The UK's improved ranking as the 16th easiest country in the world with which to trade across borders, in the World Bank's Doing Business Report 2010, is a welcome boost to the UK's international trade community. Businesses have long believed that its previous rankings were not representative of the true experience of traders at the UK's borders.
The latest report, published today, sees a jump in the UK's ranking at the border from 28th in 2009. This places the UK higher in this ranking than most other major economies including the USA, France and China. It has also contributed to an overall ranking of the 5th easiest place to do business with in the world, above all other European countries.
Commenting on this improved assessment Malcolm McKinnon, Chief Executive of SITPRO, said:
"We are very pleased with the UK's improved ranking in this report. Together with BIS and Middlesex University, SITPRO has worked with the World Bank to improve the accuracy of its rankings and this report presents a more accurate picture of how long it takes to move goods through UK ports and airports.
"The World Bank Report is an important yardstick by which to measure the UK's international standing. The UK needs to build upon this improved ranking and SITPRO will be working tirelessly with Government and business to improve the experience of trading across the UK's borders"
Notes to Editors
Doing Business 2010
The World Bank Doing Business Report is an influential study, published annually, measuring of business regulations and their enforcement across 183 economies across the world. Trading across borders is one of ten categories in which each country is comparatively ranked based on survey responses from a wide range of contributors.
For further information visit the Doing Business website at http://www.doingbusiness.org/.
SITPRO
SITPRO, the UK's Trade Facilitation Agency, was established in 1970 to simplify international trade and much of its work has focussed upon improving the procedures at ports and borders, looking at issues such as improving the arrangements for inspecting goods at the border and streamlining the submission of data to government.
SITPRO is a non-departmental public body funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and undertakes policy work at national, European and international levels.
For further information visit SITPRO's website at http://www.sitpro.org.uk/.
SITPRO News Release - 9 September 2009
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