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ECA News, May 2003
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 | The Monthly Update from the World Bank's Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Region
Highlights in this issue
- Feature Story: Upcoming Environment for Europe Conference
- Travel and Outreach by Johannes Linn
- PIC Opening in Sofia
Also:
- Country and Sector News and Reports
- Announcements
- New and Revised Project Documents Online
- Your Subscription
Feature Story: Kyiv Environment for Europe Conference
The 5th Ministerial Environment for Europe Conference will be held from May 21-23 in Kyiv, Ukraine. The World Bank delegation will include ECA Vice President Johannes Linn and ECA Sector Director for Environment and Socially Sustainable Development Laura Tuck. Discussions in Kyiv will cover a wide range of topics, with a major focus on the NIS countries. Ways to reduce the widening gaps in environmental quality and health in Europe will also be explored. For more information, click here.
Travel and Outreach by Johannes Linn
World Bank ECA Vice President Johannes Linn wrapped up a trip to Russia in early April with a speech at a conference organized by the Higher School of Economics. In late April, Johannes attended the Energy Conference in Leipzig, Germany. Johannes has several trips planned for May, including travel to Tajikistan for the Consultative Group meeting and to Uzbekistan for the EBRD Annual Meetings, and a visit to Azerbaijan and Georgia. In addition, he will travel to Ukraine for the Kyiv Environment Conference. To read the talking points for Johannes' speech in Moscow, click here.
PIC Opening in Sofia
The World Bank's Bulgaria Country Office recently announced the opening of its new Public Information Center (PIC). The new location in the premises of the Central Library of Sofia renders the PIC more accessible, and the new PIC will deliver improved services to a wider group of stakeholders. The PIC is open to students, researchers, civil society and other development partners, government employees, the business community, and the general public. The new PIC, a result of the close partnership between the Bank's Sofia Office and the Central Library of Sofia, was officially opened by Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofianski and Bulgaria Country Manager Oscar de Bruyn Kops. For more information, visit http://www.worldbank.bg/press/2003-5-eccbg.phtml
COUNTRY AND SECTOR NEWS AND REPORTS
ARMENIA
Small Grants Program Awards Ceremony
On April 23, an Award Ceremony devoted to the winners of the Armenia Small Grants Program 2003 (SmGP'03) took place in the Bank's Yerevan Office. The SmGP'03 was held jointly with the Open Society Institute - Assistance Foundation (OSIAF). OSIAF co-funded the program, doubling the overall grant amount. Eight out of the 169 non-profit, non-governmental organizations which applied from all over Armenia were selected as finalists to receive grant awards for the implementation of civic engagement-focused projects. For more information on the Bank's work in Armenia, visit http://lnweb18.worldbank.org/eca/armenia.nsf
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Local Initiatives Project Update
After successful implementation of the first Local Initiatives Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the expanded US$20 million second project has been launched. Over 40,000 microcredit loans were disbursed to entrepreneurs under the auspices of the first project. Besides these loans, the project also facilitated the development of microcredit organizations. For more information, click here.
Agriculture Development Project Approved
The Bank recently approved a $12 million credit for the Small-Scale Commercial Agriculture Development Project for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will develop private, market-integrated commercial agriculture in selected low-income, high-potential areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Activities will be concentrated in the southeastern part of the country. This area was hard-hit by the recent war, but is favorable for the production of fruit and vegetables and has the potential for on-farm irrigation resources and trade with neighboring countries. For more information, click here.
ROMANIA
Romania Energy Forum
On April 2, Romania Country Manager Ziad Alahdad participated in a conference on the privatization of Romania's energy sector. Ziad delivered an opening speech stressing the importance of the event for Romania and highlighting the Bank's commitment to continue its assistance for the country, including supporting the privatization of its energy sector. For more information on the Bank's work in Romania, visit http://www.worldbank.org.ro/
RUSSIA
Bank Helps to Improve Customs in Russia
On April 22, the Bank approved a US$140 million loan to Russia for the Customs Development Project, which will help Russia make international commerce more transparent, as well as promote private sector development. The main objective of the project is to support reform and modernization of the Russian customs administration: aligning the Customs institutions, their organization, and procedures to international practice and ensuring their expected role in a modern market economy. For more information, visit click here.
SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO
Bank Supports Social Sector Reforms in Serbia
On April 22, the Bank approved a US$80 million credit to support social sector reforms in Serbia. The Social Sector Adjustment Credit (SOSAC) will help the Serbian government implement changes in social protection, labor and health. The two main goals are to reduce short and medium term fiscal pressure through a combination of entitlement reform and efficiency improvements in the social sectors; and to maximize the poverty alleviation impact of public spending through improved targeting and sustained access for the poor to cash benefits and services, including health and social welfare. For more information, click here.
UKRAINE
TB and HIV/AIDS Control Project Signing
On April 15, the loan agreement for the Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Control Project in Ukraine was signed by the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Kostyantyn Gryschenko and World Bank Country Director for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova Luca Barbone. The Bank approved the US$60 million loan for the project in December 2002. The project is designed to support the Government's efforts to reduce TB and HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality. While many countries in the Europe and Central Asia region are now working with the Bank to grapple with these two infectious diseases, Ukraine was the first to have a loan approved for this purpose. For more information on the project, visit http://www4.worldbank.org/sprojects/Project.asp?pid=P069857
ANNOUNCEMENTS
High-Level Conference Held On Housing Reforms In South-Eastern Europe
Ministers in charge of housing and finance from South-Eastern Europe met in Paris on April 24 for a high-level housing conference. The meeting was organized by the Council of Europe Development Bank and the World Bank under the auspices of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe. Some 15 ministers attended the conference. The conference was opened by Raphaël Alomar, governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank, and by ECA Director of Regional Operations Shigeo Katsu. The housing sector in South-Eastern Europe is vital for growth, job creation and coherent social and economic development. However, it poses several policy challenges, which were discussed at the conference. For more information, visit http://www.seerecon.org
Roma Website Launched
To mark International Roma Day on April 8, the Bank's re-vamped Roma website was launched. The website has been unveiled in time for the Regional Roma Conference, co-organized by the World Bank and the Open Society Institute, to be held on June 30-July 1 in Budapest, Hungary. For more details, please visit the updated website at http://www.worldbank.org/roma
BEEPS Seminar Available to View Online
The Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey (BEEPS) was developed by the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and conducted in the transition economies of Eastern Europe and Central Asia in 1999, and again in 2002. The survey comprises the results of interviews with firm managers and owners in 26 countries on a wide range of issues relating to their businesses including the business environment, corruption, lobbying, the financial system, the legal system, regulation, public services, and firm performance. On February 11, 2003, Joel Hellman, Lead Specialist in the World Bank's Europe and Central Asia Region, presented an overview of the new data from the 2002 survey. The presentation is now available online. For more information, visit http://www.worldbank.org/wbi/B-SPAN/sub_beeps.htm
NEW AND REVISED PROJECT INFORMATION DOCUMENTS ONLINE
Please note: links to document files are temporarily unavailable, but should return to the newsletter next month.
Miriam Van Dyck
Europe and Central Asia External Affairs
The World Bank
Telephone (202) 458-2931
Fax (202) 614-1008
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