distribution utility use automated tools to monitor outages? No Mechanisms for restoring service (0-1) 0 Does the distribution utility use automated tools to restore service? No Regulatory monitoring (0-1) 1 Does a regulator—that is, an entity separate from the utility—monitor the utility’s performance on Yes Page 22   Takes place simultaneously with previous procedure. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Details – Getting Electricity in Cameroon – Measure of Quality Answer Reliability of supply and transparency of tari index (0-8) 0 Total duration and frequency of outages per customer a year (0-3) 0 System average interruption duration index (SAIDI) 103.0 System average interruption frequency index (SAIFI) 26.4 What is the minimum outage time (in minutes) that the utility considers for the calculation of SAIDI/SAIFI 5.0 Mechanisms for monitoring outages (0-1) 0 Does the distribution utility use automated tools to monitor outages? No Mechanisms for restoring service (0-1) 0 Does the distribution utility use automated tools to restore service? No Regulatory monitoring (0-1) 1 Does a regulator—that is, an entity separate from the utility—monitor the utility’s performance on Yes reliability of supply? Financial deterrents aimed at limiting outages (0-1) 1 Does the utility either pay compensation to customers or face nes by the regulator (or both) if outages Yes exceed a certain cap? Communication of tari s and tari changes (0-1) 1 Are e ective tari s available online? Yes Link to the website, if available online http://eneocameroo n.cm/index.php/fr/cli ents-professionnels- vos-factures-et- paiement/clients- professionnels-vos- factures-et- paiement-tarifs- delectricite Are customers noti ed of a change in tari ahead of the billing cycle? Yes Note: If the duration and frequency of outages is 100 or less, the economy is eligible to score on the Reliability of supply and transparency of tari index. If the duration and frequency of outages is not available, or is over 100, the economy is not eligible to score on the index. If the minimum outage time considered for SAIDI/SAIFI is over 5 minutes, the economy is not eligible to score on the index. Registering Property This topic examines the steps, time and cost involved in registering property, assuming a standardized case of an entrepreneur who Page 23   wants to purchase land and a building that is already registered and free of title dispute. In addition, the topic also measures the If the minimum outage time considered for SAIDI/SAIFI is over 5 minutes, the economy is not eligible to score on the index. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Registering Property This topic examines the steps, time and cost involved in registering property, assuming a standardized case of an entrepreneur who wants to purchase land and a building that is already registered and free of title dispute. In addition, the topic also measures the quality of the land administration system in each economy. The quality of land administration index has ve dimensions: reliability of infrastructure, transparency of information, geographic coverage, land dispute resolution, and equal access to property rights. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Procedures to legally transfer title on immovable To make the data comparable across economies, several assumptions property (number) about the parties to the transaction, the property and the procedures are used. Preregistration procedures (for example, checking for liens, notarizing sales agreement, The parties (buyer and seller): paying property transfer taxes) - Are limited liability companies (or the legal equivalent). Registration procedures in the economy's largest - Are located in the periurban area of the economy’s largest business city. business citya. For 11 economies the data are also collected for the second largest Postregistration procedures (for example, filling business city. title with municipality) - Are 100% domestically and privately owned. Time required to complete each procedure - Have 50 employees each, all of whom are nationals. (calendar days) - Perform general commercial activities. Does not include time spent gathering information The property (fully owned by the seller): - Has a value of 50 times income per capita, which equals the sale price. Each procedure starts on a separate day - though - Is fully owned by the seller. procedures that can be fully completed online - Has no mortgages attached and has been under the same ownership for are an exception to this rule the past 10 years. Procedure is considered completed once final - Is registered in the land registry or cadastre, or both, and is free of title document is received disputes. No prior contact with officials - Is located in a periurban commercial zone, and no rezoning is required. Cost required to complete each procedure (% of - Consists of land and a building. The land area is 557.4 square meters property value) (6,000 square feet). A two-story warehouse of 929 square meters (10,000 square feet) is located on the land. The warehouse is 10 years old, is in Official costs only (such as administrative fees, good condition, has no heating system and complies with all safety duties and taxes). standards, building codes and legal requirements. The property, Value Added Tax, Capital Gains Tax and illicit consisting of land and building, will be transferred in its entirety. payments are excluded - Will not be subject to renovations or additional construction following the Quality of land administration index (0-30) purchase. - Has no trees, natural water sources, natural reserves or historical Reliability of infrastructure index (0-8) monuments of any kind. Transparency of information index (0–6) - Will not be used for special purposes, and no special permits, such as for Geographic coverage index (0–8) residential use, industrial plants, waste storage or certain types of agricultural activities, are required. Land dispute resolution index (0–8) - Has no occupants, and no other party holds a legal interest in it. Equal access to property rights index (-2–0) Standard Property Transfer Property value XAF 30,142,801.70 City Covered Douala Page 24   Sub-Saharan OECD high Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Standard Property Transfer Property value XAF 30,142,801.70 City Covered Douala Sub-Saharan OECD high Indicator Cameroon Africa income Overall Best Performer Procedures (number) 5 6.2 4.6 1.00 (4 Economies) Time (days) 86 59.3 22.3 1.00 (3 Economies) Cost (% of property value) 19.0 7.8 4.2 0.00 (5 Economies) Quality of the land administration index (0-30) 7.0 8.6 22.7 29.00 (Singapore) Figure – Registering Property in Cameroon and comparator economies – Ranking and DTF DB 2018 Distance to Frontier (DTF) 0 100 55.50: Ghana (Rank: 119) 51.71: Regional Average (Sub-Saharan Africa) 44.45: Equatorial Guinea (Rank: 162) 40.00: Gabon (Rank: 173) 37.33: Cameroon (Rank: 176) 36.04: Congo, Rep. (Rank: 177) Note: The ranking of economies on the ease of registering property is determined by sorting their distance to frontier scores for registering property. These scores are the simple average of the distance to frontier scores for each of the component indicators. Figure – Registering Property in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost Time Cost 16 80 14 70 Cost (% of property value) 12 60 10 Time (days) 50 8 40 6 30 20 4 10 2 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 Procedures (number) * This symbol is shown beside procedure numbers that take place simultaneously with the previous procedure. Page 25   Note: Online procedures account for 0.5 days in the total time calculation. For economies that have a di erent procedure list for registering property. These scores are the simple average of the distance to frontier scores for each of the component indicators. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Figure – Registering Property in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost Time Cost 16 80 14 70 Cost (% of property value) 12 60 10 Time (days) 50 8 40 6 30 20 4 10 2 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 Procedures (number) * This symbol is shown beside procedure numbers that take place simultaneously with the previous procedure. Note: Online procedures account for 0.5 days in the total time calculation. For economies that have a di erent procedure list for men and women, the graph shows the time for women. For more information on methodology, see the Doing Business website (http://www.doingbusiness.org/methodology). For details on the procedures re ected here, see the summary below. Figure – Registering Property in Cameroon and comparator economies – Measure of Quality 9 8.6 8.0 8 7.0 7 6 Index score 5 4.0 4 3.5 3.5 3 2 1 0 Cameroon Congo, Rep. Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana Sub-Saharan Africa Details – Registering Property in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs 1 Obtain a copy of the property deed at the Land Registry “Service Des 14 days XAF 5,000 for the Domaines” certificate + 1,000 for Agency : Land Registry (Conservation foncière du Wouri) the stamp attached to the request + The buyer should perform due diligence before entering into a sale 1,000 for the stamp agreement with the owner of the property by requesting a copy of the attached to the copy property deed from the Land Registry. The copy will include all useful of the property deed information regarding the property and its history since its registration with the Land Registry. The party will see whether the seller is indeed the owner of the property and whether the property is encumbered with mortgages or liens. Page 26   2 A notary drafts the sale agreement 3 days Notary fees is fixed Cameroon Congo, Rep. Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana Sub-Saharan Africa Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Details – Registering Property in Cameroon – Procedure, Time and Cost No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs 1 Obtain a copy of the property deed at the Land Registry “Service Des 14 days XAF 5,000 for the Domaines” certificate + 1,000 for Agency : Land Registry (Conservation foncière du Wouri) the stamp attached to the request + The buyer should perform due diligence before entering into a sale 1,000 for the stamp agreement with the owner of the property by requesting a copy of the attached to the copy property deed from the Land Registry. The copy will include all useful of the property deed information regarding the property and its history since its registration with the Land Registry. The party will see whether the seller is indeed the owner of the property and whether the property is encumbered with mortgages or liens. 2 A notary drafts the sale agreement 3 days Notary fees is fixed Agency : Notary's O ce by Decree No. 95/038 of 28/02/95 (article The law requires that the sale agreement be notarized. It is the practice that 188) on a sliding parties ask the notary to draft the sale agreement himself. The Notary will scale: draft a preliminary sale agreement and will take the parties’ nal observations. The notary nally asks the parties to sign the agreement and Percentage rate fees the notary will register the agreement with the tax authorities. based on the property value: 1 to 3 million francs: 4.5% 3 to 10 million francs: 3.0% 10 to 25 million francs: 1.5% 25 to 50 million francs: 0.75% 50 million francs and above: 0.5% 3 Notarize the registered sale agreement 2 days Included in Agency : Notary's O ce Procedure 2 The sale agreement is signed by the buyer and seller, and then by the Notary. The Notary's signature makes the document o cial and authentic. Subsequently, the document will be presented to the Service des Impôts for registration. After this formality, the Notary will be able to submit a request for the transfer of property, to which will be attached and original copy of the title, addressed to the Conservateur. 4 Register the sale agreement with the Tax Authorities “Centre 7 days 15% of the Property divisionnaire des Impôts” Value Agency : Tax Authority (Centre Spécialisé des Impôts des Professions Libérales et de l'Immobilier) The sale agreement should be registered with the tax authorities. The sale Page 27   agreement registration fees would amount to 15% of the sale value. for the transfer of property, to which will be attached and original copy of Doing the 2018 to title, addressed Business the Conservateur. Cameroon 4 Register the sale agreement with the Tax Authorities “Centre 7 days 15% of the Property divisionnaire des Impôts” Value Agency : Tax Authority (Centre Spécialisé des Impôts des Professions Libérales et de l'Immobilier) The sale agreement should be registered with the tax authorities. The sale agreement registration fees would amount to 15% of the sale value. 5 Final transfer of the property title with the Land Registry “Service des 60 days 2% of the property Domaines” value Agency : Land Registry (Conservation foncière du Wouri) The form can now be taken to the Land Registry and le a request of transfer of property. It can take up to 2 months before the title is e ectively transferred to the buyer. Takes place simultaneously with previous procedure. Details – Registering Property in Cameroon – Measure of Quality Answer Score Quality of the land administration index (0-30) 7.0 Reliability of infrastructure index (0-8) 2.0 What is the institution in charge of immovable property registration? Land Registry of Wouri (Conservation foncière du Wouri) In what format are the majority of title or deed records kept in the largest business city Paper 0.0 —in a paper format or in a computerized format (scanned or fully digital)? Is there an electronic database for checking for encumbrances (liens, mortgages, No 0.0 restrictions and the like)? Institution in charge of the plans showing legal boundaries in the largest business city: Le service du Cadastre In what format are the majority of maps of land plots kept in the largest business city— Paper 0.0 in a paper format or in a computerized format (scanned or fully digital)? Is there an electronic database for recording boundaries, checking plans and providing No 0.0 cadastral information (geographic information system)? Is the information recorded by the immovable property registration agency and the Di erent 1.0 cadastral or mapping agency kept in a single database, in di erent but linked databases databases but or in separate databases? linked Do the immovable property registration agency and cadastral or mapping agency use Yes 1.0 the same identi cation number for properties? Transparency of information index (0–6) 2.5 Who is able to obtain information on land ownership at the agency in charge of Only 0.0 immovable property registration in the largest business city? intermediaries and interested Page 28   Takes place simultaneously with previous procedure. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Details – Registering Property in Cameroon – Measure of Quality Answer Score Quality of the land administration index (0-30) 7.0 Reliability of infrastructure index (0-8) 2.0 What is the institution in charge of immovable property registration? Land Registry of Wouri (Conservation foncière du Wouri) In what format are the majority of title or deed records kept in the largest business city Paper 0.0 —in a paper format or in a computerized format (scanned or fully digital)? Is there an electronic database for checking for encumbrances (liens, mortgages, No 0.0 restrictions and the like)? Institution in charge of the plans showing legal boundaries in the largest business city: Le service du Cadastre In what format are the majority of maps of land plots kept in the largest business city— Paper 0.0 in a paper format or in a computerized format (scanned or fully digital)? Is there an electronic database for recording boundaries, checking plans and providing No 0.0 cadastral information (geographic information system)? Is the information recorded by the immovable property registration agency and the Di erent 1.0 cadastral or mapping agency kept in a single database, in di erent but linked databases databases but or in separate databases? linked Do the immovable property registration agency and cadastral or mapping agency use Yes 1.0 the same identi cation number for properties? Transparency of information index (0–6) 2.5 Who is able to obtain information on land ownership at the agency in charge of Only 0.0 immovable property registration in the largest business city? intermediaries and interested parties Is the list of documents that are required to complete any type of property transaction Yes, online 0.5 made publicly available–and if so, how? Link for online access: http://www.gutf.c m/images/docu ments/manuels/f r/MINDCAF_Matri ceProcedures_fr. pdf Is the applicable fee schedule for any property transaction at the agency in charge of Yes, online 0.5 immovable property registration in the largest business city made publicly available– and if so, how? Link for online access: http://www.gutf.c m/images/docu Page 29   ments/manuels/f immovable property registration in the largest business city made publicly available– and if Doing so, how? 2018 Business Cameroon Link for online access: http://www.gutf.c m/images/docu ments/manuels/f r/MINDCAF_Matri ceProcedures_fr. pdf Does the agency in charge of immovable property registration commit to delivering a Yes, online 0.5 legally binding document that proves property ownership within a speci c time frame– and if so, how does it communicate the service standard? Link for online access: http://www.gutf.c m/images/docu ments/manuels/f r/MINDCAF_Matri ceProcedures_fr. pdf Is there a speci c and separate mechanism for ling complaints about a problem that No 0.0 occurred at the agency in charge of immovable property registration? Contact information: Are there publicly available o cial statistics tracking the number of transactions at the No 0.0 immovable property registration agency? Number of property transfers in the largest business city in 2015: Who is able to consult maps of land plots in the largest business city? Only 0.0 intermediaries and interested parties Is the applicable fee schedule for accessing maps of land plots made publicly available Yes, online 0.5 —and if so, how? Link for online access: http://www.gutf.c m/images/docu ments/manuels/f r/MINDCAF_Matri ceProcedures_fr. pdf Does the cadastral or mapping agency commit to delivering an updated map within a Yes, online 0.5 speci c time frame—and if so, how does it communicate the service standard? Link for online access: http://www.gutf.c m/images/docu ments/manuels/f r/MINDCAF_Matri ceProcedures_fr. pdf, http://www.gutf.c m/images/docu ments/manuels/f r/Manuel_proced ure.pdf Is there a speci c and separate mechanism for ling complaints about a problem that No 0.0 Page 30   occurred at the cadastral or mapping agency? r/Manuel_proced Doing Business 2018 Cameroon ure.pdf Is there a speci c and separate mechanism for ling complaints about a problem that No 0.0 occurred at the cadastral or mapping agency? Contact information: Geographic coverage index (0–8) 0.0 Are all privately held land plots in the economy formally registered at the immovable No 0.0 property registry? Are all privately held land plots in the largest business city formally registered at the No 0.0 immovable property registry? Are all privately held land plots in the economy mapped? No 0.0 Are all privately held land plots in the largest business city mapped? No 0.0 Land dispute resolution index (0–8) 3.5 Does the law require that all property sale transactions be registered at the immovable Yes 1.5 property registry to make them opposable to third parties? Is the system of immovable property registration subject to a state or private No 0.0 guarantee? Is there a speci c compensation mechanism to cover for losses incurred by parties who No 0.0 engaged in good faith in a property transaction based on erroneous information certi ed by the immovable property registry? Does the legal system require a control of legality of the documents necessary for a Yes 0.5 property transaction (e.g., checking the compliance of contracts with requirements of the law)? If yes, who is responsible for checking the legality of the documents? Notary; Lawyer. Does the legal system require veri cation of the identity of the parties to a property Yes 0.5 transaction? If yes, who is responsible for verifying the identity of the parties? Registrar; Notary. Is there a national database to verify the accuracy of identity documents? No 0.0 For a standard land dispute between two local businesses over tenure rights of a Le Tribunal de property worth 50 times gross national income (GNI) per capita and located in the Grande Instance largest business city, what court would be in charge of the case in the rst instance? du Wouri How long does it take on average to obtain a decision from the rst-instance court for Between 2 and 3 1.0 such a case (without appeal)? years Are there any statistics on the number of land disputes in the rst instance? No 0.0 Number of land disputes in the largest business city in 2015: Equal access to property rights index (-2–0) -1.0 Do unmarried men and unmarried women have equal ownership rights to property? Yes 0.0 Do married men and married women have equal ownership rights to property? No -1.0 Page 31   Do unmarried Doing Business men and unmarried 2018 Cameroon women have equal ownership rights to property? Yes 0.0 Do married men and married women have equal ownership rights to property? No -1.0 Getting Credit This topic explores two sets of issues—the strength of credit reporting systems and the e ectiveness of collateral and bankruptcy laws in facilitating lending. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Strength of legal rights index (0–12) Doing Business assesses the sharing of credit information and the legal rights of borrowers and lenders with respect to secured transactions Rights of borrowers and lenders through through 2 sets of indicators. The depth of credit information index collateral laws (0-10) measures rules and practices a ecting the coverage, scope and Protection of secured creditors’ rights through accessibility of credit information available through a credit registry or a bankruptcy laws (0-2) credit bureau. The strength of legal rights index measures the degree to Depth of credit information index (0–8) which collateral and bankruptcy laws protect the rights of borrowers and lenders and thus facilitate lending. For each economy it is first determined Scope and accessibility of credit information whether a unitary secured transactions system exists. Then two case distributed by credit bureaus and credit scenarios, case A and case B, are used to determine how a nonpossessory registries (0-8) security interest is created, publicized and enforced according to the law. Credit bureau coverage (% of adults) Special emphasis is given to how the collateral registry operates (if Number of individuals and firms listed in largest registration of security interests is possible). The case scenarios involve a credit bureau as a percentage of adult population secured borrower, company ABC, and a secured lender, BizBank. Credit registry coverage (% of adults) In some economies the legal framework for secured transactions will allow Number of individuals and firms listed in credit only case A or case B (not both) to apply. Both cases examine the same set registry as a percentage of adult population of legal provisions relating to the use of movable collateral. Several assumptions about the secured borrower (ABC) and lender (BizBank) are used: - ABC is a domestic limited liability company (or its legal equivalent). - ABC has up to 50 employees. - ABC has its headquarters and only base of operations in the economy’s largest business city. For 11 economies the data are also collected for the second largest business city. - Both ABC and BizBank are 100% domestically owned. The case scenarios also involve assumptions. In case A, as collateral for the loan, ABC grants BizBank a nonpossessory security interest in one category of movable assets, for example, its machinery or its inventory. ABC wants to keep both possession and ownership of the collateral. In economies where the law does not allow nonpossessory security interests in movable property, ABC and BizBank use a fiduciary transfer-of-title arrangement (or a similar substitute for nonpossessory security interests). In case B, ABC grants BizBank a business charge, enterprise charge, floating charge or any charge that gives BizBank a security interest over ABC’s combined movable assets (or as much of ABC’s movable assets as possible). ABC keeps ownership and possession of the assets. Sub-Saharan OECD high Indicator Cameroon Africa income Overall Best Performer Strength of legal rights index (0-12) 6 5.1 6.0 12.00 (4 Economies) Page 32   Do married men and married women have equal ownership rights to property? No -1.0 Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Getting Credit This topic explores two sets of issues—the strength of credit reporting systems and the e ectiveness of collateral and bankruptcy laws in facilitating lending. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Strength of legal rights index (0–12) Doing Business assesses the sharing of credit information and the legal rights of borrowers and lenders with respect to secured transactions Rights of borrowers and lenders through through 2 sets of indicators. The depth of credit information index collateral laws (0-10) measures rules and practices a ecting the coverage, scope and Protection of secured creditors’ rights through accessibility of credit information available through a credit registry or a bankruptcy laws (0-2) credit bureau. The strength of legal rights index measures the degree to Depth of credit information index (0–8) which collateral and bankruptcy laws protect the rights of borrowers and lenders and thus facilitate lending. For each economy it is first determined Scope and accessibility of credit information whether a unitary secured transactions system exists. Then two case distributed by credit bureaus and credit scenarios, case A and case B, are used to determine how a nonpossessory registries (0-8) security interest is created, publicized and enforced according to the law. Credit bureau coverage (% of adults) Special emphasis is given to how the collateral registry operates (if Number of individuals and firms listed in largest registration of security interests is possible). The case scenarios involve a credit bureau as a percentage of adult population secured borrower, company ABC, and a secured lender, BizBank. Credit registry coverage (% of adults) In some economies the legal framework for secured transactions will allow Number of individuals and firms listed in credit only case A or case B (not both) to apply. Both cases examine the same set registry as a percentage of adult population of legal provisions relating to the use of movable collateral. Several assumptions about the secured borrower (ABC) and lender (BizBank) are used: - ABC is a domestic limited liability company (or its legal equivalent). - ABC has up to 50 employees. - ABC has its headquarters and only base of operations in the economy’s largest business city. For 11 economies the data are also collected for the second largest business city. - Both ABC and BizBank are 100% domestically owned. The case scenarios also involve assumptions. In case A, as collateral for the loan, ABC grants BizBank a nonpossessory security interest in one category of movable assets, for example, its machinery or its inventory. ABC wants to keep both possession and ownership of the collateral. In economies where the law does not allow nonpossessory security interests in movable property, ABC and BizBank use a fiduciary transfer-of-title arrangement (or a similar substitute for nonpossessory security interests). In case B, ABC grants BizBank a business charge, enterprise charge, floating charge or any charge that gives BizBank a security interest over ABC’s combined movable assets (or as much of ABC’s movable assets as possible). ABC keeps ownership and possession of the assets. Sub-Saharan OECD high Indicator Cameroon Africa income Overall Best Performer Strength of legal rights index (0-12) 6 5.1 6.0 12.00 (4 Economies) Depth of credit information index (0-8) 6 3.0 6.6 8.00 (34 Economies) Page 33   Credit registry coverage (% of adults) 8.0 6.3 18.3 100.00 (3 Economies) possible). ABC keeps ownership and possession of the assets. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Sub-Saharan OECD high Indicator Cameroon Africa income Overall Best Performer Strength of legal rights index (0-12) 6 5.1 6.0 12.00 (4 Economies) Depth of credit information index (0-8) 6 3.0 6.6 8.00 (34 Economies) Credit registry coverage (% of adults) 8.0 6.3 18.3 100.00 (3 Economies) Credit bureau coverage (% of adults) 0.0 8.2 63.7 100.00 (23 Economies) Figure – Getting Credit in Cameroon and comparator economies – Ranking and DTF DB 2018 Distance to Frontier (DTF) 0 100 65.00: Ghana (Rank: 55) 60.00: Cameroon (Rank: 68) 40.73: Regional Average (Sub-Saharan Africa) 40.00: Gabon (Rank: 122) 40.00: Equatorial Guinea (Rank: 122) 35.00: Congo, Rep. (Rank: 133) Note: The ranking of economies on the ease of getting credit is determined by sorting their distance to frontier scores for getting credit. These scores are the distance to frontier score for the sum of the strength of legal rights index and the depth of credit information index. Figure – Legal Rights in Cameroon and comparator economies 8 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 5.1 Index score 5 4 3 2 1 0 Cameroon Congo, Rep. Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana Sub-Saharan Africa Details – Legal Rights in Cameroon Strength of legal rights index (0-12) 6 Does an integrated or uni ed legal framework for secured transactions that extends to the creation, publicity and Yes enforcement of functional equivalents to security interests in movable assets exist in the economy? Does the law allow businesses to grant a non possessory security right in a single category of movable assets, without Yes requiring a speci c description of collateral? Page 34   Cameroon Congo, Rep. Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana Sub-Saharan Africa Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Details – Legal Rights in Cameroon Strength of legal rights index (0-12) 6 Does an integrated or uni ed legal framework for secured transactions that extends to the creation, publicity and Yes enforcement of functional equivalents to security interests in movable assets exist in the economy? Does the law allow businesses to grant a non possessory security right in a single category of movable assets, without Yes requiring a speci c description of collateral? Does the law allow businesses to grant a non possessory security right in substantially all of its assets, without requiring Yes a speci c description of collateral? May a security right extend to future or after-acquired assets, and does it extend automatically to the products, proceeds Yes or replacements of the original assets? Is a general description of debts and obligations permitted in collateral agreements; can all types of debts and Yes obligations be secured between parties; and can the collateral agreement include a maximum amount for which the assets are encumbered? Is a collateral registry in operation for both incorporated and non-incorporated entities, that is uni ed geographically No and by asset type, with an electronic database indexed by debtor's name? Does a notice-based collateral registry exist in which all functional equivalents can be registered? No Does a modern collateral registry exist in which registrations, amendments, cancellations and searches can be No performed online by any interested third party? Are secured creditors paid rst (i.e. before tax claims and employee claims) when a debtor defaults outside an insolvency No procedure? Are secured creditors paid rst (i.e. before tax claims and employee claims) when a business is liquidated? No Are secured creditors subject to an automatic stay on enforcement when a debtor enters a court-supervised No reorganization procedure? Does the law protect secured creditors’ rights by providing clear grounds for relief from the stay and/or sets a time limit for it? Does the law allow parties to agree on out of court enforcement at the time a security interest is created? Does the law Yes allow the secured creditor to sell the collateral through public auction or private tender, as well as, for the secured creditor to keep the asset in satisfaction of the debt? Figure – Credit Information in Cameroon and comparator economies 8 6 6 6 Index score 4 3.0 2 2 2 1 0 Cameroon Congo, Rep. Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana Sub-Saharan Africa Details – Credit Information in Cameroon Page 35   0 Cameroon Doing Business 2018 Congo, Rep. Cameroon Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana Sub-Saharan Africa Details – Credit Information in Cameroon Credit Credit Depth of credit information index (0-8) bureau registry Score Are data on both firms and individuals distributed? No Yes 1 Are both positive and negative credit data distributed? No Yes 1 Are data from retailers or utility companies - in addition to data from banks and financial institutions - No No 0 distributed? Are at least 2 years of historical data distributed? (Credit bureaus and registries that distribute more No Yes 1 than 10 years of negative data or erase data on defaults as soon as they are repaid obtain a score of 0 for this component.) Are data on loan amounts below 1% of income per capita distributed? No Yes 1 By law, do borrowers have the right to access their data in the credit bureau or credit registry? No No 0 Can banks and financial institutions access borrowers’ credit information online (for example, No Yes 1 through an online platform, a system-to-system connection or both)? Are bureau or registry credit scores offered as a value-added service to help banks and financial No Yes 1 institutions assess the creditworthiness of borrowers? Score ("yes" to either public bureau or private registry) 6 Note: An economy receives a score of 1 if there is a "yes" to either bureau or registry. If the credit bureau or registry is not operational or covers less than 5% of the adult population, the total score on the depth of credit information index is 0. Coverage Credit bureau Credit registry Number of individuals 0 891,216 Number of firms 0 128,016 Total 0 1,019,232 Percentage of adult population 0.0 8.0 Protecting Minority Investors This topic measures the strength of minority shareholder protections against misuse of corporate assets by directors for their personal gain as well as shareholder rights, governance safeguards and corporate transparency requirements that reduce the risk of abuse. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Extent of disclosure index (0–10): Review and To make the data comparable across economies, a case study uses several approval requirements for related-party assumptions about the business and the transaction. transactions; Disclosure requirements for related-party transactions The business (Buyer): Extent of director liability index (0–10): Ability of - Is a publicly traded corporation listed on the economy’s most important minority shareholders to sue and hold interested stock exchange. If the number of publicly traded companies listed on that directors liable for prejudicial related-party exchange is less than 10, or if there is no stock exchange in the economy, it is assumed that Buyer is a large private company with multiple Page 36   transactions; Available legal remedies (damages, Percentage of adult population 0.0 8.0 Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Protecting Minority Investors This topic measures the strength of minority shareholder protections against misuse of corporate assets by directors for their personal gain as well as shareholder rights, governance safeguards and corporate transparency requirements that reduce the risk of abuse. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Extent of disclosure index (0–10): Review and To make the data comparable across economies, a case study uses several approval requirements for related-party assumptions about the business and the transaction. transactions; Disclosure requirements for related-party transactions The business (Buyer): Extent of director liability index (0–10): Ability of - Is a publicly traded corporation listed on the economy’s most important minority shareholders to sue and hold interested stock exchange. If the number of publicly traded companies listed on that directors liable for prejudicial related-party exchange is less than 10, or if there is no stock exchange in the economy, it transactions; Available legal remedies (damages, is assumed that Buyer is a large private company with multiple disgorgement of profits, fines, imprisonment, shareholders. rescission of the transaction) - Has a board of directors and a chief executive o cer (CEO) who may legally act on behalf of Buyer where permitted, even if this is not speci cally Ease of shareholder suits index (0–10): Access to required by law. internal corporate documents; Evidence - Has a supervisory board (applicable to economies with a two-tier board obtainable during trial and allocation of legal system) on which 60% of the shareholder-elected members have been expenses appointed by Mr. James, who is Buyer’s controlling shareholder and a Extent of conflict of interest regulation index member of Buyer’s board of directors. (0–10): Simple average of the extent of disclosure, - Has not adopted any bylaws or articles of association that di er from extent of director liability and ease of default minimum standards and does not follow any nonmandatory codes, shareholder indices principles, recommendations or guidelines relating to corporate Extent of shareholder rights index (0-10): governance. Shareholders’ rights and role in major corporate - Is a manufacturing company with its own distribution network. decisions Extent of ownership and control index (0-10): The transaction involves the following details: Governance safeguards protecting shareholders - Mr. James owns 60% of Buyer and elected two directors to Buyer’s ve- from undue board control and entrenchment member board. Extent of corporate transparency index (0-10): - Mr. James also owns 90% of Seller, a company that operates a chain of Corporate transparency on ownership stakes, retail hardware stores. Seller recently closed a large number of its stores. compensation, audits and financial prospects - Mr. James proposes that Buyer purchase Seller’s unused eet of trucks to expand Buyer’s distribution of its food products, a proposal to which Buyer Extent of shareholder governance index (0–10): agrees. The price is equal to 10% of Buyer’s assets and is higher than the Simple average of the extent of shareholders market value. rights, extent of ownership and control and - The proposed transaction is part of the company’s ordinary course of extent of corporate transparency indices business and is not outside the authority of the company. Strength of minority investor protection index - Buyer enters into the transaction. All required approvals are obtained, (0–10): Simple average of the extent of conflict of and all required disclosures made (that is, the transaction is not interest regulation and extent of shareholder fraudulent). governance indices - The transaction causes damages to Buyer. Shareholders sue Mr. James and the other parties that approved the transaction. Sub-Saharan OECD high Indicator Cameroon Africa income Overall Best Performer Extent of conflict of interest regulation index (0- 4.7 4.8 6.4 9.3 (New Zealand) 10) Extent of shareholder governance index (0-10) 3.7 4.0 6.4 Page 37   9.00 (Kazakhstan) and the other parties that approved the transaction. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Sub-Saharan OECD high Indicator Cameroon Africa income Overall Best Performer Extent of conflict of interest regulation index (0- 4.7 4.8 6.4 9.3 (New Zealand) 10) Extent of shareholder governance index (0-10) 3.7 4.0 6.4 9.00 (Kazakhstan) Figure – Protecting Minority Investors in Cameroon and comparator economies – Ranking and DTF DB 2018 Distance to Frontier (DTF) 0 100 51.67: Ghana (Rank: 96) 43.72: Regional Average (Sub-Saharan Africa) 41.67: Cameroon (Rank: 138) 40.00: Congo, Rep. (Rank: 146) 40.00: Equatorial Guinea (Rank: 146) 38.33: Gabon (Rank: 160) Note: The ranking of economies on the strength of minority investor protections is determined by sorting their distance to frontier scores for protecting minority investors. These scores are the simple average of the distance to frontier scores for the extent of con ict of interest regulation index and the extent of shareholder governance index. Figure – Protecting Minority Investors in Cameroon and comparator economies – Measure of Quality Cameroon 4 1 7 3 4 6 Congo, Rep. 4 1 7 3 4 5 Equatorial Guinea 4 1 7 3 4 5 Gabon 4 1 7 3 4 4 Ghana 3 5 7 3 6 7 OECD high income 7.3 5.6 6.5 5.2 6.3 7.4 Sub-Saharan Africa 4.2 3.5 5.5 3.3 4.6 5.6 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Sub-Indicator Score Extent of corporate transparency index (0­10) Extent of director liability index (0­10) Extent of disclosure index (0­10) Extent of ownership and control index (0­10) Extent of shareholder rights index (0­10) Ease of shareholder suits index (0­10) Details – Protecting Minority Investors in Cameroon – Measure of Quality Answer Score Page 38   Extent of ownership and control index (0­10) Extent of shareholder rights index (0­10) Ease of shareholder suits index (0­10) Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Details – Protecting Minority Investors in Cameroon – Measure of Quality Answer Score Extent of con ict of interest regulation index (0-10) 4.7 Extent of disclosure index (0-10) 7 Which corporate body is legally su cient to approve the Buyer-Seller transaction? (0-3) Shareholders 3.0 excluding interested parties Must an external body review the terms of the transaction before it takes place? (0-1) No 0.0 Must Mr. James disclose his con ict of interest to the board of directors? (0-2) Full disclosure of 2.0 all material facts Must Buyer disclose the transaction in published periodic lings (annual reports)? (0-2) Disclosure on 2.0 the transaction and on the con ict of interest Must Buyer immediately disclose the transaction to the public and/or shareholders? (0- No disclosure 0.0 2) obligation Extent of director liability index (0-10) 1 Can shareholders representing 10% of Buyer's share capital sue directly or derivatively Yes 1.0 for the damage the transaction caused to Buyer? (0-1) Can shareholders hold the interested director liable for the damage the transaction Not liable 0.0 caused to Buyer? (0-2) Can shareholders hold the other directors liable for the damage the transaction caused Not liable 0.0 to Buyer (0-2) Must Mr. James pay damages for the harm caused to Buyer upon a successful claim by No 0.0 shareholders? (0-1) Must Mr. James repay pro ts made from the transaction upon a successful claim by No 0.0 shareholders? (0-1) Is Mr. James disquali ed or ned and imprisoned upon a successful claim by No 0.0 shareholders? (0-1) Can a court void the transaction upon a successful claim by shareholders? (0-2) Only in case of 0.0 fraud or bad faith Ease of shareholder suits index (0-10) 6 Before suing can shareholders representing 10% of Buyer's share capital inspect the Yes 1.0 transaction documents? (0-1) Can the plainti obtain any documents from the defendant and witnesses at trial? (0-3) Documents that 2.0 directly prove speci c facts in the plainti ’s Page 39   Before suing can shareholders representing 10% of Buyer's share capital inspect the Yes 1.0 transaction Doing 2018 (0-1) documents? Business Cameroon Can the plainti obtain any documents from the defendant and witnesses at trial? (0-3) Documents that 2.0 directly prove speci c facts in the plainti ’s claim Can the plainti request categories of documents from the defendant without No 0.0 identifying speci c ones? (0-1) Can the plainti directly question the defendant and witnesses at trial? (0-2) Preapproved 1.0 questions only Is the level of proof required for civil suits lower than that of criminal cases? (0-1) Yes 1.0 Can shareholder plainti s recover their legal expenses from the company? (0-2) Yes if successful 1.0 Extent of shareholder governance index (0-10) 3.7 Extent of shareholder rights index (0-10) 4 Does the sale of 51% of Buyer's assets require shareholder approval? No 0.0 Can shareholders representing 10% of Buyer's share capital call for a meeting of Yes 1.0 shareholders? Must Buyer obtain its shareholders’ approval every time it issues new shares? Yes 1.0 Do shareholders automatically receive preemption rights every time Buyer issues new No 0.0 shares? Must shareholders approve the election and dismissal of the external auditor? Yes 1.0 Are changes to the rights of a class of shares only possible if the holders of the a ected Yes 1.0 shares approve? Assuming that Buyer is a limited company, does the sale of 51% of its assets require No 0.0 member approval? Assuming that Buyer is a limited company, can members representing 10% call for a No 0.0 meeting of members? Assuming that Buyer is a limited company, must all members consent to add a new No 0.0 member? Assuming that Buyer is a limited company, must a member rst o er to sell their No 0.0 interest to the existing members before they can sell to non-members? Extent of ownership and control index (0-10) 3 Is it forbidden to appoint the same individual as CEO and chair of the board of No 0.0 directors? Must the board of directors include independent and nonexecutive board members? No 0.0 Can shareholders remove members of the board of directors without cause before the Yes 1.0 end of their term? Must the board of directors include a separate audit committee exclusively comprising No 0.0 board members? Page 40   Must a potential acquirer make a tender o er to all shareholders upon acquiring 50% No 0.0 Can shareholders remove members of the board of directors without cause before the Yes 1.0 end of Doing their term? Business 2018 Cameroon Must the board of directors include a separate audit committee exclusively comprising No 0.0 board members? Must a potential acquirer make a tender o er to all shareholders upon acquiring 50% No 0.0 of Buyer? Must Buyer pay declared dividends within a maximum period set by law? Yes 1.0 Is a subsidiary prohibited from acquiring shares issued by its parent company? No 0.0 Assuming that Buyer is a limited company, must Buyer have a mechanism to resolve No 0.0 disagreements among members? Assuming that Buyer is a limited company, must a potential acquirer make a tender No 0.0 o er to all shareholders upon acquiring 50% of Buyer? Assuming that Buyer is a limited company, must Buyer distribute pro ts within a Yes 1.0 maximum period set by law? Extent of corporate transparency index (0-10) 4 Must Buyer disclose direct and indirect bene cial ownership stakes representing 5%? No 0.0 Must Buyer disclose information about board members’ primary employment and No 0.0 directorships in other companies? Must Buyer disclose the compensation of individual managers? No 0.0 Must a detailed notice of general meeting be sent 21 days before the meeting? No 0.0 Can shareholders representing 5% of Buyer’s share capital put items on the general Yes 1.0 meeting agenda? Must Buyer's annual nancial statements be audited by an external auditor? Yes 1.0 Must Buyer disclose its audit reports to the public? No 0.0 Assuming that Buyer is a limited company, must members meet at least once a year? Yes 1.0 Assuming that Buyer is a limited company, can members representing 5% put items on No 0.0 the meeting agenda? Assuming that Buyer is a limited company, must Buyer's annual nancial statements be Yes 1.0 audited by an external auditor? Paying Taxes This topic records the taxes and mandatory contributions that a medium-size company must pay or withhold in a given year, as well as measures the administrative burden in paying taxes and contributions. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed on June 30, 2017 covering for the Paying Taxes indicator calendar year 2016 (January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016). Last year (Doing Business 2017) the scope of data collection was expanded to better understand the overall tax environment in an economy. The questionnaire was expanded to include new questions on post- ling processes: VAT refund and tax audit. The data shows where post ling processes and practices work e ciently and what drives the di erences in the overall tax compliance cost across economies. The new section covers both the legal framework and the administrative burden on businesses to comply with post ling processes. See the methodology for more information. Page 41   Assuming that Buyer is a limited company, must Buyer's annual nancial statements be Yes 1.0 audited by an external auditor? Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Paying Taxes This topic records the taxes and mandatory contributions that a medium-size company must pay or withhold in a given year, as well as measures the administrative burden in paying taxes and contributions. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed on June 30, 2017 covering for the Paying Taxes indicator calendar year 2016 (January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2016). Last year (Doing Business 2017) the scope of data collection was expanded to better understand the overall tax environment in an economy. The questionnaire was expanded to include new questions on post- ling processes: VAT refund and tax audit. The data shows where post ling processes and practices work e ciently and what drives the di erences in the overall tax compliance cost across economies. The new section covers both the legal framework and the administrative burden on businesses to comply with post ling processes. See the methodology for more information. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Tax payments for a manufacturing company in Using a case scenario, Doing Business records taxes and mandatory 2016 (number per year adjusted for electronic and contributions a medium size company must pay in a year, and measures joint ling and payment) the administrative burden of paying taxes, contributions and dealing with post ling processes. Information is also compiled on frequency of ling Total number of taxes and contributions paid, and payments, time taken to comply with tax laws, time taken to comply including consumption taxes (value added tax, with the requirements of post ling processes and time waiting. sales tax or goods and service tax) Method and frequency of filing and payment To make data comparable across economies, several assumptions are used: Time required to comply with 3 major taxes - TaxpayerCo is a medium-size business that started operations on January (hours per year) 1, 2015. It produces ceramic flowerpots and sells them at retail. All taxes Collecting information, computing tax payable and contributions recorded are paid in the second year of operation Completing tax return, filing with agencies (calendar year 2016). Taxes and mandatory contributions are measured at all levels of government. Arranging payment or withholding Preparing separate tax accounting books, if The VAT refund process: required - In June 2016, TaxpayerCo. makes a large capital purchase: the value of the Total tax and contribution rate (% of pro t before machine is 65 times income per capita of the economy. Sales are equally all taxes) spread per month (1,050 times income per capita divided by 12) and cost of goods sold are equally expensed per month (875 times income per Profit or corporate income tax capita divided by 12). The machinery seller is registered for VAT and excess Social contributions, labor taxes paid by input VAT incurred in June will be fully recovered after four consecutive employer months if the VAT rate is the same for inputs, sales and the machine and Property and property transfer taxes the tax reporting period is every month. Input VAT will exceed Output VAT Dividend, capital gains, financial transactions in June 2016. taxes The corporate income tax audit process: Waste collection, vehicle, road and other taxes - An error in calculation of income tax liability (for example, use of incorrect tax depreciation rates, or incorrectly treating an expense as tax deductible) Post ling Index leads to an incorrect income tax return and a corporate income Time to comply with a VAT refund tax underpayment. TaxpayerCo. discovered the error and voluntarily Time to receive a VAT refund noti ed the tax authority. The value of the underpaid income tax liability is Time to comply with a corporate income tax audit 5% of the corporate income tax liability due. TaxpayerCo. submits corrected information after the deadline for submitting the annual tax Time to complete a corporate income tax audit return, but within the tax assessment period. Sub-Saharan OECD high Indicator Cameroon Africa income Overall Best Performer Payments (number per year) 44 37.2 10.9 3 (Hong Kong SAR, China) Page 42   return, but within the tax assessment period. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Sub-Saharan OECD high Indicator Cameroon Africa income Overall Best Performer Payments (number per year) 44 37.2 10.9 3 (Hong Kong SAR, China) Time (hours per year) 624 280.8 160.7 55 (Luxembourg) Total tax and contribution rate (% of profit) 57.7 46.8 40.1 18.47% (32 Economies) Postfiling index (0-100) 49.31 54.39 83.45 99.38 (Estonia) Figure – Paying Taxes in Cameroon and comparator economies – Ranking and DTF DB 2018 Distance to Frontier (DTF) 0 100 66.47: Ghana (Rank: 116) 57.49: Regional Average (Sub-Saharan Africa) 51.64: Gabon (Rank: 165) 41.54: Equatorial Guinea (Rank: 177) 36.34: Cameroon (Rank: 183) 26.79: Congo, Rep. (Rank: 185) Note: The ranking of economies on the ease of paying taxes is determined by sorting their distance to frontier scores on the ease of paying taxes. These scores are the simple average of the distance to frontier scores for each of the four component indicators – number of tax payments. time, total tax rate and post ling index – with a threshold and a nonlinear transformation applied to one of the component indicators, the total tax rate. The nonlinear distance to frontier for the total tax rate is equal to the distance to frontier for the total tax rate to the power of 0.8. The threshold is de ned as the total tax rate at the 15th percentile of the overall distribution for all years included in the analysis up to and including Doing Business 2015, which is 26.1%. All economies with a total tax rate below this threshold receive the same score as the economy at the threshold. Figure – Paying Taxes in Cameroon and comparator economies – Measure of Quality 100 93.12 90 80 70 Index score 60 54.39 49.31 49.54 50 42.47 40 30 20 12.29 10 0 Cameroon Congo, Rep. Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana Sub-Saharan Africa Details – Paying Taxes in Cameroon Total tax and Tax or mandatory Payments Notes on Time contribution rate Notes contribution (number) Payments (hours) Statutory tax rate Tax base (% of profit) on TTR Page 43   Corporate income 13 168 33% on profits or 2.2% taxable 38.89 Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Figure – Paying Taxes in Cameroon and comparator economies – Measure of Quality 100 93.12 90 80 70 Index score 60 54.39 49.31 49.54 50 42.47 40 30 20 12.29 10 0 Cameroon Congo, Rep. Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana Sub-Saharan Africa Details – Paying Taxes in Cameroon Total tax and Tax or mandatory Payments Notes on Time contribution rate Notes contribution (number) Payments (hours) Statutory tax rate Tax base (% of profit) on TTR Corporate income 13 168 33% on profits or 2.2% taxable 38.89 tax on turnover whichever profit is higher Social security 12 162 13.7% gross 15.45 contributions salaries National housing 0 jointly 1.5% gross 1.69 contribution salaries National 0 jointly 1% gross 1.13 employment fund salaries Stamp duty on 1 XAF 1,000 per page 0.29 contracts Truck tax 4 XAF 18,750 per quarter fixed 0.22 amount per truck Value added tax 12 294 19.25% value 0.00 not (VAT) added included Vehicle tax 1 XAF 100,000 0.00 Employee Paid 0 jointly 0.00 withheld social security contributions Fuel tax 1 included in 0.00 small the price of amount fuel Totals 44 624 57.7 Details – Paying Taxes in Cameroon – Tax by Type Page 44   Totals 44 624 57.7 Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Details – Paying Taxes in Cameroon – Tax by Type Taxes by type Answer Profit tax (% of profit) 38.9 Labor tax and contributions (% of profit) 18.3 Other taxes (% of profit) 0.5 Details – Paying Taxes in Cameroon – Measure of Quality Answer Score Post ling index (0-100) 49.31 VAT refunds Does VAT exist? Yes Does a VAT refund process exist per the case study? No Restrictions on VAT refund process Company must be over 2 years in activity Percentage of cases exposed to a VAT audit (%) Not applicable Is there a mandatory carry forward period? No Time to comply with VAT refund (hours) No VAT refund 0 per case study scenario Time to obtain a VAT refund (weeks) No VAT refund 0 per case study scenario Corporate income tax audits Does corporate income tax exist? Yes Percentage of cases exposed to a corporate income tax audit (%) 0% - 24% Time to comply with a corporate income tax audit (hours) 3.0 97.25 Time to complete a corporate income tax audit (weeks) No tax audit per 100 case study scenario Notes: Names of taxes have been standardized. For instance income tax, pro t tax, tax on company's income are all named corporate income tax in this table. The hours for VAT include all the VAT and sales taxes applicable. The hours for Social Security include all the hours for labor taxes and mandatory contributions in general. The post ling index is the average of the scores on time to comply with VAT refund, time to obtain a VAT refund, time to comply with a corporate income tax audit and time to complete a corporate income tax audit. N/A = Not applicable. Page 45   The post ling index is the average of the scores on time to comply with VAT refund, time to obtain a VAT refund, time to comply with a corporate income tax audit and time to complete a corporate income tax audit. Doing Business 2018 N/A = Not applicable. Cameroon Trading across Borders Doing Business records the time and cost associated with the logistical process of exporting and importing goods. Doing Business measures the time and cost (excluding tari s) associated with three sets of procedures—documentary compliance, border compliance and domestic transport—within the overall process of exporting or importing a shipment of goods. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. Given the importance of trade digitalization, in Doing Business 2018, the Trading across Borders questionnaire included research questions on the availability and status of implementation of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Single Window (SW) systems. With this information, Doing Business built a comprehensive dataset on the adoption and level of sophistication of electronic platforms in 190 economies. These data are not used to compute the distance to frontier score or ranking of the ease of doing business. The new dataset on EDI and SW systems is available here. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Documentary compliance To make the data comparable across economies, a few assumptions are made about the traded goods and the transactions: Obtaining, preparing and submitting documents during transport, clearance, inspections and port Time: Time is measured in hours, and 1 day is 24 hours (for example, 22 or border handling in origin economy days are recorded as 22×24=528 hours). If customs clearance takes 7.5 Obtaining, preparing and submitting documents hours, the data are recorded as is. Alternatively, suppose documents are required by destination economy and any transit submitted to a customs agency at 8:00a.m., are processed overnight and economies can be picked up at 8:00a.m. the next day. The time for customs clearance Covers all documents required by law and in would be recorded as 24 hours because the actual procedure took 24 practice, including electronic submissions of hours. information Border compliance Cost: Insurance cost and informal payments for which no receipt is issued are excluded from the costs recorded. Costs are reported in U.S. dollars. Customs clearance and inspections Contributors are asked to convert local currency into U.S. dollars based on Inspections by other agencies (if applied to more the exchange rate prevailing on the day they answer the questionnaire. than 20% of shipments) Contributors are private sector experts in international trade logistics and Handling and inspections that take place at the are informed about exchange rates. economy’s port or border Assumptions of the case study: - For all 190 economies covered by Doing Domestic transport Business, it is assumed a shipment is in a warehouse in the largest Loading or unloading of the shipment at the business city of the exporting economy and travels to a warehouse in the warehouse or port/border largest business city of the importing economy. - It is assumed each Transport between warehouse and port/border economy imports 15 metric tons of containerized auto parts (HS 8708) Traffic delays and road police checks while from its natural import partner—the economy from which it imports the shipment is en route largest value (price times quantity) of auto parts. It is assumed each economy exports the product of its comparative advantage (de ned by the largest export value) to its natural export partner—the economy that is the largest purchaser of this product. Shipment value is assumed to be $50,000. - The mode of transport is the one most widely used for the chosen export or import product and the trading partner, as is the seaport, or land border crossing. - All electronic information submissions requested by any government agency in connection with the shipment are considered to be documents obtained, prepared and submitted during the export or import process. - A port or border is a place (seaport, airport or land border crossing) where merchandise can enter or leave an economy. - Relevant government agencies include customs, port authorities, road police, border guards, standardization agencies, ministries or departments of agriculture or industry, national security agencies and any other government authorities. Page 46   a corporate income tax audit and time to complete a corporate income tax audit. N/A = Not applicable. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Trading across Borders Doing Business records the time and cost associated with the logistical process of exporting and importing goods. Doing Business measures the time and cost (excluding tari s) associated with three sets of procedures—documentary compliance, border compliance and domestic transport—within the overall process of exporting or importing a shipment of goods. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. Given the importance of trade digitalization, in Doing Business 2018, the Trading across Borders questionnaire included research questions on the availability and status of implementation of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Single Window (SW) systems. With this information, Doing Business built a comprehensive dataset on the adoption and level of sophistication of electronic platforms in 190 economies. These data are not used to compute the distance to frontier score or ranking of the ease of doing business. The new dataset on EDI and SW systems is available here. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Documentary compliance To make the data comparable across economies, a few assumptions are made about the traded goods and the transactions: Obtaining, preparing and submitting documents during transport, clearance, inspections and port Time: Time is measured in hours, and 1 day is 24 hours (for example, 22 or border handling in origin economy days are recorded as 22×24=528 hours). If customs clearance takes 7.5 Obtaining, preparing and submitting documents hours, the data are recorded as is. Alternatively, suppose documents are required by destination economy and any transit submitted to a customs agency at 8:00a.m., are processed overnight and economies can be picked up at 8:00a.m. the next day. The time for customs clearance Covers all documents required by law and in would be recorded as 24 hours because the actual procedure took 24 practice, including electronic submissions of hours. information Border compliance Cost: Insurance cost and informal payments for which no receipt is issued are excluded from the costs recorded. Costs are reported in U.S. dollars. Customs clearance and inspections Contributors are asked to convert local currency into U.S. dollars based on Inspections by other agencies (if applied to more the exchange rate prevailing on the day they answer the questionnaire. than 20% of shipments) Contributors are private sector experts in international trade logistics and Handling and inspections that take place at the are informed about exchange rates. economy’s port or border Assumptions of the case study: - For all 190 economies covered by Doing Domestic transport Business, it is assumed a shipment is in a warehouse in the largest Loading or unloading of the shipment at the business city of the exporting economy and travels to a warehouse in the warehouse or port/border largest business city of the importing economy. - It is assumed each Transport between warehouse and port/border economy imports 15 metric tons of containerized auto parts (HS 8708) Traffic delays and road police checks while from its natural import partner—the economy from which it imports the shipment is en route largest value (price times quantity) of auto parts. It is assumed each economy exports the product of its comparative advantage (de ned by the largest export value) to its natural export partner—the economy that is the largest purchaser of this product. Shipment value is assumed to be $50,000. - The mode of transport is the one most widely used for the chosen export or import product and the trading partner, as is the seaport, or land border crossing. - All electronic information submissions requested by any government agency in connection with the shipment are considered to be documents obtained, prepared and submitted during the export or import process. - A port or border is a place (seaport, airport or land border crossing) where merchandise can enter or leave an economy. - Relevant government agencies include customs, port authorities, road police, border guards, standardization agencies, ministries or departments of agriculture or industry, national security agencies and any other government authorities. Page 47   of agriculture or industry, national security agencies and any other Doing Business 2018 Cameroon government authorities. Sub-Saharan OECD high Indicator Cameroon Africa income Overall Best Performer Time to export: Border compliance (hours) 202 100.1 12.7 0 (17 Economies) Cost to export: Border compliance (USD) 983 592.1 149.9 0.00 (19 Economies) Time to export: Documentary compliance 66 87.8 2.4 1.0 (25 Economies) (hours) Cost to export: Documentary compliance (USD) 306 215.1 35.4 0.00 (19 Economies) Time to import: Border compliance (hours) 271 136.4 8.7 0.00 (21 Economies) Cost to import: Border compliance (USD) 1407 686.8 111.6 0.00 (27 Economies) Time to import: Documentary compliance 163 103.0 3.5 1.0 (30 Economies) (hours) Cost to import: Documentary compliance (USD) 849 300.1 25.6 0.00 (30 Economies) Figure – Trading across Borders in Cameroon and comparator economies – Ranking and DTF DB 2018 Distance to Frontier (DTF) 0 100 52.56: Regional Average (Sub-Saharan Africa) 52.32: Ghana (Rank: 158) 43.94: Gabon (Rank: 169) 32.05: Equatorial Guinea (Rank: 174) 19.68: Congo, Rep. (Rank: 184) 15.99: Cameroon (Rank: 186) Note: The ranking of economies on the ease of trading across borders is determined by sorting their distance to frontier scores for trading across borders. These scores are the simple average of the distance to frontier scores for the time and cost for documentary compliance and border compliance to export and import (domestic transport is not used for calculating the ranking). Figure – Trading across Borders in Cameroon – Time and Cost Time Cost 300 1600 271 1407 1400 250 202 1200 200 983 Time (hours) Cost (USD) 163 1000 849 150 800 600 100 66 306 400 50 200 0 0 Export - Border Compliance Export - Documentary Compliance Import - Border Compliance Import - Documentary Compliance Page 48   Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Figure – Trading across Borders in Cameroon – Time and Cost Time Cost 300 1600 271 1407 1400 250 202 1200 200 983 Time (hours) Cost (USD) 163 1000 849 150 800 600 100 66 306 400 50 200 0 0 Export - Border Compliance Export - Documentary Compliance Import - Border Compliance Import - Documentary Compliance Details – Trading across Borders in Cameroon Characteristics Export Import Product HS 18 : Cocoa and cocoa preparations HS 8708: Parts and accessories of motor vehicles Trade partner Netherlands France Border Douala port Douala port Distance (km) 15 15 Domestic transport time (hours) 5 5 Domestic transport cost (USD) 283 283 Details – Trading across Borders in Cameroon – Components of Border Compliance Time to Complete Associated Costs (hours) (USD) Export: Clearance and inspections required by customs authorities 96.0 314.3 Export: Clearance and inspections required by agencies other than customs 24.0 328.5 Export: Port or border handling 166.0 340.0 Import: Clearance and inspections required by customs authorities 72.0 253.0 Import: Clearance and inspections required by agencies other than customs 60.0 652.1 Import: Port or border handling 211.0 501.8 Details – Trading across Borders in Cameroon – Trade Documents Export Import Commercial Invoice Commercial Invoice Bill of lading Packing list Page 49   Domestic transport cost (USD) 283 283 Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Details – Trading across Borders in Cameroon – Components of Border Compliance Time to Complete Associated Costs (hours) (USD) Export: Clearance and inspections required by customs authorities 96.0 314.3 Export: Clearance and inspections required by agencies other than customs 24.0 328.5 Export: Port or border handling 166.0 340.0 Import: Clearance and inspections required by customs authorities 72.0 253.0 Import: Clearance and inspections required by agencies other than customs 60.0 652.1 Import: Port or border handling 211.0 501.8 Details – Trading across Borders in Cameroon – Trade Documents Export Import Commercial Invoice Commercial Invoice Bill of lading Packing list Packing list Import declaration Phytosanitary certificate Bill of lading Certificate of origin SGS certificate of conformity Sealing certificate (Certificat d'empotage) Electronic cargo tracking note ( BESC) Export declaration Delivery order SOLAS certificate SOLAS Certificate Enforcing Contracts The enforcing contracts indicator measures the time and cost for resolving a commercial dispute through a local rst-instance court, and the quality of judicial processes index, evaluating whether each economy has adopted a series of good practices that promote quality and e ciency in the court system. The most recent round of data collection was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Time required to enforce a contract through the The dispute in the case study involves the breach of a sales contract courts (calendar days) between 2 domestic businesses. The case study assumes that the court hears an expert on the quality of the goods in dispute. This distinguishes Time to file and serve the case the case from simple debt enforcement. Time for trial and to obtain the judgment To make the data comparable across economies, Doing Business uses Time to enforce the judgment several assumptions about the case: Cost required to enforce a contract through the - The dispute concerns a lawful transaction between two businesses (Seller courts (% of claim) and Buyer), both located in the economy’s largest business city. For 11 Attorney fees Page 50   economies the data are also collected for the second largest business city. SOLAS certificate SOLAS Certificate Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Enforcing Contracts The enforcing contracts indicator measures the time and cost for resolving a commercial dispute through a local rst-instance court, and the quality of judicial processes index, evaluating whether each economy has adopted a series of good practices that promote quality and e ciency in the court system. The most recent round of data collection was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Time required to enforce a contract through the The dispute in the case study involves the breach of a sales contract courts (calendar days) between 2 domestic businesses. The case study assumes that the court hears an expert on the quality of the goods in dispute. This distinguishes Time to file and serve the case the case from simple debt enforcement. Time for trial and to obtain the judgment To make the data comparable across economies, Doing Business uses Time to enforce the judgment several assumptions about the case: Cost required to enforce a contract through the - The dispute concerns a lawful transaction between two businesses (Seller courts (% of claim) and Buyer), both located in the economy’s largest business city. For 11 Attorney fees economies the data are also collected for the second largest business city. - The buyer orders custom-made goods, then fails to pay. Court fees - The value of the dispute is 200% of the income per capita or the Enforcement fees equivalent in local currency of USD 5,000, whichever is greater. Quality of judicial processes index (0-18) - The seller sues the buyer before the court with jurisdiction over commercial cases worth 200% of income per capita or $5,000. Court structure and proceedings (-1-5) - The seller requests a pretrial attachment to secure the claim. Case management (0-6) - The dispute on the quality of the goods requires an expert opinion. Court automation (0-4) - The judge decides in favor of the seller; there is no appeal. Alternative dispute resolution (0-3) - The seller enforces the judgment through a public sale of the buyer’s movable assets. Standardized Case Claim value XAF 2,732,984.00 Court name Douala First Instance Court, Civil and Commercial Section City Covered Douala Sub-Saharan OECD high Indicator Cameroon Africa income Overall Best Performer Time (days) 800 656.8 577.8 164.00 (Singapore) Cost (% of claim value) 46.6 44.0 21.5 9.00 (Iceland) Quality of judicial processes index (0-18) 6.0 6.5 11.0 15.50 (Australia) Figure – Enforcing Contracts in Cameroon and comparator economies – Ranking and DTF DB 2018 Distance to Frontier (DTF) 0 100 55.25: Equatorial Guinea (Rank: 104) 54.00: Ghana (Rank: 116) 48.14: Regional Average (Sub-Saharan Africa) Page 51   of judicial processes Quality Business Doing index (0-18) 2018 Cameroon 6.0 6.5 11.0 15.50 (Australia) Figure – Enforcing Contracts in Cameroon and comparator economies – Ranking and DTF DB 2018 Distance to Frontier (DTF) 0 100 55.25: Equatorial Guinea (Rank: 104) 54.00: Ghana (Rank: 116) 48.14: Regional Average (Sub-Saharan Africa) 43.99: Congo, Rep. (Rank: 155) 41.76: Cameroon (Rank: 162) 32.84: Gabon (Rank: 178) Note: The ranking of economies on the ease of enforcing contracts is determined by sorting their distance to frontier scores for enforcing contracts. These scores are the simple average of the distance to frontier scores for each of the component indicators. Figure – Enforcing Contracts in Cameroon – Time and Cost Time Cost 1400 60 53.2 1200 1160 46.6 50 Cost (% of claim value) 44.0 1000 40 Time (days) 800 34.3 800 710 656.8 30 560 23.0 577.8 600 21.5 475 19.5 20 400 200 10 0 0 Cameroon Congo, Rep. Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana OECD high income Sub-Saharan Africa Figure – Enforcing Contracts in Cameroon and comparator economies – Measure of Quality Cameroon 2 0 4 Congo, Rep. 2 0.5 0 2.5 Equatorial Guinea 1.5 0.5 0 1 Gabon 2.5 0 1.5 Ghana 2.5 1 0 3 OECD high income 2.5 2.9 2 3.6 Sub-Saharan Africa 2 1.1 0.3 3.2 0 2 4 6 8 10 Page 52   12 0 0 Cameroon Congo, Rep. Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana OECD high income Sub-Saharan Africa Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Figure – Enforcing Contracts in Cameroon and comparator economies – Measure of Quality Cameroon 2 0 4 Congo, Rep. 2 0.5 0 2.5 Equatorial Guinea 1.5 0.5 0 1 Gabon 2.5 0 1.5 Ghana 2.5 1 0 3 OECD high income 2.5 2.9 2 3.6 Sub-Saharan Africa 2 1.1 0.3 3.2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Sub-Indicator Score Alternative dispute resolution (0­3) Case management (0­6) Court automation (0­4) Court structure and proceedings (­1­5) Details – Enforcing Contracts in Cameroon Indicator Time (days) 800 Filing and service 30 Trial and judgment 410 Enforcement of judgment 360 Cost (% of claim value) 46.6 Attorney fees 21.3 Court fees 11.8 Enforcement fees 13.5 Quality of judicial processes index (0-18) 6.0 Court structure and proceedings (-1-5) 4.0 Case management (0-6) 0.0 Court automation (0-4) 0.0 Alternative dispute resolution (0-3) 2.0 Details – Enforcing Contracts in Cameroon – Measure of Quality Page 53   Alternative dispute resolution (0-3) 2.0 Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Details – Enforcing Contracts in Cameroon – Measure of Quality Answer Score Quality of judicial processes index (0-18) 6.0 Court structure and proceedings (-1-5) 4.0 1. Is there a court or division of a court dedicated solely to hearing commercial cases? Yes 1.5 2. Small claims court 1.5 2.a. Is there a small claims court or a fast-track procedure for small claims? Yes 2.b. If yes, is self-representation allowed? Yes 3. Is pretrial attachment available? Yes 1.0 4. Are new cases assigned randomly to judges? No 0.0 5. Does a woman's testimony carry the same evidentiary weight in court as a man's? Yes 0.0 Case management (0-6) 0.0 1. Time standards 0.0 1.a. Are there laws setting overall time standards for key court events in a civil case? Yes 1.b. If yes, are the time standards set for at least three court events? No 1.c. Are these time standards respected in more than 50% of cases? Yes 2. Adjournments 0.0 2.a. Does the law regulate the maximum number of adjournments that can be No granted? 2.b. Are adjournments limited to unforeseen and exceptional circumstances? Yes 2.c. If rules on adjournments exist, are they respected in more than 50% of cases? No 3. Can two of the following four reports be generated about the competent court: (i) No 0.0 time to disposition report; (ii) clearance rate report; (iii) age of pending cases report; and (iv) single case progress report? 4. Is a pretrial conference among the case management techniques used before the No 0.0 competent court? 5. Are there any electronic case management tools in place within the competent court No 0.0 for use by judges? 6. Are there any electronic case management tools in place within the competent court No 0.0 for use by lawyers? Court automation (0-4) 0.0 1. Can the initial complaint be led electronically through a dedicated platform within No 0.0 the competent court? 2. Is it possible to carry out service of process electronically for claims led before the No 0.0 competent court? Page 54   1. Can the initial complaint be led electronically through a dedicated platform within No 0.0 Businesscourt? the competent Doing 2018 Cameroon 2. Is it possible to carry out service of process electronically for claims led before the No 0.0 competent court? 3. Can court fees be paid electronically within the competent court? No 0.0 4. Publication of judgments 0.0 4.a Are judgments rendered in commercial cases at all levels made available to the No general public through publication in o cial gazettes, in newspapers or on the internet or court website? 4.b. Are judgments rendered in commercial cases at the appellate and supreme No court level made available to the general public through publication in o cial gazettes, in newspapers or on the internet or court website? Alternative dispute resolution (0-3) 2.0 1. Arbitration 1.5 1.a. Is domestic commercial arbitration governed by a consolidated law or Yes consolidated chapter or section of the applicable code of civil procedure encompassing substantially all its aspects? 1.b. Are there any commercial disputes—aside from those that deal with public No order or public policy—that cannot be submitted to arbitration? 1.c. Are valid arbitration clauses or agreements usually enforced by the courts? Yes 2. Mediation/Conciliation 0.5 2.a. Is voluntary mediation or conciliation available? Yes 2.b. Are mediation, conciliation or both governed by a consolidated law or No consolidated chapter or section of the applicable code of civil procedure encompassing substantially all their aspects? 2.c. Are there nancial incentives for parties to attempt mediation or conciliation (i.e., No if mediation or conciliation is successful, a refund of court ling fees, income tax credits or the like)? Resolving Insolvency Doing Business studies the time, cost and outcome of insolvency proceedings involving domestic legal entities. These variables are used to calculate the recovery rate, which is recorded as cents on the dollar recovered by secured creditors through reorganization, liquidation or debt enforcement (foreclosure or receivership) proceedings. To determine the present value of the amount recovered by creditors, Doing Business uses the lending rates from the International Monetary Fund, supplemented with data from central banks and the Economist Intelligence Unit. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Time required to recover debt (years) To make the data on the time, cost and outcome comparable across economies, several assumptions about the business and the case are Measured in calendar years used: Appeals and requests for extension are included - A hotel located in the largest city (or cities) has 201 employees and 50 Cost required to recover debt (% of debtor’s estate) suppliers. The hotel experiences nancial di culties. Page 55   Measured as percentage of estate value - The value of the hotel is 100% of the income per capita or the equivalent if mediation or conciliation is successful, a refund of court ling fees, income tax credits or the like)? Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Resolving Insolvency Doing Business studies the time, cost and outcome of insolvency proceedings involving domestic legal entities. These variables are used to calculate the recovery rate, which is recorded as cents on the dollar recovered by secured creditors through reorganization, liquidation or debt enforcement (foreclosure or receivership) proceedings. To determine the present value of the amount recovered by creditors, Doing Business uses the lending rates from the International Monetary Fund, supplemented with data from central banks and the Economist Intelligence Unit. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Time required to recover debt (years) To make the data on the time, cost and outcome comparable across economies, several assumptions about the business and the case are Measured in calendar years used: Appeals and requests for extension are included - A hotel located in the largest city (or cities) has 201 employees and 50 Cost required to recover debt (% of debtor’s estate) suppliers. The hotel experiences nancial di culties. Measured as percentage of estate value - The value of the hotel is 100% of the income per capita or the equivalent Court fees in local currency of USD 200,000, whichever is greater. - The hotel has a loan from a domestic bank, secured by a mortgage over Fees of insolvency administrators the hotel’s real estate. The hotel cannot pay back the loan, but makes Lawyers’ fees enough money to operate otherwise. Assessors’ and auctioneers’ fees In addition, Doing Business evaluates the adequacy and integrity of the Other related fees existing legal framework applicable to liquidation and reorganization Outcome proceedings through the strength of insolvency framework index. The index tests whether economies adopted internationally accepted good Whether business continues operating as a going practices in four areas: commencement of proceedings, management of concern or business assets are sold piecemeal debtor’s assets, reorganization proceedings and creditor participation. Recovery rate for creditors Measures the cents on the dollar recovered by secured creditors Outcome for the business (survival or not) determines the maximum value that can be recovered Official costs of the insolvency proceedings are deducted Depreciation of furniture is taken into account Present value of debt recovered Strength of insolvency framework index (0- 16) Sum of the scores of four component indices: Commencement of proceedings index (0-3) Management of debtor’s assets index (0-6) Reorganization proceedings index (0-3) Creditor participation index (0-4) Sub-Saharan OECD high Indicator Cameroon Africa income Overall Best Performer Recovery rate (cents on the dollar) 16.0 20.3 71.2 93.1 (Norway) Time (years) 2.8 2.9 1.7 0.4 (Ireland) Page 56   Cost (% of estate) 33.5 22.7 9.1 1.00 (Norway) Creditor participation index (0-4) Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Sub-Saharan OECD high Indicator Cameroon Africa income Overall Best Performer Recovery rate (cents on the dollar) 16.0 20.3 71.2 93.1 (Norway) Time (years) 2.8 2.9 1.7 0.4 (Ireland) Cost (% of estate) 33.5 22.7 9.1 1.00 (Norway) Outcome (0 as piecemeal sale and 1 as going 0 .. .. .. concern) Strength of insolvency framework index (0-16) 9.0 6.2 12.1 15.00 (6 Economies) Figure – Resolving Insolvency in Cameroon and comparator economies – Ranking and DTF DB 2018 Distance to Frontier (DTF) 0 100 37.98: Congo, Rep. (Rank: 118) 36.73: Cameroon (Rank: 125) 36.11: Gabon (Rank: 126) 30.28: Regional Average (Sub-Saharan Africa) 24.77: Ghana (Rank: 158) 0.00: Equatorial Guinea (Rank: 168) Note: The ranking of economies on the ease of resolving insolvency is determined by sorting their distance to frontier scores for resolving insolvency. These scores are the simple average of the distance to frontier scores for the recovery rate and the strength of insolvency framework index. Figure – Resolving Insolvency in Cameroon – Time and Cost Time Cost 6 40 33.5 5.0 35 5 30 25.0 Cost (% of estate) Time (years) 4 3.3 22.0 22.7 25 2.8 2.9 3 20 14.5 1.9 1.7 15 2 9.1 10 1 5 0 0 Cameroon Congo, Rep. no practice Gabon Ghana OECD high income Sub-Saharan Africa Equatorial Guinea Figure – Resolving Insolvency in Cameroon and comparator economies – Measure of Quality Cameroon 5.5 2 1 0.5 Page 57   Congo, Rep. 5.5 2 1 0.5 Cameroon Congo, Rep. no practice Gabon Ghana OECD high income Sub-Saharan Africa Equatorial Guinea Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Figure – Resolving Insolvency in Cameroon and comparator economies – Measure of Quality Cameroon 5.5 2 1 0.5 Congo, Rep. 5.5 2 1 0.5 Equatorial Guinea 5.5 2 1 0.5 Gabon 5.5 2 1 0.5 Ghana 2 2 0 OECD high income 5.4 2.8 2.3 1.9 Sub-Saharan Africa 4.1 2.3 1 0.4 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 Sub-Indicator Score Management of debtor's assets index (0­6) Commencement of proceedings index (0­3) Creditor participation index (0­4) Reorganization proceedings index (0­3) Figure – Resolving Insolvency in Cameroon and comparator economies – Recovery Rate Recovery Rate (cents on the dollar) 25 22.8 20.3 20 18.3 16.0 14.8 15 10 5 0.0 0 Cameroon Congo, Rep. Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana Sub-Saharan Africa Details – Resolving Insolvency in Cameroon Indicator Answer Explanation Proceeding liquidation As Mirage will not be able to settle its current liabilities with its available assets, it will file a (after an declaration of cessation of payments (article 25 of the Uniform Act Organizing Collective attempt at Proceedings for Wiping Off Debts). In order to continue operating, Mirage will try to obtain reorganization) the opening of reorganization proceedings and avoid liquidation. Under article 27, a composition proposal is a proposal lodged no later than 15 days following the declaration of cessation of payments, specifying the measures and conditions envisaged to redress the company. According to our information, Mirage will not reach an agreement with its creditors, so the composition proposal will not succeed and the court will convert the proceedings to liquidation some months after the lodging of the proposal (article 33 of the Uniform Act). A reorganization proceeding that is later converted into liquidation is the most likely proceeding in Cameroon. Outcome piecemeal sale Page 58   According to our estimations, the reorganization attempt will fail and the proceedings will Cameroon Congo, Rep. Equatorial Guinea Gabon Ghana Sub-Saharan Africa Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Details – Resolving Insolvency in Cameroon Indicator Answer Explanation Proceeding liquidation As Mirage will not be able to settle its current liabilities with its available assets, it will file a (after an declaration of cessation of payments (article 25 of the Uniform Act Organizing Collective attempt at Proceedings for Wiping Off Debts). In order to continue operating, Mirage will try to obtain reorganization) the opening of reorganization proceedings and avoid liquidation. Under article 27, a composition proposal is a proposal lodged no later than 15 days following the declaration of cessation of payments, specifying the measures and conditions envisaged to redress the company. According to our information, Mirage will not reach an agreement with its creditors, so the composition proposal will not succeed and the court will convert the proceedings to liquidation some months after the lodging of the proposal (article 33 of the Uniform Act). A reorganization proceeding that is later converted into liquidation is the most likely proceeding in Cameroon. Outcome piecemeal sale According to our estimations, the reorganization attempt will fail and the proceedings will probably be converted to liquidation. The hotel will stop operating and will be dismantled, and the assets of the debtor will be sold separately. Time (in years) 2.8 According to our estimations, the reorganization attempt will take 16 months. This time estimate include the filing of a declaration of cessation of payments, the time for the court to declare cessation of payments, to nominate the receiver, until the decision to convert the proceedings to liquidation because of the impossibility of Mirage to reach an agreement with its creditors on the composition plan. The liquidation procedure will take 18 months. Taking into account the time frames for appeals, the entire procedure will take approximately 34 months. Cost (% of 33.5 According to our estimations, a reorganization attempt that is later converted into estate) liquidation costs approximately XAF 33,300,000 (33.5% of the value of the estate). Lawyer fees (7%), court fees (7%), liquidator fees (5%), expert-rapporteur (5%), official receiver (5%), auctioneer (5%), and bailiffs constitute the main costs of the procedure. Recovery rate (cents on the 16.0 dollar) Details – Resolving Insolvency in Cameroon – Measure of Quality Answer Score Strength of insolvency framework index (0-16) 9.0 Commencement of proceedings index (0-3) 2.0 What procedures are available to a DEBTOR when commencing insolvency (c) Debtor may 0.5 proceedings? le for reorganization only Does the insolvency framework allow a CREDITOR to le for insolvency of the debtor? (b) Yes, but a 0.5 creditor may le for liquidation only What basis for commencement of the insolvency proceedings is allowed under the (a) Debtor is 1.0 insolvency framework? generally unable Page 59   to pay its debts dollar) Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Details – Resolving Insolvency in Cameroon – Measure of Quality Answer Score Strength of insolvency framework index (0-16) 9.0 Commencement of proceedings index (0-3) 2.0 What procedures are available to a DEBTOR when commencing insolvency (c) Debtor may 0.5 proceedings? le for reorganization only Does the insolvency framework allow a CREDITOR to le for insolvency of the debtor? (b) Yes, but a 0.5 creditor may le for liquidation only What basis for commencement of the insolvency proceedings is allowed under the (a) Debtor is 1.0 insolvency framework? generally unable to pay its debts as they mature Management of debtor's assets index (0-6) 5.5 Does the insolvency framework allow the continuation of contracts supplying essential Yes 1.0 goods and services to the debtor? Does the insolvency framework allow the rejection by the debtor of overly burdensome Yes 1.0 contracts? Does the insolvency framework allow avoidance of preferential transactions? Yes 1.0 Does the insolvency framework allow avoidance of undervalued transactions? Yes 1.0 Does the insolvency framework provide for the possibility of the debtor obtaining credit Yes 1.0 after commencement of insolvency proceedings? Does the insolvency framework assign priority to post-commencement credit? (a) Yes over all 0.5 pre- commencement creditors, secured or unsecured Reorganization proceedings index (0-3) 0.5 Which creditors vote on the proposed reorganization plan? (a) All creditors 0.5 Does the insolvency framework require that dissenting creditors in reorganization No 0.0 receive at least as much as what they would obtain in a liquidation? Are the creditors devided into classes for the purposes of voting on the reorganization No 0.0 plan, does each class vote separately and are creditors in the same class treated equally? Creditor participation index (0-4) 1.0 Does the insolvency framework require approval by the creditors for selection or No 0.0 appointment of the insolvency representative? Page 60   Creditor Doing participation Business 2018 index (0-4) Cameroon 1.0 Does the insolvency framework require approval by the creditors for selection or No 0.0 appointment of the insolvency representative? Does the insolvency framework require approval by the creditors for sale of substantial No 0.0 assets of the debtor? Does the insolvency framework provide that a creditor has the right to request No 0.0 information from the insolvency representative? Does the insolvency framework provide that a creditor has the right to object to Yes 1.0 decisions accepting or rejecting creditors' claims? Note: Even if the economy’s legal framework includes provisions related to insolvency proceedings (liquidation or reorganization), the economy receives 0 points for the strength of insolvency framework index, if time, cost and outcome indicators are recorded as “no practice”. Labor Market Regulation Doing Business presents the data for the labor market regulation indicators in an annex. The report does not present rankings of economies on these indicators or include the topic in the aggregate distance to frontier score or ranking on the ease of doing business. Detailed data collected on labor market regulation are available on the Doing Business website (http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploretopics/labor-market-regulation). The most recent round of data collection was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Hiring To make the data comparable across economies, several assumptions (i) whether xed-term contracts are prohibited for about the worker and the business are used. permanent tasks; (ii) maximum cumulative duration of xed-term contracts; (iii) length of the The worker: probationary period; (iv) minimum wage. - Is a cashier in a supermarket or grocery store, age 19, with one year of work experience. Working hours - Is a full-time employee. (i) maximum number of working days allowed per - Is not a member of the labor union, unless membership is mandatory. week; (ii) premiums for work: at night, on a weekly rest day and overtime; (iii) whether there are The business: restrictions on work at night, work on a weekly rest - Is a limited liability company (or the equivalent in the economy). day and for overtime work; (iv) whether nonpregnant - Operates a supermarket or grocery store in the economy’s largest and nonnursing women can work same night hours business city. For 11 economies the data are also collected for the second as men; (v) length of paid annual leave. largest business city. - Has 60 employees. Redundancy rules - Is subject to collective bargaining agreements if such agreements cover (i) whether redundancy can be basis for terminating more than 50% of the food retail sector and they apply even to rms that workers; (ii) whether employer needs to notify are not party to them. and/or get approval from third party to terminate 1 - Abides by every law and regulation but does not grant workers more redundant worker and a group of 9 redundant bene ts than those mandated by law, regulation or (if applicable) collective workers; (iii) whether law requires employer to bargaining agreements. reassign or retrain a worker before making worker redundant; (iv) whether priority rules apply for redundancies and reemployment. Redundancy cost (i) notice period for redundancy dismissal; (ii) severance payments due when terminating a redundant worker. Job quality (i) whether law mandates equal remuneration for Page 61   work of equal value and nondiscrimination based on the economy receives 0 points for the strength of insolvency framework index, if time, cost and outcome indicators are recorded as “no practice”. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Labor Market Regulation Doing Business presents the data for the labor market regulation indicators in an annex. The report does not present rankings of economies on these indicators or include the topic in the aggregate distance to frontier score or ranking on the ease of doing business. Detailed data collected on labor market regulation are available on the Doing Business website (http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploretopics/labor-market-regulation). The most recent round of data collection was completed in June 2017. See the methodology for more information. What the indicators measure Case study assumptions Hiring To make the data comparable across economies, several assumptions (i) whether xed-term contracts are prohibited for about the worker and the business are used. permanent tasks; (ii) maximum cumulative duration of xed-term contracts; (iii) length of the The worker: probationary period; (iv) minimum wage. - Is a cashier in a supermarket or grocery store, age 19, with one year of work experience. Working hours - Is a full-time employee. (i) maximum number of working days allowed per - Is not a member of the labor union, unless membership is mandatory. week; (ii) premiums for work: at night, on a weekly rest day and overtime; (iii) whether there are The business: restrictions on work at night, work on a weekly rest - Is a limited liability company (or the equivalent in the economy). day and for overtime work; (iv) whether nonpregnant - Operates a supermarket or grocery store in the economy’s largest and nonnursing women can work same night hours business city. For 11 economies the data are also collected for the second as men; (v) length of paid annual leave. largest business city. - Has 60 employees. Redundancy rules - Is subject to collective bargaining agreements if such agreements cover (i) whether redundancy can be basis for terminating more than 50% of the food retail sector and they apply even to rms that workers; (ii) whether employer needs to notify are not party to them. and/or get approval from third party to terminate 1 - Abides by every law and regulation but does not grant workers more redundant worker and a group of 9 redundant bene ts than those mandated by law, regulation or (if applicable) collective workers; (iii) whether law requires employer to bargaining agreements. reassign or retrain a worker before making worker redundant; (iv) whether priority rules apply for redundancies and reemployment. Redundancy cost (i) notice period for redundancy dismissal; (ii) severance payments due when terminating a redundant worker. Job quality (i) whether law mandates equal remuneration for work of equal value and nondiscrimination based on gender in hiring; (ii) whether law mandates paid or unpaid maternity leave; (iii) length of paid maternity leave; (iv) whether employees on maternity leave receive 100% of wages; (v) availability of ve fully paid days of sick leave a year; (vi) eligibility requirements for unemployment protection. Details – Labor Market Regulation in Cameroon Answer Hiring Page 62   Fixed-term contracts prohibited for permanent tasks? No days of sick leave a year; (vi) eligibility requirements for unemployment protection. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Details – Labor Market Regulation in Cameroon Answer Hiring Fixed-term contracts prohibited for permanent tasks? No Maximum length of a single xed-term contract (months) 24.0 Maximum length of xed-term contracts, including renewals (months) 48.0 Minimum wage applicable to the worker assumed in the case study (US$/month) 72.2 Ratio of minimum wage to value added per worker 0.4 Maximum length of probationary period (months) 2.0 Working hours Standard workday 8.0 Maximum number of working days per week 6.0 Premium for night work (% of hourly pay) 0.0 Premium for work on weekly rest day (% of hourly pay) 0.0 Premium for overtime work (% of hourly pay) 20.0 Restrictions on night work? No Whether nonpregnant and nonnursing women can work the same night hours as men Yes Restrictions on weekly holiday? No Restrictions on overtime work? No Paid annual leave for a worker with 1 year of tenure (working days) 24.0 Paid annual leave for a worker with 5 years of tenure (working days) 24.0 Paid annual leave for a worker with 10 years of tenure (working days) 27.0 Paid annual leave (average for workers with 1, 5 and 10 years of tenure, in working days) 25.0 Redundancy rules Dismissal due to redundancy allowed by law? Yes Third-party noti cation if one worker is dismissed? Yes Third-party approval if one worker is dismissed? Yes Third-party noti cation if nine workers are dismissed? Yes Third-party approval if nine workers are dismissed? Yes Retraining or reassignment obligation before redundancy? No Page 63   Third-party Doing approval Business 2018 if nine workers are dismissed? Cameroon Yes Retraining or reassignment obligation before redundancy? No Priority rules for redundancies? Yes Priority rules for reemployment? Yes Redundancy cost Notice period for redundancy dismissal for a worker with 1 year of tenure 8.7 Notice period for redundancy dismissal for a worker with 5 years of tenure 13.0 Notice period for redundancy dismissal for a worker with 10 years of tenure 13.0 Notice period for redundancy dismissal (average for workers with 1, 5 and 10 years of tenure) 11.6 Severance pay for redundancy dismissal for a worker with 1 year of tenure 1.1 Severance pay for redundancy dismissal for a worker with 5 years of tenure 6.5 Severance pay for redundancy dismissal for a worker with 10 years of tenure 17.3 Severance pay for redundancy dismissal (average for workers with 1, 5 and 10 years of tenure) 8.3 Job quality Equal remuneration for work of equal value? No Gender nondiscrimination in hiring? No Paid or unpaid maternity leave mandated by law? Yes Minimum length of maternity leave (calendar days)? 98.0 Receive 100% of wages on maternity leave? Yes Five fully paid days of sick leave a year? Yes Unemployment protection after one year of employment? No Minimum contribution period for unemployment protection (months)? n.a. Business Reforms in Cameroon In the year ending June 1, 2017, 119 economies implemented 264 total reforms across the di erent areas measured by Doing Business. Doing Business has recorded more than 2,900 regulatory reforms making it easier to do business since 2004. Reforms inspired by Doing Business have been implemented by economies in all regions. The following are the reforms for Cameroon implemented since Doing Business 2008. = Doing Business reform making it easier to do business. = Change making it more di cult to do business. DB2018 Starting a Business: Cameroon made starting a business easier by reducing the paid-in minimum capital requirement. Getting Credit: Cameroon improved access to credit information by launching a new credit registry. DB2017 Dealing with Construction Permits: Cameroon made dealing with construction permits easier by reducing the time it takes to obtain the building permit and strengthen the Building Quality Control Index by increasing transparency. Page 64   Paying Taxes: Cameroon made paying taxes more costly by increasing the minimum tax rate for companies. Minimum contribution period for unemployment protection (months)? n.a. Doing Business 2018 Cameroon Business Reforms in Cameroon In the year ending June 1, 2017, 119 economies implemented 264 total reforms across the di erent areas measured by Doing Business. Doing Business has recorded more than 2,900 regulatory reforms making it easier to do business since 2004. Reforms inspired by Doing Business have been implemented by economies in all regions. The following are the reforms for Cameroon implemented since Doing Business 2008. = Doing Business reform making it easier to do business. = Change making it more di cult to do business. DB2018 Starting a Business: Cameroon made starting a business easier by reducing the paid-in minimum capital requirement. Getting Credit: Cameroon improved access to credit information by launching a new credit registry. DB2017 Dealing with Construction Permits: Cameroon made dealing with construction permits easier by reducing the time it takes to obtain the building permit and strengthen the Building Quality Control Index by increasing transparency. Paying Taxes: Cameroon made paying taxes more costly by increasing the minimum tax rate for companies. Resolving Insolvency: Cameroon made resolving insolvency easier by introducing a new conciliation procedure for companies in nancial di culties and a simpli ed preventive settlement procedure for small companies. DB2015 Getting Credit: Cameroon improved its credit information system by passing regulations that provide for the establishment and operation of a credit registry database. Protecting Minority Investors: Cameroon strengthened minority investor protections by introducing greater requirements for disclosure of related-party transactions to the board of directors and by making it possible for shareholders to inspect the documents pertaining to related-party transactions and to appoint auditors to conduct an inspection of such transactions. DB2014 Dealing with Construction Permits: Cameroon made dealing with construction permits more complex by introducing noti cation and inspection requirements. At the same time, Cameroon made it easier by decentralizing the process for obtaining a building permit and by introducing strict time limits for processing the application and issuing the certi cate of conformity. DB2013 Enforcing Contracts: Cameroon made enforcing contracts easier by creating specialized commercial divisions within its courts of rst instance. DB2012 Starting a Business: Cameroon made starting a business easier by replacing the requirement for a copy of the founders’ criminal records with one for a sworn declaration at the time of the company’s registration, and by reducing publication fees. Getting Credit: Access to credit in Cameroon was improved through amendments to the OHADA Uniform Act on Secured Transactions that broaden the range of assets that can be used as collateral (including future assets), extend the security interest to the proceeds of the original asset and introduce the possibility of out-of-court enforcement. DB2011 Starting a Business: Cameroon made starting a business easier by establishing a new one-stop shop and abolishing the requirement for verifying business premises and its corresponding fees. DB2010 Starting a Business: Cameroon made starting a business easier by exempting newly formed companies from paying the business license tax for their rst 2 years of existence. Page 65   Paying Taxes: To encourage business start-ups, Cameroon exempted new businesses from the business license tax for their rst DB2010 Doing Business Starting 2018 a Business: Cameroon Cameroon made starting a business easier by exempting newly formed companies from paying the business license tax for their rst 2 years of existence. Paying Taxes: To encourage business start-ups, Cameroon exempted new businesses from the business license tax for their rst 2 years of existence. Trading across Borders: Cameroon reduced the time for exporting and importing, and enhanced the security of goods transiting within the country, by improving the single-window system (Guichet Unique du Commerce Extérieur) at Douala port and implementing a GPS tracking system and scanners for cargo. DB2009 Getting Credit: In Cameroon and other members of the Central African Monetary Union, the regional public credit registry provided online access to information for banks, simplifying the task of ling and retrieving information in the public registry and allowing expanded coverage of borrowers. Page 66   provided online access to information for banks, simplifying the task of ling and retrieving information in the public registry and allowing 2018 of expanded coverage Doing Business borrowers. Cameroon Page 67