Russell Bedford Joins World Bank Doing Business Project as a Global Contributor

London, United Kingdom, April 02, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Russell Bedford International, the global accounting and tax consulting group, has signed up to be a pro-bono Global Contributor to the World Bank's Doing Business project.

The Doing Business project - www.DoingBusiness.org - researches and benchmarks business laws and regulations in over 182 countries. The data and analysis are used to help the World Bank to advise policy-makers in developing countries and by governments worldwide in identifying regulatory reforms to improve the ability of entrepreneurs to do business.

The project investigates ten regulatory aspects of the typical business life cycle of domestic firms, from set-up to exit. Russell Bedford member firms are contributing data to the Paying Taxes survey, which measures the number of payments and time necessary for a business to comply with the applicable tax regulations. In addition, it measures the real tax burden faced by entrepreneurs by looking at all the taxes and mandatory payments they have to make. The data provided in the Paying Taxes surveys is based on the impact of tax regimes on a standardized fictitious case study company in the countries in which our member firms are located.

The results of the research are presented in an annual Doing Business report, which is a flagship publication of the World Bank Group.

Since the project's inception in 2003, Doing Business has inspired over 174 reforms, making it easier to do business in countries as diverse as Mozambique and Mexico.

On announcing Russell Bedford's support for the Doing Business project, chairman Geoff Goodyear commented: "Russell Bedford has a long history of providing services to international financial institutions, and we are delighted to have an opportunity to collaborate with the World Bank and to use our expertise in a way that will benefit the developing world."

For more information, contact Kempton Bedell-Harper at Russell Bedford International on +44 20 7410 0339. Alternatively, visit the websites at www.doingbusiness.org and www.russellbedford.com.

Note to Editors
Established in 1983, Russell Bedford International is a global network of independent accountancy firms, business consultants and specialist legal advisers.

Ranked as one of the world's top 15 accounting networks, Russell Bedford is represented by some 460 partners, 5000 staff and 200 offices in more than 70 countries in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

All Russell Bedford affiliates are well-established firms offering international business advice and services to local and multinational clients. Most provide a full range of services comprising accounting, auditing, tax advice, general business guidance and financial consulting. In addition, many have special expertise in particular fields, such as international taxation or information technology.

In January 2008 Russell Bedford International was been named one of the first 17 full members of the IFAC Forum of Firms after reporting it has implemented a globally coordinated quality assurance programme, committed to the use of International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), and met othe specific ethics requirements.

Issued by:
Kempton Bedell-Harper
Marketing Director
Russell Bedford International
Russell Bedford House
250 City Road, London EC1V 2QQ
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0) 20 7410 0339
F: +44 (0) 20 7459 2337
E: info@russellbedford.com
W: www.russellbedford.com

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