S&T Country Report - Albania - WBC-INCO Net

provides consulting, training, analysis and support with access to finance and
information on trade opportunities. USAID provides technical assistance through the
Cluster Competitiveness Activity (USAID CCA), amounting to USD 16 million (July
2004 - July 2008).
More information can be downloaded at the project webpage:
http://www.usaidcca.ba.
- World Bank Business Environment Adjustment Credit Project (BAC)
The credit supports the Government's reform program to improve the investment
climate and strengthen a single economic space to promote domestic and foreign
investment and private sector growth. Objectives of the reform program are to reduce
those administrative and regulatory barriers that will have the most critical near-term
impact on the three phases of business development: business entry, business
operations, and business exit.
The reforms supported by the BAC aims to:
• facilitate business entry through creation of simplified and transparent
countrywide approach to business registration and licensing and strengthened
legal framework and capacity for attracting foreign investment;
• streamline the environment for business operation by reducing companies'
administrative and regulatory compliance costs through rationalization of
inspections and regulations, building judicial and extra-judicial capacity to
resolve commercial disputes; improving enforcement of secured transactions;
and ensuring equal access to public procurement, and
• ease business exit through strengthened bankruptcy and liquidation systems.
- Western Balkans SME Finance Facility Project of the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
The project consists of credit lines to partner banks (PBs) and leasing companies
(PLCs) for onlending to SMEs and Technical Cooperation (TC) to assist the banks in
strengthening their SMEs risk appraisal and monitoring capabilities. The objectives of
the Framework is to support the Western Balkans in the transition to a market
economy by strengthening the financial sector and by increasing SMEs access to
finance via the existing banks and leasing companies. These objectives are achieved
by providing medium-term and working capital financing to SMEs and by assisting
the PBs and PLs to incorporate high quality SME lending as an integral part of their
on-going business activities. The EBRD provides finance, while the EC and other
donors provide funds for TC.
- IFC/PEP Southeast Europe is part of IFC (International Finance Corporation),
World Bank Group. The programme operates in Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina,
the FYR Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and was formally launched in July 2005
and has been established for an initial period of five years.
The Private Enterprise Partnership for Southeast Europe (PEP-SE) is catalyzing
private sector development from a platform of four operational programs:
• Alternative Dispute Resolution;
• Corporate Governance;
• International Technical Standards and Regulations; and
• Recycling Linkages.
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