Financial Crime World

Doing Business in Equatorial Guinea: A Report on Construction Permits

Introduction

This document is part of the Doing Business series, which provides an annual ranking on the ease of doing business across 190 economies. The report focuses on the procedures, time, and cost involved in dealing with construction permits in Equatorial Guinea.

Key Findings

  • Procedures: There are 13 procedures to obtain a building permit and connect to water and sewerage services in Equatorial Guinea.
  • Time: The total time required to complete these procedures is 144 days, which is longer than the average time for Sub-Saharan Africa (145.4 days).
  • Cost: The cost of obtaining a building permit and connecting to water and sewerage services is XAF 219,012,780 (approximately USD 362,000), which is equivalent to 4.1% of the estimated value of the warehouse.
  • Building quality control index: Equatorial Guinea has a low building quality control index score of 1.0 out of 15, indicating that there are significant issues with ensuring proper construction standards.

Procedures for Obtaining a Building Permit

The report provides a detailed breakdown of the procedures involved in dealing with construction permits in Equatorial Guinea:

  • Buying stamped paper: This is the first step in obtaining a building permit.
  • Requesting authorization for a building permit at the Municipality: The applicant must submit their application and supporting documents to the Municipality.
  • Paying fees at the bank and obtaining a payment receipt: The applicant must pay the required fees and obtain a payment receipt.
  • Depositing the payment receipt at the Municipality: The applicant must deposit the payment receipt at the Municipality.
  • Obtaining a building permit: Once all the requirements are met, the applicant is issued a building permit.
  • Receiving an inspection from the Municipality: The Municipality conducts an inspection to ensure that the construction meets the required standards.
  • Requesting authorization for water connection: The applicant must submit their application and supporting documents to the water authority.
  • Paying for water connection: The applicant must pay the required fees for connecting to water services.

Comparison with Other Economies

The report compares Equatorial Guinea’s performance with other economies in Sub-Saharan Africa and the OECD high-income group, highlighting areas where improvements can be made to facilitate business operations.

Conclusion

Overall, this report provides valuable insights into the regulatory environment for construction permits in Equatorial Guinea and identifies opportunities for improvement to support economic growth and development.