The Government says, however, that initiatives have been implemented to improve the climate for doing business here.

The report indicated that Jamaica moved down from an overall position of number 67, to number 75, Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecom-munications and Special Projects, Daryl Vaz, said on Wednesday during a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

The report noted, however, that Jamaica had introduced reforms in the area of the registration of properties, including reducing property tax from 6.5 per cent of the value of the property, to five per cent.

10 indicators

The 10 indicators which are used to rank countries are starting a business, dealing with construction permits, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and closing a business.

Vaz said that Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Karl Samuda, who provided Cabinet with the information from the report, sug-gested that the main areas requiring attention were the four indicators of registering property, paying taxes, trading across borders and enforcing contracts.

He said Samuda also informed the Cabinet that initiatives had already been implemented for improving doing business in Jamaica and simplifying the processes involved.