Overview

Doing Business in Veneto 2009 measures business regulations and enforcement in the city of Padua, representing the region of Veneto, Italy. The ease of doing business in the region of Veneto can now be compared with the ease of doing business in Rome (representing Italy) and another 180 economies globally in the Doing Business 2009 series. This subnational report examines what it takes to start a business, deal with construction permits, register property, pay taxes, trade across borders, enforce contracts, and close a business in Padua.

The report highlights that, even in a relatively centralized country like Italy, business regulations differ from region to region. The report identifies reforms that could make Veneto and other regions in Italy more competitive by reducing the time and cost of doing business.

Main Findings

• Results from all Doing Business topics would place Veneto 67th among the 181 economies globally and 22nd among 26 EU economies—just ahead of Rome (Italy).
• Padua benefited from business start-up reforms in Italy. A single-notice registration system (launched in February 2008) enabled business registrations in just 2 days.
• It may take 135 days in Veneto to obtain a building permit, which puts it significantly behind the EU average.