Welcome and Opening Remarks

SESSION I - Welcome and Opening Remarks

Branimir Gvozdenović
Minister, Ministry for Economic Development, Government of Montenegro

Rachel Kyte
Vice President, Business Advisory Services, IFC

Jane Armitage
Country Director and Regional Coordinator for SE Europe, World Bank

Nicole Wyrsch
Ambassador, Embassy of Switzerland, Macedonia

Thomas Waldraff
Regional Director for Western Balkans, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)

Clive Rumbold
Head of Political, European Integration and Trade Section, Delegation of the European Commission to Montenegro

Welcome remarks provided a broad perspective on current developments in the growth and competitiveness agenda of the economies in South East Europe. The speakers talked about the success of Montenegro and the region in achieving solid economic growth in recent years, and outlined a roadmap for sustaining economic growth, particularly in view of the current financial crisis. Infrastructure, quality of labor force, anti-corruption measures, prudent fiscal policies, and sustained efforts in improving the regulatory conditions in which business operates were identified as particularly relevant. The speakers affirmed their organizations' commitments to supporting the business environment reforms in the region.