58818 Kazakhstan © 2010 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW Washington, DC 20433 Telephone 202-473-1000 Internet www.worldbank.org All rights reserved. 1 2 3 4 08 07 06 05 A copublication of The World Bank and the International Finance Corporation. This volume is a product of the staff of the World Bank Group. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this volume do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. Rights and Permissions The material in this publication is copyrighted. Copying and/or transmitting portions or all of this work without permission may be a violation of applicable law. The World Bank encourages dissemination of its work and will normally grant permission to reproduce portions of the work promptly. 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ISBN: 978-0-8213-7960-8 E-ISBN: 978-0-8213-8630-9 DOI: 10.1596/978-0-8213-7960-8 ISSN: 1729-2638 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data has been applied for. Printed in the United States Current features News on the Doing Business project http://www.doingbusiness.org Rankings How economies rank-from 1 to 183 http://www.doingbusiness.org/rankings/ Contents Reformers Short summaries of DB2011 reforms, lists of reformers since DB2004 Introduction and a ranking simulation tool and Aggregate Rankings http://www.doingbusiness.org/reforms/ 5 - Year Measure of Historical data Cumulative Change Customized data sets since DB2004 http://www.doingbusiness.org/custom-query/ Starting a Business Methodology and research Dealing with The methodologies and research papers underlying Doing Business Construction Permits http://www.doingbusiness.org/Methodology/ Registering Property Download reports Access to Doing Business reports as well as subnational and regional Getting Credit reports, reform case studies and customized country and regional profiles Protecting Investors http://www.doingbusiness.org/reports/ Paying Taxes Subnational and regional projects Differences in business regulations at the subnational and regional Trading Across Borders level http://www.doingbusiness.org/subnational-reports/ Enforcing Contracts Law Library Closing a Business Online collection of business laws and regulations relating to business and gender issues Doing Business 2011 http://www.doingbusiness.org/law-library/ Business Reforms http://wbl.worldbank.org/ Local partners More than 8,200 specialists in 183 economies who participate in Doing Business http://www.doingbusiness.org/Local-Partners/Doing-Business/ Business Planet Interactive map on the ease of doing business http://rru.worldbank.org/businessplanet Doing Business 2011 : Making a Difference for Entrepreneurs is the eighth in a series of annual reports investigating regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 183 economies, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, over time. A set of regulations affecting 9 stages of a business's life are measured: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and closing a business. Data in Doing Business 2011 are current as of June 1, 2010*. The indicators are used to analyze economic outcomes and identify what reforms have worked, where, and why. The Doing Business methodology has limitations. Other areas important to business such as an economy 's proximity to large markets, the quality of its infrastructure services (other than those related to trading across borders), the security of property from theft and looting, the transparency of government procurement, macroeconomic conditions or the underlying strength of institutions, are not studied directly by Doing Business. To make the data comparable across economies, the indicators refer to a specific type of business, generally a local limited liability company operating in the largest business city. Because standard assumptions are used in the data collection, comparisons and benchmarks are valid across economies. The data not only highlight the extent of obstacles to doing business; they also help identify the source of those obstacles, supporting policymakers in designing reform. The data set covers 183 economies: 46 in Sub-Saharan Africa, 32 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 25 in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, 24 in East Asia and Pacific, 18 in the Middle East and North Africa and 8 in South Asia, as well as 30 OECD high-income economies. The following pages present the summary Doing Business indicators for Kazakhstan. The data used for this economy profile come from the Doing Business database and are summarized in graphs. These graphs allow a comparison of the economies in each region not only with one another but also with the "good practice" economy for each indicator. The good-practice economies are identified by their position in each indicator as well as their overall ranking and by their capacity to provide good examples of business regulation to other countries. These good -practice economies do not necessarily rank number 1 in the topic or indicator, but they are in the top 10. More information is available in the full report. Doing Business 2011 : Making a Difference for Entrepreneurs presents the indicators, analyzes their relationship with economic outcomes and recommends reforms. The data, along with information on ordering the report, are available on the Doing Business website (www.doingbusiness.org). * Except for the Paying Taxes indicator that refers to the period January to December of 2009. Note: 2008-2010 Doing Business data and rankings have been recalculated to reflect changes to the methodology and the addition of new economies (in the case of the rankings). 1 Economy Rankings - Ease of Doing Business Kazakhstan is ranked 59 out of 183 economies. Singapore is the top ranked economy in the Ease of Doing Business. Kazakhstan - Compared to global good practice economy as well as selected economies: Kazakhstan's ranking in Doing Business 2011 Rank Doing Business 2011 Ease of Doing Business 59 Starting a Business 47 Dealing with Construction Permits 147 Registering Property 28 Getting Credit 72 Protecting Investors 44 Paying Taxes 39 Trading Across Borders 181 Enforcing Contracts 36 Closing a Business 48 2 Summary of Indicators - Kazakhstan Starting a Business Procedures (number) 6 Time (days) 19 Cost (% of income per capita) 1.0 Min. capital (% of income per capita) 0.0 Dealing with Construction Permits Procedures (number) 34 Time (days) 219 Cost (% of income per capita) 119.8 Registering Property Procedures (number) 4 Time (days) 40 Cost (% of property value) 0.1 Getting Credit Strength of legal rights index (0-10) 4 Depth of credit information index (0-6) 5 Public registry coverage (% of adults) 0.0 Private bureau coverage (% of adults) 29.9 Protecting Investors Extent of disclosure index (0-10) 8 Extent of director liability index (0-10) 1 Ease of shareholder suits index (0-10) 9 Strength of investor protection index (0-10) 6.0 Paying Taxes Payments (number per year) 9 Time (hours per year) 271 Profit tax (%) 16.3 Labor tax and contributions (%) 11.5 Other taxes (%) 1.9 Total tax rate (% profit) 29.6 Trading Across Borders Documents to export (number) 10 Time to export (days) 81 Cost to export (US$ per container) 3005 Documents to import (number) 12 Time to import (days) 67 Cost to import (US$ per container) 3055 3 Enforcing Contracts Procedures (number) 38 Time (days) 390 Cost (% of claim) 22.0 Closing a Business Recovery rate (cents on the dollar) 43.3 Time (years) 1.5 Cost (% of estate) 15 The 5 year measure of cumulative change illustrates how the business regulatory environment has changed in 174 economies from Doing Business 2006 to Doing Business 2011. Instead of highlighting which countries currently have the most business friendly environment, this new approach shows the extent to which an economy's regulatory environment for business has changed compared with 5 years ago. This snapshot reflects all cumulative changes in an economy's business regulation as measured by the Doing Business indicators-such as a reduction in the time to start a business thanks to a one-stop shop or an increase in the strength of investor protection index thanks to new stock exchange rules that tighten disclosure requirements for related -party transactions. This figure shows the distribution of cumulative change across the 9 indicators and time between Doing Business 2006 and Doing Business 2011 0.28 0.24 Doing business has 0.20 become easier (DB change 0.16 score) 0.12 0.08 0.04 Kyrgyz Kazakhstan Ukraine Tajikistan Russian Moldova Republic Federation 6 1. Benchmarking Starting a Business Regulations: Kazakhstan is ranked 47 overall for Starting a Business. Ranking of Kazakhstan in Starting a Business - Compared to good practice and selected economies: 7 The following table shows Starting a Business data for Kazakhstan compared to good practice and comparator economies: Good Practice Procedures Time (days) Cost (% of Min. capital (number) income per (% of income Economies capita) per capita) Denmark* 0.0 New Zealand* 1 1 0.0 Selected Economy Kazakhstan 6 19 1.0 0.0 Comparator Economies Kyrgyz Republic 2 10 3.7 0.0 Moldova 8 10 10.9 11.9 Russian Federation 9 30 3.6 1.9 Tajikistan 8 27 36.9 8.5 Ukraine 10 27 6.1 2.2 * The following economies are also good practice economies for : Procedures (number): Canada Cost (% of income per capita): Slovenia 8 2. Historical data: Starting a Business in Kazakhstan Starting a Business data Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business 2008 2009 2010 2011 Rank .. .. 85 47 Procedures (number) 8 8 7 6 Time (days) 21 21 20 19 Cost (% of income per capita) 7.6 5.2 4.8 1.0 Min. capital (% of income per capita) 22.9 15.9 13.4 0.0 3. The following graphs illustrate the Starting a Business sub indicators in Kazakhstan over the past 4 years: 9 Starting a Business Summary - Kazakhstan This table summarizes the procedures and costs associated with setting up a business in Kazakhstan. STANDARDIZED COMPANY Legal Form: Private Limited Liability Company City: Almaty Registration Requirements: No: Procedure Time to complete Cost to complete 1 Open bank account and deposit initial capital; pay registration fee into 1 KZT 303 the account of the Ministry of Justice 2 State registration of legal entity, statistical, and tax registration at the 14 KZT 2,826 Public Registration Center 3 Make a company seal 1 KZT 3,250 4 Notarize certificate of state registration and other post-registration 1 KZT 2,261 documents 5 Open the current account in the bank 1 no charge 6 Register for the obligatory insurance of life and health for employees 1 no charge 10 Starting a Business Details - Kazakhstan Procedure 1 Open bank account and deposit initial capital; pay registration fee into the account of the Ministry of Justice Time to complete: 1 Cost to complete: KZT 303 Comment: Founders must pay at least 100 KZT prior to state registration with the Public Registration Center. The entire charter capital must be paid within the term established by the general meeting of founders, but no later a year from state registration of the company. Procedure 2 State registration of legal entity, statistical, and tax registration at the Public Registration Center Time to complete: 14 Cost to complete: KZT 2,826 Comment: In accordance with the Law "On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Simplification of State Registration Procedures for Legal Entities and their Branches and Representative Offices dated 8 December 2009: Within 5 days the registration certificate is issued and within 9 days the statistics and health certificates are issued. The following documents should be submitted to the registrar: - Application form; - standard articles of association (3 copies); - copies of ID; - document confirming the payment of the state registration fee (KZT 2826); If necessary the Power of attorney on the representative shall be presented also. Registration fees are 2 times the Index (1 MCI = KZT 1413). Procedure 3 Make a company seal Time to complete: 1 Cost to complete: KZT 3,250 Comment: To make a company seal, promoters must file a copy of certificate of state registration of the company; a power of attorney, if the person is not the director; a copy of the statistics card and the taxpayer registration certificate; and a letter of application requesting the seal, with required information about the seal content. Procedure 4 Notarize certificate of state registration and other post-registration documents Time to complete: 1 Cost to complete: KZT 2,261 Comment: Under the Tax Code of Januar 1, 2009 Article 536(15), the notary fee for certifying copies of the state registration and other postregistration documents shall be 10% of the MCI per page. Each registration document is a two-page document, and the total for one set of certified copies (if the charter had 10 pages) would be 10% of MCI x 16 pages. One set of notarized copies of the registration documents and the charter is usually required to open a bank account, and one set is 11 usually required for recording the company with the local tax office. Additional copies would be needed if the company were to apply for work permits to employ expatriates, obtain licenses and other operational permits, open branches or representative offices, or set up subsidiaries or acquire shares or ownership interests in other legal entities. Procedure 5 Open the current account in the bank Time to complete: 1 Cost to complete: no charge Comment: To open a current account, the founder must provide the bank with the following documents: - Cards with sample signatures and an imprint of the company seal. - Copy of a document, distributed by the tax authority, confirming registration with the tax authority. - Copy of the state registration certificate of legal entity from the registration body of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan. - Copy of the statistical card of legal entity. - Notarized copy of the charter, or other document confirming activity of the legal entity operating on the basis of a standard charter. - Copies of identity documents for person(s) listed on the signature card(s) and company founders. - Application for bank account setup (bank-provided form). Procedure 6 Register for the obligatory insurance of life and health for employees Time to complete: 1 Cost to complete: no charge Comment: Each employee should have employer-paid insurance according to the Law On Obligatory Insurance of The Liability of the Employer for Life and Health Tort to The Employee in Discharge of Labor and (Official) Duties (February 7, 2005) that became effective on July 1, 2005.The amount of insurance premium payable by an employer depends on insurance risks and wages. To assess risks, the insurance companies place all insurable personnel into three categories: administrative, operational, and support. Amounts of the insurance premium vary from 0.04% to 9.99%. According to 7 May 2007 amendments to the law on obligatory insurance, an employer is required to get an insurance policy within 10 business days from the date of state registration indicated in the company's Certificate of State Registration 12 13 1. Benchmarking Dealing with Construction Permits Regulations: Kazakhstan is ranked 147 overall for Dealing with Construction Permits. Ranking of Kazakhstan in Dealing with Construction Permits - Compared to good practice and selected economies: 14 The following table shows Dealing with Construction Permits data for Kazakhstan compared to good practice and comparator economies: Good Practice Procedures Time (days) Cost (% of (number) income per Economies capita) Denmark 6 Qatar 0.8 Singapore 25 Selected Economy Kazakhstan 34 219 119.8 Comparator Economies Kyrgyz Republic 13 143 153.9 Moldova 30 292 120.9 Russian Federation 53 540 4141.0 Tajikistan 30 228 996.1 Ukraine 22 374 1737.6 15 2. Historical data: Dealing with Construction Permits in Kazakhstan Dealing with Construction Permits data Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business 2008 2009 2010 2011 Rank .. .. 156 147 Procedures (number) 38 38 37 34 Time (days) 259 259 239 219 Cost (% of income per capita) 215.0 142.9 123.7 119.8 3. The following graphs illustrate the Dealing with Construction Permits sub indicators in Kazakhstan over the past 4 years: 16 Dealing with Construction Permits in Kazakhstan The table below summarizes the procedures, time, and costs to build a warehouse in Kazakhstan. BUILDING A WAREHOUSE City: Almaty Registration Requirements: No: Procedure Time to complete Cost to complete 1 Request and obtain land allocation permit from Akim of Almaty City 10 days no charge 2 * Notarize documents 1 day KZT 989 3 Request and obtain architectural-planning assignment (APZ) 30 days no charge 4 * Hire a topographic specialist and obtain a topographic survey 1 day KZT 14,500 5 * Receive on-site inspection 1 day no charge 6 * Request and obtain project clearance from Sanitation and Epidemiological 30 days KZT 30,000 Authority (SES) 7 * Request and obtain approval from the local fire department 21 days no charge 8 * Request and obtain approval from the water authority 24 days no charge 17 9 * Request and obtain environmental expertise of documentation 25 days no charge 10 * Request and obtain opinion of the seismological agency on the project 16 days KZT 10,000 from Republican Enterprise Kazakhstan Scientific Institute "Kaz NIISA" 11 Request and obtain expert examination of project documentation 15 days KZT 321,248 12 Request and obtain project clearance from the local architecture and 30 days no charge town-planning authorities 13 Request and obtain rendering building and assembly jobs permit from the 11 days no charge State Architectural Supervision Authorities 14 Receive an inspection by the Sanitary and Epidemiology Service - I 1 day KZT 3,000 15 Receive an inspection by the Fire Service - III 1 day no charge 16 Receive inspection by the Social Protection - III 1 day no charge 17 Request and receive an inspection by the State Architectural Construction 1 day no charge Control after construction of the foundation - V 18 Request and receive an inspection by State Architectural Construction 1 day no charge Control after floor construction - VI 19 Request and receive an inspection by State Architectural Construction 1 day no charge Control after roof construction - VII 20 Hire a construction engineering supervision company 1 day KZT 491,652 21 * Receive an inspection by water authorities 1 day no charge 22 * Connect to water services 6 days no charge 23 * Receive an on-site electricity inspection 1 day no charge 24 * Receive connection to electricity 5 days no charge 25 * Request and receive connection to telephone 3 days KZT 26,800 26 Request approval of the building from Working Commission 1 day KZT 28,844 27 Receive an inspection by the Working Commission 1 day no charge 28 Obtain Approval Act from Working Commission 20 days no charge 18 29 Request approval of the building from State Acceptance Commission 1 day KZT 34,844 30 Receive inspection by the State Acceptance Commission 1 day no charge 31 Request and obtain Acceptance Commission approval 20 days no charge 32 Obtain a technical passport 30 days KZT 800 33 * Receive inspection for the technical passport 1 day KZT 48,428 34 Register BuildCo's title to the warehouse 2 days KZT 70,650 * Takes place simultaneously with another procedure. 19 Dealing with Construction Permits Details - Kazakhstan Procedure 1 Request and obtain land allocation permit from Akim of Almaty City Time to complete: 10 days Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Akimat of Almaty City Comment: BuildCo applies to City Akimat to obtain the Decision of Mayor of City of Almaty. The Decision gives the right to design the project for the next 12 months on the specified land. Resolution of Government of Kazakhstan N 425 as of 6 May 2008 provides for a new "Rule of issuance of baseline materials and data for designing of new construction". According to this Rule all local municipalities must issue the location permit for small and medium companies within 10 days, and for large scale companies within 30 days. However, the Akimat of Almaty continues to issue the location permit regardless of size of companies in 30 days. In some cases in practice this procedure may end up taking up to 12 months. Procedure 2 Notarize documents Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: KZT 989 Agency: Private Notary/ State Notary Comment: BuildCo provides a copy of the following four documents totaling seven pages: governmental registration certificate (double sided), statistical card (single sided), taxpayer registration number (double sided), and the deed of ownership of land (two pages). This procedure is required when applicants do not have all the original documents. In case applicants have the original of all documents, they can submit their documents without notarization and can show them for verification. Notarizations may be carried out by private notaries or state notaries. The fees of both private notaries and state notaries are calculated with reference to a monthly calculation index (MCI) which is established by Parliament for each year in the national budget. The MCI for 2010 year is equal to KZT 1,413 in accordance. State notaries charge 10% of the MCI for each side of a page to be notarized. Thus, for 7 pages the charge is KZT 891 (10% of 1,413 X 7 = 989). The fees for private notaries in Almaty were established at 20% of MCI at a meeting of the private notaries on 31 January 2008. It is most likely that companies will opt for public notaries since it is cheaper. Notarization is completed in a day. Procedure 3 Request and obtain architectural-planning assignment (APZ) Time to complete: 30 days Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Almaty City Architecture and Town-Planning Department Comment: To obtain an architectural-planning assignment, the company must submit a business plan and project feasibility study to the city architecture department. The application must include any plans for construction, a description of the business activities to take place on 20 site, and estimated utility hook-up and consumption requirements. In addition, the company must submit a copy of the property title along with the plot document, approval of engineering-geological estimation of the plot ,and company registration documents The architectural-planning assignment is a permit to develop a building plan/design/project. The design estimates are valid for 3 years from the date of its approval. It includes some provisions and requirements that must be taken into account while developing the project and building, in particular, the requirement that an opinion be obtained on the project from the seismological agency and the sanitary and epidemiologic authorities, as well as project appraisal, and so forth. After obtaining the architectural-planning assignment, the company should develop a project (design) and must then obtain several agencies' approvals of the project in accordance with the architectural-planning assignment and the applicable laws. Each of these agencies reviews the application documents and the project, and may physically inspect the land. As a prerequisite to signing the permit, each department signs a technical approval or "contract" with the company. The contract often requires the signatures of several officers in a department. The contract indicates the department's approval of the company's technical proposals and sets forth the responsibilities of the investor to abide by the terms and conditions of the approval. As of May 6, 2008 Government Resolution N 425 approved new "Rule of issuance of baseline materials and data for designing of new construction". According to it the architectural-planning assignment should be issued within 3 working days for small enterprises, and for all the rest no more than 5 working days. In case of BuildCo it is 5 working days, since it has 60 employees and is considered a medium company. There is no official charge for it. There is no official charge by law, but the architectural-planning assignment is prepared by the commercial organization in the administration which charges KZT 30,000 for the architectural-planning assignment based on the decision of Almaty City Architecture and Town-Planning Department. Based on the technical conditions issued by the utility providers, the Almaty City Architecture and Town-Planning Department issues an architectural-planning assignment, which serves as the authorization to start the development of the project from the design organizations. The applicable law is the Law on Architectural, City Planning, and Construction Activity in the Republic of Kazakhstan," Law No. 232-II, dated July 16, 2001. On 29 September 2009 amendments were adopted to the regulation approved by the above mentioned Government Resolution No. 425, dated 6 May 2008. Pursuant to these amendments: (i) architectural-planning assignment (APZ) and technical conditions for the connection to sources of engineering and municipal utilities (Technical Conditions) are issued by local Akimat; (ii) in order to obtain APZ and Technical Conditions BuildCo will have to submit to Akimat of Almaty City an application which must include (i) permit to use the land plot for the construction of a warehouse and (ii) assignement for construction approved by BuildCo; (iii) local Akimat is required not later than on the next day following the receipt of an application to forward the request for Technical Conditions to the appropriate utilities providers, and (iv) utilities providers are required to provide the Technical Conditions or, in case of refusal, the motivated explanation of the refusal. The term for the consideration and issue of APZ and Technical Conditions by local Akimat may not exceed 8 business days, except for certain construction projects specified in the regulation where the relevant term may be not more than 15 business days from the date of the application. On average, this takes 30 calendar days. Procedure 4 Hire a topographic specialist and obtain a topographic survey Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: KZT 14,500 Agency: Topographical surveying company 21 Comment: Topographical surveying of land is a licensed activity (complex procedure) performed by very few companies. As of January 2009 due to severe construction crisis in Kazakhstan's financial capital Almaty, and decline in demand, topographic surveying companies have reduced their prices. Cost per hectare of conducting a topographic survey now can range anywhere between KZT 9000 to KZT 20,000. This is a significant jump from previous cost of KZT 33,000 to KZT 95,000. Procedure 5 Receive on-site inspection Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: no charge Comment: This inspection happens parallel to the issuance of Architectural Planning Assignment. Procedure 6 Request and obtain project clearance from Sanitation and Epidemiological Authority (SES) Time to complete: 30 days Cost to complete: KZT 30,000 Agency: Sanitary and Epidemiologic Authority Comment: According to Law on Radiological Safety of Population N 219-I as of 23 April 1998 and other by-laws the Sanitation and Epidemiologic Authority (SES) examines the construction projects for their compliance with state radiological, sanitary and hygienic regulations. No specific time limit is expressly provided by law for this procedure. However, according to practice it takes 1-3 months. The SES will conduct an inspection to undertake a radiological measurement. The approval is obtained after the fee is paid. The fee is based on various factors is approximately KZT 30,000. Procedure 7 Request and obtain approval from the local fire department Time to complete: 21 days Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Fire Service Department Comment: This procedure is regulated by the Government Resolution No. 48, as of January 24, 2005 "On approval of the Rules of obtaining approval on projects standards, regulations and rules established requirements of fire protection on construction objects". The Fire Service Department issues the project clearance to ensure that fire norms have been adequately met in the project design. Comments for revision or endorsement are also issued. There is no time-limit stipulated for this procedure and it can take up to 1 month. Any subsequent consideration would take 15 days. Procedure 8 Request and obtain approval from the water authority Time to complete: 24 days Cost to complete: no charge Agency: JSC Vodokanal 22 Comment: It is the responsibility of the State Expertise Authority to issue the technical conditions for connection to water, heat, and electricity, under the Governmental Decree on the Order of Conducting State Expertise, Decree No. 918, dated August 19, 2002 (with changes and amendments dated July 7, 2006). Yet companies have to consult with the Water and Sewage company. No on-site inspection is required by law; however, in practice, inspections take place. Water and Sewage company examines the submitted project of devices and constructions for the connection and issues its conclusion on it. With inspection this procedure may take 30 days. The state act which regulated specified provision (Instructions for use of municipal water pipe and sewage in cities and settlements of Republic Kazakhstan, adopted by The Order of the Ministry of Economy and Trade of Republic Kazakhstan #80, 30 May 1997) was not registered by Ministry of Justice and has no legal effect but yet is continued to be used. Procedure 9 Request and obtain environmental expertise of documentation Time to complete: 25 days Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Environmental Protection Authority Comment: In accordance with the Article 50 of Ecological Code RK No 212-III January 9, 2007 the time for getting approval of local Environment Protection Authority can't be more than 3 months. Subjects of environmental expertise are divided into 4 categories depending on the hazard class of the facility to be inspected pursuant to the sanitary classification. The environmental expertise with respect to facilities of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th categories is performed by the Akimats of Almaty City. A warehouse falls under the 4th category. Once the documents are provided for the environmental expertise, the Agency conducts the preliminary examination of the submitted documents as to their completeness and compliance with the legal requirements. The term for the preliminary examination of documents may not exceed 2 weeks from the date of submission of documents. Once the preliminary examination of documents is completed, the environmental expertise is performed which term may not exceed 3 months. Procedure 10 Request and obtain opinion of the seismological agency on the project from Republican Enterprise Kazakhstan Scientific Institute "Kaz NIISA" Time to complete: 16 days Cost to complete: KZT 10,000 Agency: Republican Enterprise Kazakhstan Scientific Institute "Kaz NIISA" Comment: Republican Enterprise Kazakhstan Scientific Institute (Kaz NIISA) carries out the seismological survey, required for areas subject to dangerous levels of seismic activity. The only document required is the project design. A specialist makes a field visit, reviews the project design documents, and issues a finding that is attached to the project. The minimum time it takes is 10 days and may cost anywhere from KZT 10,000 to KZT 100,000. Procedure 11 Request and obtain expert examination of project documentation Time to complete: 15 days Cost to complete: KZT 321,248 Agency: State Examination Committee/Licensed expert individual or organisation 23 Comment: With limited exceptions provided by law, all projects must undergo expert examination to ascertain if the project conforms to the numerous constructions standards. What might be called state expertise is conducted by Republican State Enterprise "Gosekspertiza" which is authorized by the Government to conduct expertise of state-related projects, projects of high technical complexity, social, transport and recreational infrastructure projects. The projects will be subject to expertise on compliance with regulations on frame stability, frame functioning stability, and labor conditions and protection. In essence, the project is checked against numerous construction standards (SNIPs). Subject to the limited exceptions, the expertise for all other projects may be performed by any duly licensed expert specialist or non-governmental expert organisation. The cost and time for performance of services by private expert individuals or organisations are not established by law and will be subject to negotiation and the circumstances of each project. The cost will be 247 x 1300.6 sq.m = 321,248 KZT. On 23 October 2009 the Government Resolution No. 1656 established the criteria for determining whether a facility is of high or low technical complexity. According to this regulation, free-standing warehouses which do not require special conditions for the storage of goods are considered to be facilities of low technical complexity. The expert examination of the warehouse construction project be handled by Gosekspertiza, it should not take more than 15 calendar days. If the project is sent to Gosexpertiza the official timelimit is 45 days. If the project is complex it may be extended to 60 days and for technically simple projects of small business time should not exceed 15 days. Procedure 12 Request and obtain project clearance from the local architecture and town-planning authorities Time to complete: 30 days Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Almaty City Architecture and Town-Planning Department Comment: Project clearance from the local architecture and town-planning authorities involves verifying the project's conformity with the architectural-planning assignment and with the set of technical conditions. The following documents should be submitted: an application to the Architecture and Town-Planning Department Chief Executive; the architectural-planning assignment; documentation confirming the title to the land; topographical survey; approvals and opinions of the seismological, fire, sanitary-and-epidemiologic, and environmental agencies; independent or state experts' examinations; licenses of the developer and the expert organization; and so forth. Procedure 13 Request and obtain rendering building and assembly jobs permit from the State Architectural Supervision Authorities Time to complete: 11 days Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Almaty City Department of Architecture and Town-Planning Control Comment: The following documents should be submitted to obtain this permit: an application form; land plot permit for construction purposes, approved project with a favorable expert examination; a license to perform architectural activities, town-planning and building activity with a list of building types and assembly jobs; approved building general plan; agreement made with the developer to conduct supervision and maintenance of the construction process; a form signed by the general contractor and building owner; 24 certificates of "earthquake-proof construction" and "geodesy in construction" (if applicable). The applicable law is the Law on Architectural, City Planning, and Construction Activity in the Republic of Kazakhstan," Law No. 232-II, dated July 16, 2001. Before starting construction work, the company must notify the proper authorities. Under Government Decree Number 1467, signed on September 29, 2009, amended the Government Decree Number 425 of May 6, 2008 "On Measures for improving the issuance of construction permits", the time for obtaining building and assembly jobs permit has been reduced from 14 days to 11 days. Procedure 14 Receive an inspection by the Sanitary and Epidemiology Service - I Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: KZT 3,000 Agency: Sanitary and Epidemiology Service Comment: The SES will inspect the site during construction. The inspector issues an inspection report identifying any irregularities and may return to verify that adequate changes have been made. In addition to that SES will charge KZT 3,000 for radiological measurement. Procedure 15 Receive an inspection by the Fire Service - III Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Fire Service Department Comment: The Fire Service may inspect the site one or two times during construction. The inspector issues an inspection report identifying any irregularities and may return to verify that adequate changes have been made. Administrative fines could be imposed if mistakes are found. The applicable law is the Law on Architectural, City Planning, and Construction Activity in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Law No. 242-II, dated July 16, 2001; and the Governmental Decree Confirming the Rules of Obtaining Approval Procedures for Construction of New and Reconstruction of Existing Buildings, Decree No. 1313, dated December 13, 2002. Procedure 16 Receive inspection by the Social Protection - III Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Social Protection Authority Comment: Procedure 17 Request and receive an inspection by the State Architectural Construction Control after construction of the foundation - V Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Almaty City Department of Architecture and Town-Planning Control 25 Comment: BuildCo may receive inspections from the Almaty City Department on Architecture and Town-Planning Control at various stages of the construction process: laying the foundation, finishing the first floor, roofing, and so forth. The inspector issues an inspection report identifying any irregularities and may return to verify that adequate changes have been made. Administrative fines could be imposed if mistakes are found. The building control agency does not require prior request of inspection. The applicable law is the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Architectural, City Planning, and Construction Activity in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Law No. 242-11, dated July 16, 2001. In practice there may be more inspections. Procedure 18 Request and receive an inspection by State Architectural Construction Control after floor construction - VI Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Almaty City Department of Architecture and Town-Planning Control Comment: BuildCo receives an inspection from the Almaty City Department on Architecture and Town-Planning Control at various stages of the construction process: laying the foundation, finishing the first floor, roofing, and so forth. The inspector issues an inspection report identifying any irregularities and may return to verify that adequate changes have been made. Administrative fines could be imposed if mistakes are found. The building control agency does not require prior request of inspection. The applicable law is the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Architectural, City Planning, and Construction Activity in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Law No. 242-11, dated July 16, 2001. Procedure 19 Request and receive an inspection by State Architectural Construction Control after roof construction - VII Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Almaty City Department of Architecture and Town-Planning Control Comment: BuildCo receives an inspection from the Almaty City Department on Architecture and Town-Planning Control at various stages of the construction process: laying the foundation, finishing the first floor, roofing, and so forth. The inspector issues an inspection report identifying any irregularities and may return to verify that adequate changes have been made. Administrative fines could be imposed if mistakes are found. The building control agency does not require prior request of inspection. The applicable law is the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Architectural, City Planning, and Construction Activity in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Law No. 242-11, dated July 16, 2001. Procedure 20 Hire a construction engineering supervision company Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: KZT 491,652 Agency: Construction Technology Supervision Company Comment: A licensed construction engineering supervision company carries out the technical process of checking the different stages of the building. BuildCo is unlikely to have a license for this area of expertise. Such activities do not replace the inspections mentioned 26 above but occur in parallel to them. The average price is USD 3­6 dollars per square meter, and may depend on the complexity of construction. For new construction, the rate is USD 6; for reconstruction, USD 3 (USD 3 x 1300.6 square meters). Procedure 21 Receive an inspection by water authorities Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: no charge Agency: JSC Vodokanal Comment: Procedure 22 Connect to water services Time to complete: 6 days Cost to complete: no charge Agency: JSC Vodokanal Comment: Procedure 23 Receive an on-site electricity inspection Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Joint Stock Company "Almaty Power Consolidated" Comment: The waiting time for an inspection is approximately 5 days. Procedure 24 Receive connection to electricity Time to complete: 5 days Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Joint Stock Company "Almaty Power Consolidated" Comment: Procedure 25 Request and receive connection to telephone Time to complete: 3 days Cost to complete: KZT 26,800 Agency: Kazakhtelecom 27 Comment: The connection fee for fixed telephone line services by Kazakhtelecom was reduced in 2009 from KZT 36,800 to KZT 26,800. Procedure 26 Request approval of the building from Working Commission Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: KZT 28,844 Agency: Working Commission Comment: The company convenes a Working Commission upon the completion of construction. Although the the legislation stipulates for Working Commission to be an exclusive relationship between building owner and contractor. However, in practice the companies will have to involve Sanitary and Epidemiological Authority and Fire Department at this stage. Inspection will take place before the Act of Working Commission is drafted and signed by all parties. Procedure 27 Receive an inspection by the Working Commission Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Working Commission Comment: The Working Commission, which is also comprised of Sanitary and Epidemiological Authority and Fire Department will have to inspect the site. If the building has been built according to specifications, the inspection takes 1­2 days. Procedure 28 Obtain Approval Act from Working Commission Time to complete: 20 days Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Working Commission Comment: The applicable law is the Law on Architectural, City Planning, and Construction Activity in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Law No. 242-II, dated July 16, 2001; and the Governmental Decree Confirming the Rules of Obtaining Approval Procedures for Construction of New and Reconstruction of Existing Buildings, Decree No. 1313, dated December 13, 2002. Procedure 29 Request approval of the building from State Acceptance Commission Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: KZT 34,844 Agency: Acceptance Commission Comment: After the Working Commission, the Acceptance Commission will inspect the building. The approval is signed by all members of the Commission: construction authority, city office of the land agency, city department of sanitation, city fire department, state agency for construction control, local water company, local electric company, and Kazakh Telecom, and then sent it to the Akimat for approval. If the building has been built according to specifications, the inspections take 1­2 days. 28 The SES will inspect the building along with other authorities but a separate application must be filed. It may come together with others or on a separate day to undertake a final radiological measurement. The cost for that is KZT 6,000. If not followed up it may take 1-3 months. The approval from the SES is pre-requisite to obtain the approval of Acceptance Commission. Procedure 30 Receive inspection by the State Acceptance Commission Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Acceptance Commission Comment: The Acceptance Commission may inspect the building. The approval is signed by all members of the commission and then sent to the Akimat for approval. If the building has been built according to specifications, the inspections will take 1­2 days. Procedure 31 Request and obtain Acceptance Commission approval Time to complete: 20 days Cost to complete: no charge Agency: Acceptance Commission Comment: Once the Act of Acceptance Commission is signed it needs to be endorsed by amity City Akim. Procedure 32 Obtain a technical passport Time to complete: 30 days Cost to complete: KZT 800 Agency: Public Service Center (PSC) or Center for Immovable Property of Alamaty City. Comment: Before registering the building with the real property registry, it is required to obtain a "technical passport". Procedure 33 Receive inspection for the technical passport Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: KZT 48,428 Agency: Public Service Center (PSC) or Center for Immovable Property of Alamaty City. Comment: Procedure 34 Register BuildCo's title to the warehouse Time to complete: 2 days 29 Cost to complete: KZT 70,650 Agency: Registration Service Committee Comment: Time: 15 business days if the building is registered in the usual order, and 2 business days if it is registered in an accelerated procedure. Cost: KZT 12,730 if the building is registered in the usual order, and KZT 70,650 if it is registered in an accelerated procedure. BuildCo must register the building with the Department of Justice at the place of location of the warehouse. Amendments were made to the Kazakhstan Law on State Registration of Immovable Property and Transactions Related in 2008, which provide for both usual and accelerated registration. The standard term for the registration in the usual order is 15 business days, and for the accelerated registration - 2 business days. The registration fees are calculated on the basis of MCI which is for 2009 year is equal to KZT 1,413. The registration fee for the registration performed in the usual order is 10MCI = KZT 14 130, and for the accelerated registration - 50 MCI = KZT 73,650. The documents to be submitted include an application, legal documents proving ownership, payment receipt, identification or legal entity registration certificate, charter, decision of the Akimat approving the building for use, the act of the state commission on approval for use, and so forth. An officer of the Registration Service Committee accepts the documents and issues a receipt that lists the documents received and indicates date and time the documents were received. 30 31 1. Benchmarking Registering Property Regulations: Kazakhstan is ranked 28 overall for Registering Property. Ranking of Kazakhstan in Registering Property - Compared to good practice and selected economies: 32 The following table shows Registering Property data for Kazakhstan compared to good practice and comparator economies: Good Practice Procedures Time (days) Cost (% of (number) property Economies value) New Zealand* 2 Norway* 1 Saudi Arabia 0.0 Selected Economy Kazakhstan 4 40 0.1 Comparator Economies Kyrgyz Republic 4 5 2.3 Moldova 5 5 0.9 Russian Federation 6 43 0.1 Tajikistan 6 37 5.5 Ukraine 10 117 4.1 * The following economies are also good practice economies for : Procedures (number): United Arab Emirates Time (days): Saudi Arabia, Thailand, United Arab Emirates 33 2. Historical data: Registering Property in Kazakhstan Registering Property data Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business 2008 2009 2010 2011 Rank .. .. 29 28 Procedures (number) 7 4 4 4 Time (days) 52 40 40 40 Cost (% of property value) 0.9 0.1 0.1 0.1 3. The following graphs illustrate the Registering Property sub indicators in Kazakhstan over the past 4 years: 34 Registering Property in Kazakhstan This topic examines the steps, time, and cost involved in registering property in Kazakhstan. STANDARDIZED PROPERTY Property Value: 45,131,619.47 City: Almaty Registration Requirements: No: Procedure Time to complete Cost to complete 1 * Obtain a non-encumbrance certificate 3-5 days no cost 2 * Obtain a technical passport of the property 17-21 days no cost 3 Notarization of seller's and buyer's incorporation 1 day KZT 14,130 documents and the sale-purchase agreement 4 Registration of the title at the Registration Service 17-21 days KZT 14,130 =10 times the Committee minimum calculation index- MCI (regular procedure) or 50 times the MCI (expedited) * Takes place simultaneously with another procedure. 35 Registering Property Details - Kazakhstan Procedure 1 Obtain a non-encumbrance certificate Time to complete: 3-5 days Cost to complete: no cost Agency: Registration Service Committee or Centers for Real Estate in Almaty and Astana Comment: The non-encumbrance certificate is issued within 3-5 days and is free of change. Procedure 2 Obtain a technical passport of the property Time to complete: 17-21 days Cost to complete: no cost Agency: Registration Service Committee or Centers for Real Estate in Almaty and Astana Comment: Annex 3 to the Order of the Minister of Justice No 325 has been abolished and new Standards of state service "The issuance of technical passport of properties" were approved by the Government Decree of the Republic of Kazakhstan of 15th Dec 2009. The detailed procedure is provided at www.minjust.kz (The conditions for the issue of a technical passport were set out in the "Standards of Rendering Public Services on Issue of Technical Passports for Immovable Property through the Population Servicing Centers", which is Annex 3 to Order of Minister of Justice No325 "On Establishing the Standards of Rendering Public Services through the Population Servicing Centers" of 28 November 2008. According to these Standards the technical passport for the property with an area of over 1,000 sq m could be issued within one (1) month period from the day of application. The Registration Service Committee prepares technical passport within 19 calendar days). Procedure 3 Notarization of seller's and buyer's incorporation documents and the sale-purchase agreement Time to complete: 1 day Cost to complete: KZT 14,130 Comment: According to Article 536, paragraph 1 of the Tax Code No99-IV of 10 December 2008 which came into effect 01 January 2009, if at least one of the parties concluding the sale and purchase agreement is a legal entity, the notarization of transaction shall cost one thousand (1,000) percent of the monthly index which equals KZT 1,413 as of 1 January 2009. Prior to this change, the fee to notarize was 1,500 percent of the monthly index. The cost for certification of the copies of corporate documents is 10% of the Monthly Index per page. Therefore, the notary fee for certification of the sale-purchase agreement is at KZT 12,730 and certification of each page of the corporate documents costs KZT 127 per page. Procedure 4 Registration of the title at the Registration Service Committee Time to complete: 17-21 days 36 Cost to complete: KZT 14,130 =10 times the minimum calculation index- MCI (regular procedure) or 50 times the MCI (expedited) Agency: Registration Service Committee Comment: All documents are submitted to the Public Service Center. The Law Amending Legal Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Taxation on November 12, 2008 established new statutory time limit of 15 working days for the regular procedure (cost: 10 times the minimum calculation index- MCI) and 2 days for the expedited procedure (cost: 50 times the MCI). Other business centers take 7 days for expedited procedures Cost of registration of non-residential premises depends on the number of buildings to be registered: 1 buiding - 10 x Monthly Index (1,273 for 2009) = KZT 12,730 2-5 buildings - 15 x Monthly Index = KZT 19,095 6-10 buildings - 20 x Monthly Index = KZT 25,460 The documentation shall include: - a filled in standard application form; - 2 original copies of the notarized sale-purchase agreement (obtained in Procedure 3) - Non-encumbrance certificate (obtained in Procedure 1) - Technical passport of the property (obtained in Procedure 2) 37 38 1. Benchmarking Getting Credit Regulations: Kazakhstan is ranked 72 overall for Getting Credit. Ranking of Kazakhstan in Getting Credit - Compared to good practice and selected economies: 39 The following table shows Getting Credit data for Kazakhstan compared to good practice and comparator economies: Good Practice Strength of Depth of Public Private legal rights credit registry bureau Economies index (0-10) information coverage (% coverage (% index (0-6) of adults) of adults) New Zealand* 100.0 Portugal 67.1 Singapore* 10 United Kingdom 6 Selected Economy Kazakhstan 4 5 0.0 29.9 Comparator Economies Kyrgyz Republic 10 3 0.0 11.9 Moldova 8 0 0.0 0.0 Russian Federation 3 5 0.0 14.4 Tajikistan 3 0 0.0 0.0 Ukraine 9 3 0.0 10.1 * The following economies are also good practice economies for : Strength of legal rights index (0-10): Hong Kong, China, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia Private bureau coverage (% of adults): Argentina, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States 27 countries have the highest credit information index. 40 2. Historical data: Getting Credit in Kazakhstan Getting Credit data Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business 2008 2009 2010 2011 Rank .. .. 69 72 Strength of legal rights index (0-10) 4 4 4 4 Depth of credit information index (0-6) 4 5 5 5 Private bureau coverage (% of adults) 13.7 25.6 29.5 29.9 Public registry coverage (% of adults) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3. The following graphs illustrate the Getting Credit sub indicators in Kazakhstan over the past 4 years: 41 Getting Credit in Kazakhstan The following table summarize legal rights of borrowers and lenders, and the availability and legal framework of credit registries in Kazakhstan. Getting Credit Indicators (2010) Indicator Private credit Public credit Private bureau coverage (% of adults) 5 bureau registry Are data on both firms and individuals distributed? Yes No 1 Are both positive and negative data distributed? Yes No 1 Does the registry distribute credit information from retailers, trade No No 0 creditors or utility companies as well as financial institutions? Are more than 2 years of historical credit information distributed? Yes No 1 Is data on all loans below 1% of income per capita distributed? Yes No 1 Is it guaranteed by law that borrowers can inspect their data in the Yes No 1 largest credit registry? Coverage 29.9 0.0 Number of individuals 3,600,000 0 Number of firms 32,000 0 42 Strength of legal rights index (0-10) 4 Can any business use movable assets as collateral while keeping possession of the assets; and any financial Yes institution accept such assets as collateral ? Does the law allow businesses to grant a non possessory security right in a single category of movable assets, Yes without requiring a specific description of collateral? Does the law allow businesses to grant a non possessory security right in substantially all of its assets, without No requiring a specific description of collateral? May a security right extend to future or after-acquired assets, and may it extend automatically to the products, No proceeds or replacements of the original assets ? Is a general description of debts and obligations permitted in collateral agreements, so that all types of obligations No and debts can be secured by stating a maximum amount rather than a specific amount between the parties ? Is a collateral registry in operation, that is unified geographically and by asset type, as well as indexed by the Yes grantor's name of a security right ? Do secured creditors have absolute priority to their collateral outside bankruptcy procedures? No Do secured creditors have absolute priority to their collateral in bankruptcy procedures? No During reorganization, are secured creditors' claims exempt from an automatic stay on enforcement? No Does the law authorize parties to agree on out of court enforcement? Yes 43 44 1. Benchmarking Protecting Investors Regulations: Kazakhstan is ranked 44 overall for Protecting Investors. Ranking of Kazakhstan in Protecting Investors - Compared to good practice and selected economies: 45 The following table shows Protecting Investors data for Kazakhstan compared to good practice and comparator economies: Good Practice Strength of investor Economies protection index (0-10) New Zealand 9.7 Selected Economy Kazakhstan 6.0 Comparator Economies Kyrgyz Republic 7.7 Moldova 4.7 Russian Federation 5.0 Tajikistan 5.7 Ukraine 4.7 46 2. Historical data: Protecting Investors in Kazakhstan Protecting Investors data Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business 2008 2009 2010 2011 Rank .. .. 57 44 Strength of investor protection index (0-10) 5.7 5.7 5.7 6.0 3. The following graph illustrates the Protecting Investors index in Kazakhstan compared to best practice and selected Economies: 9.7 7.7 6.0 5.7 5.0 4.7 4.7 n an ta nd ub z ne a ep rgy ov hs ist ra n ai lic a de sia n ak d jik al kr y tio ol Fe us Ze K az Ta U M R K ew R N Note: The higher the score, the greater the investor protection. 47 Protecting Investors in Kazakhstan The table below provides a full breakdown of how the disclosure, director liability, and shareholder suits indexes are calculated in Kazakhstan. Protecting Investors Data (2010) Indicator Extent of disclosure index (0-10) 8 3 What corporate body provides legally sufficient approval for the transaction? 2 Whether immediate disclosure of the transaction to the public and/or shareholders is required? 1 Whether disclosure of the transaction in published periodic filings (annual reports) is required? 2 Whether disclosure of the conflict of interest by Mr. James to the board of directors is required? 0 Whether an external body must review the terms of the transaction before it takes place? Extent of director liability index (0-10) 1 0 Whether shareholders can hold Mr. James liable for the damage that the Buyer-Seller transaction causes to the company? 0 Whether shareholders can hold the approving body (the CEO or board of directors) liable for the damage that the Buyer-Seller transaction causes to the company? 0 Whether a court can void the transaction upon a successful claim by a shareholder plaintiff? 0 Whether Mr. James pays damages for the harm caused to the company upon a successful claim by the shareholder plaintiff? 48 0 Whether Mr. James repays profits made from the transaction upon a successful claim by the shareholder plaintiff? 0 Whether fines and imprisonment can be applied against Mr. James? 1 Whether shareholders can sue directly or derivatively for the damage that the Buyer-Seller transaction causes to the company? Ease of shareholder suits index (0-10) 9 4 Whether the plaintiff can obtain any documents from the defendant and witnesses during trial? 2 Whether the plaintiff can directly question the defendant and witnesses during trial? 0 Whether the plaintiff can request categories of documents from the defendant without identifying specific ones? 1 Whether shareholders owning 10% or less of Buyer's shares can request an inspector to investigate the transaction? 1 Whether the level of proof required for civil suits is lower than that of criminal cases? 1 Whether shareholders owning 10% or less of Buyer's shares can inspect transaction documents before filing suit? Strength of investor protection index (0-10) 6.0 49 50 1. Benchmarking Paying Taxes Regulations: Kazakhstan is ranked 39 overall for Paying Taxes. Ranking of Kazakhstan in Paying Taxes - Compared to good practice and selected economies: 51 The following table shows Paying Taxes data for Kazakhstan compared to good practice and comparator economies: Good Practice Payments Time (hours Total tax rate (number per per year) (% profit) Economies year) Maldives* 3 0 Timor-Leste 0.2 Selected Economy Kazakhstan 9 271 29.6 Comparator Economies Kyrgyz Republic 48 202 57.2 Moldova 48 228 30.9 Russian Federation 11 320 46.5 Tajikistan 54 224 86.0 Ukraine 135 657 55.5 * The following economies are also good practice economies for : Payments (number per year): Qatar 52 2. Historical data: Paying Taxes in Kazakhstan Paying Taxes data Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business 2008 2009 2010 2011 Rank .. .. 53 39 Total tax rate (% profit) 41.6 41.7 35.9 29.6 Payments (number per year) 9 9 9 9 Time (hours per year) 271 271 271 271 3. The following graphs illustrate the Paying Taxes sub indicators in Kazakhstan over the past 4 years: 53 Paying Taxes in Kazakhstan The table below addresses the taxes and mandatory contributions that a medium-size company must pay or withhold in a given year in Kazakhstan, as well as measures of administrative burden in paying taxes. Tax or mandatory Payments Notes on Time Statutory tax Tax Totaltax rate Notes on contribution (number) Payments (hours) rate base (% profit) TTR Value added tax (VAT) 1 online 92 12.0% value added filing Vehicle tax 1 online 9 MCI carrying 0.00 filing capacity Fuel tax 1 KZT 500 per number of 0.00 1 liter tone liters Land tax 1 online KZT 28.95 land area 0.10 filing per square meter Environment pollution 1 online KZT 847.77 fuel and 0.10 fee filing waste consumption Advertising tax 1 1 MCI - 100 Size of 0.20 MCI per advertising month object in square meters Property tax 1 online 1.5% property 1.40 filing annual average net book value 54 Social Tax 1 online 74 11.0% gross salaries 11.50 filing Corporate income tax 1 online 105 20.0% taxable profit 16.30 filing Totals 9 271 29.6 55 56 1. Benchmarking Trading Across Borders Regulations: Kazakhstan is ranked 181 overall for Trading Across Borders. Ranking of Kazakhstan in Trading Across Borders - Compared to good practice and selected economies: 57 The following table shows Trading Across Borders data for Kazakhstan compared to good practice and comparator economies: Good Practice Documents to Time to Cost to Documents to Time to Cost to export export (days) export (US$ import import (days) import (US$ Economies (number) per (number) per container) container) Denmark* 5 France 2 2 Malaysia 450 Singapore 4 439 Selected Economy Kazakhstan 10 81 3005 12 67 3055 Comparator Economies Kyrgyz Republic 7 63 3010 7 72 3280 Moldova 6 32 1765 7 35 1960 Russian Federation 8 36 1850 13 36 1850 Tajikistan 10 82 3350 9 83 4550 Ukraine 6 31 1560 8 36 1580 * The following economies are also good practice economies for : Time to export (days): Estonia 58 2. Historical data: Trading Across Borders in Kazakhstan Trading Across Borders data Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business 2008 2009 2010 2011 Rank .. .. 182 181 Cost to export (US$ per container) 2730 3005 3005 3005 Cost to import (US$ per container) 2780 3055 3055 3055 Documents to export (number) 11 11 11 10 Documents to import (number) 13 13 13 12 Time to export (days) 89 89 89 81 Time to import (days) 76 76 76 67 3. The following graphs illustrate the Trading Across Borders sub indicators in Kazakhstan over the past 4 years: 59 60 Trading Across Borders in Kazakhstan These tables list the procedures necessary to import and export a standardized cargo of goods in Kazakhstan. The documents required to export and import the goods are also shown. Nature of Export Procedures (2010) Duration (days) US$ Cost Documents preparation 26 330 Customs clearance and technical control 18 200 Ports and terminal handling 11 250 Inland transportation and handling 26 2225 Totals 81 3005 Nature of Import Procedures (2010) Duration (days) US$ Cost Documents preparation 26 200 Customs clearance and technical control 14 250 Ports and terminal handling 4 380 Inland transportation and handling 23 2225 Totals 67 3055 61 Documents for Export and Import Export Export license Inspection report Packing list Tax certificate Terminal handling receipts Bill of lading Certificate of conformation Certificate of origin Commercial invoice Customs export declaration Import Transit document Customs import declaration Inspection report Packing list Tax certificate Technical standard/health certificate Terminal handling receipts Bill of lading Cargo release order Certificate of conformation Certificate of origin Commercial invoice 62 63 1. Benchmarking Enforcing Contracts Regulations: Kazakhstan is ranked 36 overall for Enforcing Contracts. Ranking of Kazakhstan in Enforcing Contracts - Compared to good practice and selected economies: 64 The following table shows Enforcing Contracts data for Kazakhstan compared to good practice and comparator economies: Good Practice Procedures Time (days) Cost (% of (number) claim) Economies Bhutan 0.1 Ireland 20 Singapore 150 Selected Economy Kazakhstan 38 390 22.0 Comparator Economies Kyrgyz Republic 39 260 29.0 Moldova 31 365 20.9 Russian Federation 37 281 13.4 Tajikistan 34 430 25.5 Ukraine 30 345 41.5 65 2. Historical data: Enforcing Contracts in Kazakhstan Enforcing Contracts data Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business 2008 2009 2010 2011 Rank .. .. 36 36 Procedures (number) 38 38 38 38 Time (days) 390 390 390 390 Cost (% of claim) 22.0 22.0 22.0 22.0 3. The following graphs illustrate the Enforcing Contracts sub indicators in Kazakhstan over the past 4 years: 66 Enforcing Contracts in Kazakhstan This topic looks at the efficiency of contract enforcement in Kazakhstan. Nature of Procedure (2010) Indicator Procedures (number) 38 Time (days) 390 Filing and service 15.0 Trial and judgment 135.0 Enforcement of judgment 240.0 Cost (% of claim)* 22.00 Attorney cost (% of claim) 8.5 Court cost (% of claim) 3.5 Enforcement Cost (% of claim) 10.0 67 Court information: Almaty Inter-District (" Commercial Court . ") * Claim assumed to be equivalent to 200% of income per capita. 68 69 1. Benchmarking Closing Business Regulations: Kazakhstan is ranked 48 overall for Closing a Business. Ranking of Kazakhstan in Closing Business - Compared to good practice and selected economies: 70 The following table shows Closing Business data for Kazakhstan compared to good practice and comparator economies: Good Practice Recovery rate Time (years) Cost (% of (cents on the estate) Economies dollar) Ireland 0.4 Japan 92.7 Singapore* 1 Selected Economy Kazakhstan 43.3 1.5 15 Comparator Economies Kyrgyz Republic 15.3 4.0 15 Moldova 28.2 2.8 9 Russian Federation 25.3 3.8 9 Tajikistan 37.4 1.7 9 Ukraine 7.9 2.9 42 * The following economies are also good practice economies for : Cost (% of estate): Colombia, Kuwait, Norway 71 2. Historical data: Closing Business in Kazakhstan Closing a Business data Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business Doing Business 2008 2009 2010 2011 Rank .. .. 54 48 Time (years) 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 Cost (% of estate) 15 15 15 15 Recovery rate (cents on the dollar) 39.1 40.6 40.6 43.3 3. The following graphs illustrate the Closing Business sub indicators in Kazakhstan over the past 4 years: 72 Since 2004 Doing Business has been tracking reforms aimed at simplifying business regulations, strengthening property rights, opening access to credit and enforcing contracts by measuring their impact on 10 indicator sets . * Nearly 1,000 reforms have had an impact on these indicators. Doing Business 2011, covering June 2009 to June 2010, reports that 117 economies implemented 216 reforms to make it easier to start a business. 64% of economies measured by Doing Business have reformed this year, focusing on easing business start-up, lightening the tax burden, simplifying import and export regulations and improving credit information systems. The top 10 most-improved in Doing Business 2011 Dealing with Construction Trading Across Borders Positive Change Registering Property Enforcing Contracts Protecting Investors Starting a Business Closing a Business Negative Change Getting Credit Paying Taxes Permits Economy Kazakhstan Rwanda Peru Vietnam Cape Verde Tajikistan Zambia Hungary Grenada Brunei Darussalam * For Doing Business 2011 the Employing Workers indicator is not included in the aggregate ease of doing business ranking. 73 Summary of changes to business regulation in top 10 most improved economies in Doing Business 2011 and selected comparator economies. Brunei Darussalam Brunei Darussalam made starting a business easier by improving efficiency at the company registrar and implementing an electronic system for name searches. Brunei Darussalam reduced the corporate income tax rate from 23.5% to 22% while also introducing a lower tax rate for small businesses, ranging from 5.5% to 11%. The introduction of an electronic customs system in Brunei Darussalam made trading easier. Cape Verde Cape Verde made start-up easier by eliminating the need for a municipal inspection before a business begins operations and computerizing the system for delivering the municipal license. Cape Verde eased property registration by switching from fees based on a percentage of the property value to lower fixed rates. Cape Verde abolished the stamp duties on sales and checks. Grenada Grenada eased business start-up by transferring responsibility for the commercial registry from the courts to the civil administration. The appointment of a registrar focusing only on property cut the time needed to transfer property in Grenada by almost half. Grenada's customs administration made trading faster by simplifying procedures, reducing inspections, improving staff training and enhancing communication with users. Hungary Hungary implemented a time limit for the issuance of building permits. Hungary reduced the property registration fee by 6% of the property value. Hungary simplified taxes and tax bases. Amendments to Hungary's bankruptcy law encourage insolvent companies to consider reaching agreements with creditors out of court so as to avoid bankruptcy. Kazakhstan Kazakhstan eased business start-up by reducing the minimum capital requirement to 100 tenge ($0.70) and eliminating the need to have the memorandum of association and company charter notarized. Kazakhstan made dealing with construction permits easier by implementing a one-stop shop related to technical conditions for utilities. Kazakhstan strengthened investor protections by requiring greater corporate disclosure in company annual reports. Kazakhstan speeded up trade through efforts to modernize customs, including implementation of a risk management system and improvements in customs automation. Kyrgyz Republic The Kyrgyz Republic eased business start-up by eliminating the requirement to have the signatures of company founders notarized. The Kyrgyz Republic streamlined insolvency proceedings and updated requirements for administrators, but new formalities added to prevent abuse of proceedings made closing a business more difficult. Moldova Moldova reduced employer contribution rates for social security. Peru Peru eased business start-up by simplifying the requirements for operating licenses and creating an online one-stop shop for business registration. Peru streamlined construction permitting by implementing administrative reforms. Peru introduced fast-track procedures at the land registry, cutting by half the time needed to register property. Peru made trading easier by implementing a new web-based electronic data interchange system, risk-based inspections and payment deferrals. Russian Federation Russia eased construction permitting by implementing a single window for all procedures related to land use. Russia introduced a series of legislative measures in 2009 to improve creditor rights and the insolvency system. Rwanda Rwanda made dealing with construction permits easier by passing new building regulations at the end of April 2010 and implementing new time limits for the issuance of various permits. Rwanda enhanced access to credit by allowing borrowers the right to inspect their own credit report and mandating that loans of all sizes be reported to the central bank's public credit registry. Rwanda reduced the number of trade documents required and enhanced its joint border management procedures with Uganda and other neighbors, leading to an improvement in the trade logistics environment. Tajikistan Tajikistan made starting a business easier by creating a one-stop shop that consolidates registration with the state and the tax authority. Tajikistan strengthened investor protections by requiring greater corporate disclosure in the annual report and greater access to corporate information for minority investors. Tajikistan lowered its corporate income tax rate. 74 Ukraine Ukraine eased business start-up by substantially reducing the minimum capital requirement. Ukraine made dealing with construction permits easier by implementing national and local regulations that streamlined procedures. Ukraine eased tax compliance by introducing and continually enhancing an electronic filing system for value added tax. Vietnam Vietnam eased company start-up by creating a one-stop shop that combines the processes for obtaining a business license and tax license and by eliminating the need for a seal for company licensing. Vietnam made dealing with construction permits easier by reducing the cost to register newly completed buildings by 50% and transferring the authority to register buildings from local authorities to the Department of National Resources and Environment. Vietnam improved its credit information system by allowing borrowers to examine their own credit report and correct errors. Zambia Zambia eased business start-up by eliminating the minimum capital requirement. Zambia eased trade by implementing a one-stop border post with Zimbabwe, launching web-based submission of customs declarations and introducing scanning machines at border posts. Zambia improved contract enforcement by introducing an electronic case management system in the courts that provides electronic referencing of cases, a database of laws, real-time court reporting and public access to court records. 75 76