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ECA News, December 2002
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| | The Region's Monthly Newsletter
Highlights in this issue
* Russian President Putin Welcomes World Bank President Wolfensohn
* ECA Vice President Johannes Linn on the Road
* Assistance Strategy for Bulgaria Goes "On Tour"
* ECA Regional Disability and Development Consultations Organized
* Updated ECA AIDS Website Goes Live
also:
- Country and Sector News and Reports
- Events
- New and Revised Project Documents Online
Russian President Putin Welcomes World Bank President Wolfensohn
President Vladimir V. Putin welcomed World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn to Russia on November 14, 2002. In his remarks at their meeting, Putin noted the good relationship that Russia and the Bank have, and thanked Wolfensohn and the Bank for putting forward the new Country Assistance Strategy. Putin stressed the importance of working with the Bank to combat HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and lauded the Bank's role in the global economy. Wolfensohn also met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Alexei L. Kudrin, members of the Government, Duma and business community, and other leading figures as part of a regular exchange of views on the world economic situation. For more information on the World Bank's work in Russia, visit http://www.worldbank.org.ru
ECA Vice President Johannes Linn on the Road
World Bank ECA Vice-President Johannes F. Linn and World Bank Country Director for South Central Europe Andrew Vorkink spent 10 days last month traveling by car from Zagreb, Croatia to eastern Croatia, subsequently through Romania, and finally into Bulgaria, covering a total of 1,500 miles (2,600 km). Their journey from November 11-20, 2002, took them to many towns, villages, and World Bank-financed projects, and they met senior government officials (including presidents, prime ministers and line ministers, and scores of central and municipal government officials), businessmen and women, NGOs, representatives of the diplomatic and donor communities, and the press along the way. "Our overwhelming impression is that these three middle income countries in South East Europe are on the move economically, socially and politically," said Mr. Linn at the end of the tour. "Ten days on the ground all over Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania showed us that these three countries are clearly on the road to Europe. Getting there is a matter of time, leadership and determination, as well as continued support and encouragement from outside. We are confident that they will be successful in their journey." For more information on the World Bank's work in Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania, visit www.worldbank.org/eca and choose the countries from the drop-down list.
Assistance Strategy for Bulgaria goes "On Tour"
World Bank staff in Bulgaria recently embarked on an effort designed to increase public knowledge of and support for the Bank's Country Assistance Strategy (CAS). After the new CAS was approved by the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors, it was translated into Bulgarian, posted on the web, and distributed among NGOs and government officials that took part in extensive CAS consultations. The country team then embarked on a "CAS tour" around the country. So far, the CAS roadshow has taken the team to four major cities for roundtables, press meetings, and public forums to present and explain the Bank's strategy of assistance to a wide and diverse audience. For more information on the World Bank's work in Bulgaria, visit http://www.worldbank.bg/
ECA Organizing Disability and Development Consultations
A number of ECA country offices will be following up the recent suggestions of the World Bank's new Disability Advisor, Judith Heumann, to organize meetings with representatives of the NGO community who have a particular interest in disability issues, in order to strengthen the understanding of the relationship between disability and development. December 3 is the day that the disability issue is marked internationally, and this provides a useful entry point for the Bank's dialogue on disability. In Bosnia, where many people live with physical and psychological disabilities resulting from the war in the mid 1990s, UNDP and the Bank have agreed to jointly host a meeting with the disability community on Dec 4. The Croatia Country Office will be organizing an outreach event on Dec 4 which will start their dialogue on disability and inclusion issues. In Turkey, the Bank has had a strong association with the Disabled Association of Turkey, mainly through assistance provided to earthquake victims, which resulted in the World Bank being presented with an award at the Presidential Palace. The Turkey Basic Education Project will also be assisting the development of a policy strategy for special needs education and piloting interventions to support the mainstreaming of disabled students. A follow-up meeting with the disability agencies will be organized in early 2003. In Lithuania, the Bank office held a roundtable with NGOs working with disability issues on December 3 to begin a dialogue on disability and development.
Updated ECA AIDS Website Goes Live
Unveiled in time for World AIDS Day 2002, the ECA HIV-AIDS website will serve as an important source of information about AIDS in the region, including data, country responses, and Bank activities to combat the disease. The new site is especially significant because the ECA Region continues to experience the fastest growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in the world. In 2001, there were an estimated 250,000 new infections, bringing the number of people living with HIV/AIDS to one million, according to UNAIDS. To view the website, visit www.worldbank.org/eca and click on "Topics in Development" and then "HIV/AIDS."
COUNTRY AND SECTOR NEWS AND REPORTS
Romania
8th ECA Health PCU Conference Held in Bucharest
The 8th ECA Health Project Coordination Units (PCU) Conference was held in Bucharest, Romania, on November 21 - 23, 2002. The conference, which dealt with the changing role of hospitals in the provision of integrated health care services, tackled the challenges faced by Romania and other countries in the region in implementing health system reforms. Topics of discussion included the need for planning and integrated services; the development of new financing sources; the development of public-private partnerships; and the improvement of quality of services based on cost efficiency. Participants also discussed ways to improve the management of World Bank-financed projects as well as their results, and conferred about health policy issues which are of interest at the international level. Foreign deputy ministers of Health, directors of PCUs coordinating Bank projects in ECA, Bank experts, representatives of international organizations, and decision-makers from Romania attended the conference. For more information on the conference, visit http://www.inspiration.ro/pcu2002/
Russia
World Bank Releases Quarterly Economic Report
In its fourth quarterly economic report, the World Bank stated that it expects Russia's economic growth to be approximately 4 percent this year. The report says that Russia's dependence on oil and gas exports has increased over the first 9 months of 2002, while the growth of domestic investment as well as that of FDI has continued to slow. Reforms continue, but Russia has enjoyed stable economic growth largely due to high oil prices, said Christof Ruehl, Senior Economist in the Moscow office. The report introduces a joint survey with the Center for Economic and Financial Research, which monitors the impact of deregulation laws Federation-wide on a regular basis, and highlights existing administrative barriers for small and medium sized enterprises. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.ru and click on "Data and Publications" and then "Russian Economic Reports."
Slovak Republic
National Energy Efficiency Study
The World Bank, together with the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic and Slovak and Austrian organizations, including the Energy Center, Bratislava and the KWI GmbH, Austria, carried out a "National Energy Efficiency Study" for the Slovak Republic. The main objectives of the study were to assess the realistically achievable national potential for energy savings and utilization of renewable energy; to design a strong enabling institutional, policy and regulatory environment for enhanced energy efficiency; and to develop a portfolio of high-impact energy efficiency projects and recommend financing mechanisms to overcome existing funding constraints. The outputs of the study will serve as recommendations for the Slovak Government. To ready the study, visit http://www.worldbank.sk/3pic.htm
Country Diagnostic Report: Development in the Slovak Republic
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Slovak Republic Mr. Ivan Miklos advised the members of the country's Council of Economic Ministers to apply the framework and recommendations of the Bank's Development Policy Review (DPR) in the drafting and execution of policies of the line ministries and agencies. The DPR includes a review of recent policy efforts, a description of the overall state of the economy, and advice on goals, design, and use of reform mechanisms. The Bank recommends an 11-point agenda for consideration, including curtailing enterprise (current and capital) subsidies and other guarantee payments; redirecting, rather than expanding, existing expenditure programs to meet the eligibility criteria for structural funds financing; and further increasing the retirement age to 65. To read the study, visit http://www.worldbank.sk/3pic.htm
Rural Development: New ECA Rural Strategy Paper
The new World Bank ECA Rural Strategy paper has been released, and it lays the groundwork for new ways of tackling rural poverty and spurring agricultural productivity. Titled "Reaching the Rural Poor in the Europe and Central Asia Region," the paper outlines the Bank's approach to stimulating growth and to improving social well-being in rural areas. The strategy details sub-regional approaches, as well as lessons learned concerning the pace of reform, the design of projects, and the importance of rural energy, infrastructure, social services, and private sector development. The strategy tackles rural development broadly, and recommends providing support to replicate and scale up approaches which have worked, including community-based irrigation, forestry and watershed management, micro-credit, farm privatization, and rural water supply. To read the paper, visit www.worldbank.org/eca
EVENTS
22nd Donor Round Table in Almaty
The World Bank Central Asia Regional Office in Almaty, Kazakhstan will host the 22nd Donor Round Table meeting on December 6, 2002. These quarterly meetings, attended by key bilateral and multilateral donor agencies, have been conducted in Kazakhstan for six years. They serve as an indispensable tool in coordination and information exchange among donors on the issues of Civil Society Development in Kazakhstan. The upcoming meeting will be devoted to the theme of Monitoring and Evaluation.
3rd CIS-7 Poverty Reduction Strategy Forum
The World Bank Institute's Attacking Poverty Program, together with the World Bank's ECA Region Poverty Reduction and Economic Management division, the IMF, and UNDP, is organizing the Third ECA Poverty Reduction Strategies Forum for the CIS-7 countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The Forum, which is also supported by international institutions and bilateral and multilateral donor organizations, will take place in Almaty, Kazakhstan from December 11-13, 2002. It is being co-sponsored by the Swiss Development Cooperation Agency and the Eurasia Foundation. The theme for Forum is "Pro-Poor Growth;" specific sessions will address sources of growth (including trade, macroeconomic stability, and job creation), rural development, the business environment, and local institutions. For more information, visit http://www.worldbank.org/wbi/attackingpoverty/events/Kazakhstan_1202/overview.htm
NEW AND REVISED PROJECT DOCUMENTS ONLINE:
BULGARIA - Revenue Administration Reform
http://www.worldbank.org/pics/pid/p073427
KAZAKHSTAN- Nura River Cleanup
http://www.worldbank.org/pics/pid/p059803.txt
RUSSIAN FEDERATION - St. Petersburg Economic Development
http://www.worldbank.org/pics/pid/p069063.txt
RUSSIAN FEDERATION - Land Registration & Cadastre Project
http://www.worldbank.org/pics/pid/p078420.txt
TAJIKISTAN - Community Oriented Watershed Development
http://www.worldbank.org/pics/pid/p077454.txt
YUGOSLAVIA - Health
http://www.worldbank.org/pics/pid/p077675.txt
YUGOSLAVIA -Privatization and Reconstructing of Banks and Enterprises Credit
http://www.worldbank.org/pics/pid/p077732.txt
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