As stakeholders continue to stress the need to increase investment, the latest World Bank report on the ease of doing business shows that Fiji's ranking decreased from 43rd in 2009 to 54th for 2010 out of the 183 countries surveyed.

Fiji further fell from 92nd spot to 104th in starting a business as the report showed that investors have to follow 8 procedures which take up to 46 days to try and start a business in the country.

Fiji's ranking further decreased from 53rd to 58th in terms of dealing with construction permits, as it takes 19 procedures and up to 135 days to make the necessary arrangements.

More alarming is the statistics on enforcing a contract as investors have to follow 34 procedures and it takes 397 days through the courts to enforce a contract.

In terms of trading across borders, Fiji's ranking decreased once again from 111th to 116th as importers and exporters have to acquire 13 separate documents, taking up to 24 days before being able to export or import products to and from Fiji.