SESSION II – Fostering Competitiveness and Growth: Business Environment Reform
Regional Conference in South East EuropeSESSION II – Fostering Competitiveness and Growth: Business Environment Reform
The objective of this session was to take a closer look at the elements of the business environment, and identify key factors for enhancing competitiveness and growth in the region. Mr. Bocevski and Mr. Kujović outlined their countries’ reform efforts aimed at several areas which improve economies’ competitiveness and attractiveness to domestic and foreign investors. Business registration and licensing procedures, business entry and exit regulation, property rights protection, tax incentives, modernization of customs, infrastructure improvements, dispute resolution mechanisms, and balanced labor policies are areas governments in the region are focusing on in order to improve the investment climate in their economies. Mr. Courcelle-Labrousse described the work of IFC in the region, and emphasized the importance of advisory services in access to finance, infrastructure development, environmental sustainability, corporate governance, regulatory simplification and alternative dispute resolution. Mr. Kathuria argued for a strong agenda of regional cooperation in order to succeed in becoming a strong export-oriented market, and Ms. Minić described RCC’s goals to promote cooperation, stability and reforms in the region.
Dragan Kujović
Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Government of Montenegro
EU Integration as a Driver for the Competitiveness and Growth Agenda – Macedonia’s experience
Ivica Bocevski
Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration, Macedonia
Regional Agenda for Growth and Competitiveness
Jelica Minić
Deputy Secretary General, Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat
Antoine Courcelle-Labrousse
Program Manager, IFC Southern Europe and Central Asia
Western Balkans Competitiveness: Implications for the Business Environment Reform Agenda
Sanjay Kathuria
Lead Economist, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Unit, Europe and Central Asia, Word Bank
Moderator
Jane Armitage
Country Director and Regional Coordinator for SE Europe, World Bank
