SESSION VI: Business Environment Reform: Issues and Challenges Going Forward
Regional Conference in South East EuropeSESSION VI: Business Environment Reform: Issues and Challenges Going Forward
In the final session, panelists and conference participants offered their views on the most important current issues in business environment reform in South East Europe. Regional integration in the context of EU accession, CEFTA, and agreements in other areas such as energy and transport, contribute to future prospects for economic growth and competitiveness. In order to drive this agenda successfully, it is important to continue to involve all sectors into the reform process – business, civil society, academia, and local and national governments. A strong regional network of policy-makers which includes all stakeholders, such as parliaments and especially the private sector, will help to promote good practices, peer-to-peer learning and focus on results.
Efforts in SEE need to continue towards improving transparency, removing administrative barriers to private sector development and taking a comprehensive approach towards business environment reform. Reforms should cover all areas influencing investors’ decisions, including education, infrastructure, taxation policy, labor policy, and other. There needs to be a stronger involvement of the business community in reforms, as their trust and support serve as the engine of change. Maintaining political stability, one of the key factors investors consider, is another significant goal for the region.
The panel and participants concluded that it is important to continue to offer opportunities for dialogue and exchange of experiences such as this conference in the future.
Panelists:
Sanjay Kathuria
Lead Economist, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Unit, Europe and Central Asia, Word Bank
Vedran Antoljak
Managing Director, Sense Consulting
Pavle Radovanović
Secretary General, Montenegrin Chamber of Commerce
Lilian Kandikjan
National Programme Officer, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
Andreja Marušić
Head, Regulatory Review Unit, Serbia
Moderator:
Jelica Minić
Deputy Secretary General/Head of Expert Pool, Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat