Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Improving business environment in Macedonia (transfer of Slovak know-how) Peter Golias Project manager, Business Alliance of Slovakia February 18, 2010 Skopje Basic info about project • Project title: Improving business environment and labor market in Macedonia by transfer of successful know-how from Slovakia • Implemented by NGOs: Business Alliance of Slovakia (BAS) and CERM • Funded by gvt agency: Slovak Official Development Assistance (Slovak Aid) • Time: January 2010 – February 2011 Basic info about BAS • NGO representing Slovak businessmen and employers: – 42 paying entities – Financial contribution 20 EUR – 4,000 EUR yearly – 60,000 employees, 6% of GDP • Key values: ethics, transparency, consistency, solidarity, rule of law • Established in 2001 by NGOs (alliance of profit and non-profit sectors) • Goal: Improving business environment (not particular interests of its members) BAS activities I • Business environment index – quarterly evaluation of quality of BE 130 125 120 115 110 105 Source: Business Alliance of Slovakia 3Q 2009 1Q 2009 3Q 2008 1Q 2008 3Q 2007 1Q 2007 3Q 2006 1Q 2006 3Q 2005 1Q 2005 3Q 2004 1Q 2004 3Q 2003 1Q 2003 3Q 2002 1Q 2002 1.7.2001 3Q 2001 100 BAS activities II • Legislation monitoring (incl. comments and analyses) • Evaluation of voting of political parties and Members of Parliament • Global competitiveness report (official partner of WEF in Slovakia) • Opinion surveys among managers • Audit of BE, Wish list, etc. BE in Slovakia and Macedonia I Heritage Foundation: Economic Freedom, 2010 (179 countries) Freedom House: Democracy Index, 2009 (1 – best, 7 – worst) Transparency International: Corruption Perception Index, 2009 (180 countries) Slovakia Macedonia 35 (+0.3) 56 (+4.5) 1 (↑) 3 (↓) 56 (52) 71 (72) BE in Slovakia and Macedonia II Slovakia Macedonia World Bank: Doing Business 2010 (183 countries) 42 (35) 32 (69) - Starting a business 49 (66) 13 (6) - Employing workers 81 (78) 58 (122) - Construction permits 56 (51) 137 (151) - Registering property 11 (8) 63 (88) - Closing a business 39 (39) 115 (131) - Getting credit 15 (12) 43 (41) - Protecting investors 109 (105) 20 (88) - Paying taxes 120 (130) 26 (28) - Trading across borders 113 (115) 62 (63) 61 (49) 64 (62) - Enforcing contracts BE in Slovakia and Macedonia III Slovakia Macedonia World Economic Forum: Global Competitiveness Report, 2009-10 (133 countries) 47 (46) 84 (89) - Property rights 59 (55) 95 (96) 5 (5) 91 (96) - Extent and effect of taxation 18 (17) 41 (47) - Total tax rate 81 (87) 9 (86) - Rigidity of employment 72 (64) 100 (106) - Firing costs 19 (19) 46 (45) - Cooperation in labor-employer relations 36 (40) 101 (101) - Ease of access to loans 22 (20) 111 (113) - Soundness of banks 15 (23) 79 (102) - Tariff barriers Key reforms in Slovakia • 1998-2002: Privatization of banks, energy, telecom • 2003-04: Labor market, Social welfare • 2003-05: Public finance (ESA95, lower deficit, analytical capacities, transparency, 3-year budgeting, programming, decentralization) • 2004: Flat tax • 2004-05: Pensions (PAYG, savings pillar) • 2003-04: Health care & Education (unfinished) • 2009: Euro Unemployment and GDP 20% 18% 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Unemployment Source: Eurostat 2005 GDP growth 2006 2007 2008 Inflow of FDI 18% 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Inflow of FDI (% of GDP) Source: National Bank of Slovakia, Statistical Office of the SR 2006 2007 2008 Activities in Macedonia • Mobilizing ethical business leaders to establish and support BE watch-dog • Supporting public discussion about quality of BE • Developing tools for monitoring BE: – Business environment index – Audit of business environment and Wish list (paper, conference) • Transfer of know-how about Slovak reform experience (paper, lectures) Thank you for your attention.