Guwahati, July 31 2009: What would cheer new investors eyeing the 'untapped' Northeast markets-a new World Bank study has revealed that doing business in Guwahati is easier than cities like Ranchi, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata.

The report titled 'Doing Business in India 2009' has placed Guwahati on eighth position among the 17 cities across the country included for comparison of business regulation.

The WB report released on June 30 focuses on local regulations that affect seven stages in the life of a small or mid-sized domestic enterprise: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and closing a business.

Ludhiana (Punjab), Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar have been placed on the top of order of cities where doing business is easiest.

The report said it is more difficult to start and operate a business in Kochi and Kolkata.

'Fourteen out of the 17 cities covered in the report introduced local reforms in at least one of the areas measured.

Reforms produced tangible results, such as reducing the average time to open a business from 54 to 35 days in 10 cities,' the report said.

Guwahati has also been ranked sixth and seventh so far as the process of paying taxes and trading across borders is concerned compared to other cities.

Other Indian cities included in the report are- Gurgaon (4th), Ahmedabad (5th), New Delhi (6th), Jaipur (7th), Ranchi (9th), Mumbai (10), Indore (11), Noida, Bengaluru, Patna, Chennai, Kochi and Kolkata.

The World Bank report about business in Guwahati has made Assam governemnt excited.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi recently at a seminar said the report have indicated the investment-friendly atmosphere in the city.

'It is more encouraging to see that World Bank has rated Guwahati so highly regarding investment here.

Importance of Guwahati as investment destination is indicated by the soaring land prices here.

The state is progressing despite problems like militancy, Gogoi said.

* Sumir Karmakar can be contacted at sumir2007(at)gmail(dot)com.

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