| The last decade of the twentieth century witnessed a process of change — commonly known as 'transition' — that dramatically transformed the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. These countries, ranging from middle to low-income countries, comprise the World Bank's Europe and Central Asia region (ECA). The World Bank has been working in these countries from the earliest phases of the transition process to the present to improve the living standards of their people, promote economic growth, and ensure that future generations benefit from sound environmental practices and social development. Focus Country Initiatives in Fiscal Year 09: | Bosnia and Herzegovina - Strengthening Capacity for ICT Development Now entering its third year, this multi-year program focuses on business advocacy for business environment reforms in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. The World Bank Institutes provides advisory services and capacity building assistance to the Bosnian Association of Information Technology (B@IT) to strengthen its organizational and managerial capacity to initiate and consolidate public-private dialogues, including on governance issues. The program supports the World Bank Group Private Sector Development Strategy for Bosnia Herzegovina and will continue to be jointly delivered with the Country Management Unit and theInternational Finance Corporation (IFC) Private Enterprise Partnership (PEP) - Southern Europe (SE) International Standards and Technical Regulation (ISTR) program. | Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Competitiveness This multi-year regional program aims to foster linkages among ICT Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) in Ukraine, Romania and other countries in South East Europe, such as Macedonia and Bosnia Herzegovina, to promote regional cooperation agreements and information sharing for enhanced ICT sector competitiveness. | Regional Competitiveness in Russia's Southern Federal District This multi-year program, which began in 2005, supports an ongoing Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS) project focused on “Identifying and Reducing Administrative Barriers to Investment and Business Development in Russia’s Southern Federal District.” The program builds the capacity of the tourism industry to become more competitive. |
|
World Bank and ECA 
RSS