Guadalajara, first national place in cumbersome procedures to open businesses

Of 42 municipalities evaluated by the Inegi, Guadalajara was in the first national place because of a regulatory framework that is an obstacle for new businesses. Four out of 10 entrepreneurs perceive this problem.

The Survey on Regulatory Quality and Government Impact on Business places Chihuahua in second place, followed by Puebla, Naucalpan, Tijuana and Coatzacoalcos. Zapopan was in the 15th position.

According to the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (Imco), municipalities must improve their online procedures to simplify processes and reduce corruption. However, it is a pending task in the metropolis: almost two years after the new administrations entered, only Zapopan licenses online, but has only issued 36 in that format.

To facilitate the opening of businesses, Guadalajara responded that it works a project so that its spinning and construction licenses can be processed by Internet at the latest in six months. "This new program reaffirms the agreement with the Federal Commission for Regulatory Improvement for the rapid opening of companies," says Juan Manuel Munguía, Director of Competitiveness.

Igor González Muñoz, Zapopan's chief of licenses, admits that people continue to opt for the window. However, among the advantages of taking the license in its electronic portal emphasizes that taxpayers save time. And he agrees: "Everything that has to do with avoiding personal contact is an issue that kills possible acts of corruption." It confirms that, starting in January, more than 25 thousand turns type A and B will be able to renew, process and print their license online.

While the INEGI study adds that nine out of 10 local businesses consider corruption acts as "frequent" or "very frequent", no improvement is seen in the conditions to comply with regulatory frameworks between 2015 and 2016. Thus, 72.4% of respondents in Zapopan and 61.2% in Guadalajara.