access to markets, lack of vertical and horizontal linkages between firms, and low entrepreneurial spirit. C. Investment Promotion In relation to investment promotion the APR Panel recommended that explicit and wide reaching strategies be formulated to strengthen SMEs by facilitating access to credit and providing infrastructure and training for these companies (i), increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the State in providing service to the private sector, rather than mere fiscal incentives (ii), and the need to improve and strengthen the One Stop Service Desks by reducing the requirements and bureaucratic delays (iii). 142. With regards to the APR Panel's recommendation to ensure the formulation of explicit and comprehensive strategies to strengthen SMEs by facilitating access to credit and providing infrastructure and training for these companies, in 2010 the Institute for the Promotion of Small and Medium scale Enterprises (IPEME) was established within the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The document of economic and industrial strategies was also revised, focusing on modernization and development of SMEs and of the informal sector on a regional basis for balanced development and published working papers on economic and industrial strategies. 143. On the other hand, interest rates of the interbank money market interventions were revised downwards. For example, the average interest rate for liquidity swaps between credit institutions decreased from 13.1% in December 2010 to 2.8% in November 2012. Financial institutions were financed as an incentive for expansion or installation in rural areas. In this context, in 2011, 2 commercial banks, 2 Microbanks and 74 Microfinance Institutions were authorized. However, the impact of these measures is still not very visible. 144. Regarding the APR Panel's recommendation to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the State in providing services to the private sector, rather than mere tax incentives, Decree 14/2007 of 30 May was introduced, allowing simplified licensing by the BAU's (One – Stop Service Desks) which drastically reduces the time required to start a business (further improved with decree 05/2012 of 07 March); six new collection stations were created in 2010, and 13 more in 2011, allowing the Tax Authority to become closer to taxpayers; in October 2011 a pilot Single Electronic Window (SEW) initiative was started to allow customs clearance of goods and payment of customs duties and other charges via bank, with the expectation that by the end of 2013 more than 90% of customs transactions will occur electronically. Implementation of the e-tax for the payment of internal taxes (IRPS, IRPC, VAT, ISPC, among others), electronically and via bank transfer, with the expectation of maturation of the project in 2014, and the Code on Tax Benefits was created with the approval of Law No. 4/2009, of 12 January which creates specific tax regimes for small entrepreneurial initiatives and substantially reduces the incentives to megaprojects. 145. Regarding the APR Panel's recommendation for strengthening the One-Stop Service desks (BAU's), efforts were made in improving service provision by equipping and strengthening the service desks with IT resources, furniture and training. This activity was carried out by MIC in coordination with the Ministry of Science and Technology, among others; and new collection and service stations were opened in the three regions of the country. 56