by Teh Eng Hock

PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA - Malaysia hopes to break into the top 10 of the World Bank's competitiveness ranking by 2010 with the help of the Business Licensing Electronic Support System (Bless).

Prime Minister's Department Implementation Co-ordination Unit director-general Tan Sri Khalid Ramli said Malaysia was currently ranked 20 out of 178 countries, up four places from last year.

It could have been higher but for a few indicators that hampered a better ranking such as ease of getting credit, employment of workers and dealing with licences.

'We did not perform well in the licensing part, where we ranked 105. It's not a very comfortable position,' said Khalid.

At the moment, he said as many as 75 agencies -- from core departments to state agencies and local authorities -- were involved in processing 78 types of licences and permits.

He said he hoped Bless would hasten the process of applying for licences, which had already been reduced from 393 days to 185 days with the introduction of one-stop centres a few years ago.

The Business Licensing Electronic Support System (www.bless.gov.my) is an online one-stop service centre which provides information on, and facilitates the application of, licences and permits by investors seeking to do business in Malaysia. -- The Star