Agenda 2019: Business and development
- Business is crucial for growth and development. Agenda 2019: Business and Development deals with parties’ attitudes to business, and asks whether they understand the role of business in driving development.
- Business activities need to expand. Instead, they are contracting at an alarming rate. In 2015, there were 37 000 fewer small businesses than in 2008.
- A government committed to promoting business activity would crack down on crony capitalism, cut red tape, ensure credible property rights and actively attract FDI.
- Existing businesses can develop more jobs opportunities than any other instrument, but our economy will not reduce poverty without many new businesses.
- Anti-business rhetoric must stop. Negative business sentiment undermines business confidence, distorts policy, deters investment and ultimately costs jobs.
