= Doing Business reform making it easier to do business. 
= Doing Business reform making it more difficult to do business.
Algeria
DB 2010:
Contract enforcement was improved with a new code of civil procedures that reduces time and eliminates procedures. The courts are being fully computerized, including with an electronic case register and case management software.
Armenia
DB 2009:
The court system was reorganized and the procedural code was overhauled. New requirements to front-load evidence eased contract enforcement, removing 1 procedure and reducing the time required to resolve commercial disputes.
Austria
DB 2009:
Contract enforcement was sped up by introducing comprehensive electronic filing of court claims and correspondence between lawyers and the court in civil matters.
Azerbaijan
DB 2009:
A second commercial court was created in Baku, increasing the number of judges dealing with commercial cases from five to nine. The average time to enforce a contract through the courts fell.
Banja Luka
DB 2012:
A new District Commercial Court was eastablished. The Law on Changes of the Law on Courts gives jurisdiction over commercial claims to the city’s district commercial court making the process of filing a claim much faster. Moreover, positive administrative changes have made the process of enforcement faster. Changes in the Law on Court Fees in 2009 decreased court and enforcement fees making enforcing a contract cheaper.
Belarus
DB 2012:
Belarus modified its code of economic procedure, altering the time frames for commercial dispute resolution.
Belgium
DB 2009:
Contract enforcement was simplified by establishing fixed procedural calendars for written pleadings and introducing tighter deadlines for the delivery of expert opinions.
Bhutan
DB 2009:
Enforcing contracts was made easier by creating a Land Commission to handle cases involving the transfer of property. Because a large number of land disputes had been ending up in court, setting up the new commission took about 30 percent of all cases out of the district courts. As a result, the total time required to enforce a contract through the courts was reduced.
Bitola
DB 2012:
FYR Macedonia eased the process of enforcing contracts by setting deadlines for the payment of court fees, adjusting monetary thresholds for assigning case jurisdiction, and introducing a small claims tribunal. Court fees in Bitola were reduced by 20%.
Botswana
DB 2010:
Introduction of case management and improved use of information technology has contributed to more efficient resolution of commercial disputes.
Brazil
DB 2008:
Several amendments were made to the Code of Civil Procedure to reform the rules on enforcing judgments and to make debt collection easier for creditors. Debtors are now forced to cooperate in the disclosure of their assets for attachment and can be fined if they do not cooperate. Last year, Brazil also restricted the number of cases that can go to the Supreme Court and introduced electronic filing of documents in court.
Bulgaria
DB 2009:
Amendments to the civil procedural code have helped speed contract enforcement. They reformed rules for evidence and default judgments, raised the minimum threshold for cases in the lower courts, and empowered the civil court of last instance to decide which cases to hear, limiting abuse of the appeals process.
DB 2008:
Private bailiffs started working in May 2006 in Bulgaria, and it also amended its Judicial System Act in order to increase efficiency and transparency in the judicial system.
Burkina Faso
DB 2011:
Burkina Faso made enforcing contracts easier by setting up a specialized commercial court and abolishing the fee to register judicial decisions.
DB 2010:
Contract enforcement was improved by lowering fees and introducing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
DB 2008:
Specialized commercial chambers in the general courts of Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso and reduced the judgment enforcement registration tax from 4% to 2%.
Canada
DB 2011:
Canada increased the efficiency of the courts by expanding electronic document submission and streamlining procedures.
China
DB 2009:
The rules on enforcement of judgments were tightened, making it harder for debtors to prevent enforcement.
Congo, Dem. Rep.
DB 2008:
Four years after being created on paper, specialized commercial courts started operating in Gombe in August 2006 and in Kinshasa in November 2006. New court rules set strict deadlines, such as eight days, to appeal judgments.
Costa Rica
DB 2010:
Contract enforcement was improved by authorizing new modes for service of process and simplified auction procedures by allowing publication of a single auction notice.
Egypt
DB 2010:
Contract enforcement was expedited with the creation of commercial courts.
Ethiopia
DB 2010:
Court delays were reduced through a combination of better case management and internal training, as well as an expanded role for enforcement judges.
Fiji
DB 2008:
New reform results in judges focusing exclusively on deciding legal disputes. A magistrate called "Master" was appointed to deal with all other matters, such as assessing damages after liability has been established. In June 2006, the High Court Rules were amended to reflect the new role and responsibilities of the Master.
Georgia
DB 2011:
Georgia made the enforcement of contracts easier by streamlining the procedures for public auctions, introducing private enforcement officers and modernizing its dispute resolution system.
Ghana
DB 2008:
Six commercial courts are now operational in Accra, significantly reducing the average turn-around of cases thanks to mandatory arbitration and mediation and thanks to new High Court Civil Procedure Rules.
Grenada
DB 2010:
Additional staffing at the Grenada High Court has been reducing the court’s backlog and easing contract enforcement.
Guatemala
DB 2008:
Courts were reformed, increasing the number of cases to be decided by justices of peace hereby expanding their small claims courts.
Guinea-Bissau
DB 2011:
Guinea-Bissau established a specialized commercial court, speeding up the enforcement of contracts.
Honduras
DB 2012:
Honduras adopted a new civil procedure code that modified litigation procedures for enforcing a contract.
Hong Kong, China
DB 2011:
Reforms implemented in the civil justice system of Hong Kong SAR (China) will help increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of commercial dispute resolution.
Iran
DB 2011:
The Islamic Republic of Iran made enforcing contracts easier and faster by introducing electronic filing of some documents, text message notification and an electronic case management system.
Jordan
DB 2010:
Contract enforcement was improved by setting up special commercial courts and equipping them with computer-aided case management systems. In addition, a higher threshold for the lower conciliation court is expected to result in better distribution of cases.
Kenya
DB 2012:
Kenya introduced a case management system that will help increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of commercial dispute resolution.
Korea
DB 2012:
Korea made filing a commercial case easier by introducing an electronic case filing system.
Krusevac
DB 2012:
Due to court reorganization, in Krusevac, judgment and enforcement times increased significantly.
Lesotho
DB 2012:
Lesotho made enforcing contracts easier by launching a specialized commercial court.
Macedonia, FYR
DB 2009:
The government continued to systematically equip courts with electronic case management systems, and the commercial court in Skopje became operational, speeding contract enforcement in commercial matters.
Malawi
DB 2011:
Malawi simplified the enforcement of contracts by raising the ceiling for commercial claims that can be brought to the magistrates court.
DB 2008:
The commercial division of the Blantyre high court started hearing cases as of May 2007. Two judges, specializing in commercial cases, have been appointed.
Malaysia
DB 2012:
Malaysia continued to improve the computerization of its courts by introducing a system making it possible to file complaints electronically.
DB 2010:
Enforcing contracts through the courts was made easier by increased staff and stricter deadlines that have shortened case filing times from 45 days to 30.
Mali
DB 2010:
Amendments to the civil procedures code improved contract enforcement by introducing case time limits and allowing summons to be served upon filing without a judge’s intervention.
Mauritania
DB 2008:
Separate commercial courts have replaced the commercial chambers in the general courts. 105 new judges were hired and judges' salaries increased.
Mauritius
DB 2011:
Mauritius speeded up the resolution of commercial disputes by recruiting more judges and adding more courtrooms.
DB 2010:
A specialized commercial division of the supreme court was created, improving contract enforcement.
Moldova
DB 2012:
Moldova made enforcement of judgments more efficient by introducing private bailiffs.
Mozambique
DB 2009:
With more judges receiving continual formal training, stricter performance management measures, and greater administrative support, Mozambique expects to see improvements in the judicial system leading to speedier contract enforcement.
Nepal
DB 2012:
Nepal improved oversight and monitoring in the court, speeding up the process for filing claims.
New Zealand
DB 2011:
New Zealand enacted new district court rules that make the process for enforcing contracts user friendly.
Nicaragua
DB 2012:
Nicaragua raised the monetary threshold for commercial claims that can be brought to the Managua local civil court, leaving lower-value claims in the local courts, where proceedings are simpler and faster.
Norway
DB 2010:
Contract enforcement was spend up with the introduction and monitoring of tighter deadlines.
Papua New Guinea
DB 2010:
The specialized commercial track at the National Court of Papua New Guinea—introduced in 2007—has become fully operational, improving contract enforcement.
Peru
DB 2010:
The government eased contract enforcement by introducing deadlines for filing evidence and contesting enforcement procedures. In addition, electronic judicial notices are permissible in lieu of publication in the official gazette.
Poland
DB 2008:
The Code of Civil Procedure was changed with the aim of increasing speed and efficiency of court proceedings. Poland also reformed its enforcement of judgment laws.
Portugal
DB 2010:
The time was reduced and the procedures were improved for contract enforcement by enabling e-filing for the initiation of a suit and by lessening the need for a judge’s intervention in the execution of judgment.
DB 2009:
Debt collection for contract enforcement was facilitated by extending the use summary proceedings for lower amounts.
DB 2008:
Simplified rules were introduced for small claims in simple debt collection cases. The rules allow the courts to decide a high number of cases based on one case, eliminate unnecessary procedural steps, force party cooperation and allow parties to submit written witness testimony. It is likely that cases will be decided faster and will be less costly.
Romania
DB 2009:
The enforcement of judgments was simplified by eliminating the need for a separate enforcement order and allowing the attachment of credit balances and accounts receivable. The reform reduced the time to enforce contracts by a month from 537 days to 512 days.
Russia
DB 2012:
Russia made filing a commercial case easier by introducing an electronic case filing system.
Rwanda
DB 2009:
Commercial courts began operating in three locations, in Kigali and in the Northern and Southern Provinces, making it easier to enforce contracts.
Senegal
DB 2012:
Senegal made enforcing contracts easier by launching specialized commercial chambers in the court.
Seychelles
DB 2012:
The Seychelles expanded the jurisdiction of the lower court, increasing the time required to enforce contracts.
Shkodra
DB 2012:
Increased the number of judges at the local court and decreased judgment enforcement tariffs making enforcing a contract faster and cheaper.
Sierra Leone
DB 2012:
Sierra Leone made enforcing contracts easier by launching a fast-track commercial court.
Timor-Leste
DB 2011:
Timor-Leste increased court efficiency by training and appointing new judges and passing a new civil procedure code.
Tonga
DB 2008:
The time to enforce contracts was cut from 510 days to 350. A newly appointed chief justice introduced case management, transferring 90% of all cases - criminal, commercial and land - from paper to computer. Cases are now monitored daily through a computerized spreadsheet system. Tonga also adopted new procedural rules for the Supreme Court and the Magistrates Court and it increased the threshold for the Magistrates Courts.
Uganda
DB 2011:
Uganda continues to improve the efficiency of its court system, greatly reducing the time to file and serve a claim.
Ukraine
DB 2012:
Ukraine amended legislation to streamline commercial dispute resolution and increase the efficiency of enforcement procedures.
United Kingdom
DB 2011:
The United Kingdom improved the process for enforcing contracts by modernizing civil procedures in the commercial court.
Vlora
DB 2012:
Increased the number of judges at the local court and decreased judgment enforcement tariffs making enforcing a contract faster and cheaper.
West Bank and Gaza
DB 2010:
Contract enforcement has sped up as new judges have been recruited, appointed, and trained. Courts now have enforcement judges in charge of execution and possess computerized case management software.
Zambia
DB 2011:
Zambia improved contract enforcement by introducing an electronic case management system in the courts that provides electronic referencing of cases, a database of laws, real-time court reporting and public access to court records.