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Lessons from Transition Europe: Post-Conflict Strategies for Rebuilding 1 Relevance of ECA Countries Early in Transition or Post-War Phase Collapse of GDP Hyperinflation Corruption High levels of black market activity State control Absence of market-based commercial banking Unsuitable legal/regulatory environment High levels of debt Recovering from sanctions Broken trade and investment relationships 2 Private and Financial Sector Development Lessons from Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia, Caucasus and elsewhere suggest the following immediate priorities: Establish rule of law and provide beginning framework for sound judiciary Inject capital into the economy with market-based signals that can be built on in subsequent phases Restore functioning banking sector based on initial prudential framework emphasizing stability Seek broad trade and investment links Seek environment in which there is recognition of the need for maximum market, fiscal sustainability, and lowest level of political risk Second phase of development to focus on laying the groundwork for long-term growth 3 Lessons from Serbia for Iraq Serbia: Resolve major banks Introduce key legislation and banking regulations Reinforce with SME lines of credit through potentially sound banks Establish framework for debt restructuring Introduce fiscal and structural incentives to bring money outside the system into the system Iraq: Resolve 2 large banks Introduce best practice laws/regulations for viable commercial banking Inject funds into economy for SMEs based on credit worthiness standards Conceptualize framework to ease debt overhang Take medium-term view to fiscal sustainability Professionalize civil authority 4 “Territorial” Lessons: Kosovo and PA Kosovo Narrow “central” bank Prominent micro-finance role via bank + NGOs Manual to automated payment system Sound prudential framework Rational licensing policy with reasonable capital requirements Strong entrepreneurship Palestinian Authority Need disciplined monetary framework Link efforts to regional trade SME and micro-finance opportunities abound Phase in sound legal, regulatory and judicial requirements Harness entrepreneurship Root out corruption 5 Lessons from Bosnia for Iraq and PA Bosnia Currency board Easing of ethnic tension Gradual settlement of property disputes Consolidation of banking system Strong banking supervision linked to deposit insurance Foreign banks Lending to citizens and SMEs Problems: legal, judicial, corruption and state enterprises Iraq and PA Monetary discipline needed Dispute resolution based on sound legal framework essential Politicization based on ethnic priorities slows progress towards single economic space Financial discipline in banking and enterprises indispensable Corruption is a killer Business climate must be open to trade and investment 6 Lessons from Macedonia Macedonia Small economy, but in region where other interests look at Macedonia as part of regional economy Banking reform without state enterprise reform does little Cost of corruption undermines open trade and investment regime Little reserve for political instability Iraq and Palestine Regional trade and links essential for market growth (PA) and diversification (both) Comprehensive structural reforms needed for competitiveness Outside investment essential for capital and governance Ethnic and community conflict will only increase political risk and constrain prospects 7 Lessons from Azerbaijan for Iraq Iraq Azerbaijan Reliance on oil dangerously concentrated Weak non-oil sectors bifurcate income distribution Focus on Oil Fund stoke corruption Post-war period requires years of economic and institutional rebuilding Need to diversify by increasing non-oil output Agriculture and processing represent key potential areas Influx of diaspora talent will help with economy, but may cause resentment due to income and experiential differences 8 The Iraqi Economy: Pre-war Devastated by sanctions since 1990 UN Oil for food deal in 1996 allowed for some sale of oil to alleviate humanitarian crisis Highly centralized economy High degree of state ownership Government experiments with market reforms met with limited success Almost full dependence on oil revenue for foreign exchange Huge black market for consumer goods Corruption, criminality, and patronage 9 Post-war Iraq: What remains? Almost all banks have been looted Bank infrastructure destroyed No functioning banking system No formal payment system State enterprises have had their assets stripped Most industries not functioning SME sector has no access to bank credit because of bank failure Supply and trade networks have fallen apart Critical supplies and infrastructure being restored slowly 10 Palestinian Economy Today Weak resource base for investment flows even if political stability achieved via “road map” High level of dependence on donors for income supplements, food aid and medicines Unemployment high and erratic resulting from political and trade tensions Absence of stable trade relations in the region weaken prospects Unclear legal framework rooted in Ottoman, British mandate, Jordanian and Israeli features Under the best of circumstances, still a very small economy and country 11 What to Do? Phase 1: Emergency, short term measures Goal: Boost the economy quickly, create jobs, and set rules for viable banking sector (0-18 months) Priorities: Establish an interim credit fund to increase access to credit for job/value-creating SMEs. Conduct financial sector assessment (focusing on banking system assets, liabilities, management, governance, prudential norms, etc). Conduct a corporate sector review, and develop privatization plans and TA strategy. 12 Phase 2: Medium-term measures Goal: Create the foundations for a functioning market economy (2-4 years) Priorities: Bank and enterprise reform and privatization Investment climate reforms Commercial legal framework for business and secured transactions SME development and growth Comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for banks and non-bank financial sector Sound public sector institutions based on professional standards 13 Options to Achieve These Lines of credit focused on quick-disbursing funds for sound banks and SMEs based on prudential norms for commercial banks Adjustment credits introducing comprehensive programs and strategies for financial sector, enterprises, civil service, professional associations, and NGOs Trade/export-related credits/insurance to stimulate regional trade and diversification Technical assistance from advisory services, ESW, lessons learned from other markets and regions 14