Establishing Regional Business Friendly Environment Platform
Donors: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Partners: PKRS, REDAH, PKCG, ZELS, Riinvest institut, ALAA
Beneficiaries: Local self governemtn units
Period of realization: September 2021 – January 2024.
Project activities are focused on strengthening cooperation mechanisms: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Kosovo*, North Macedonia and Serbia. The mechanisms for encouraging economic development, employment growth, and a quicker entry into the European Union are based on the creation of partnerships for regional cooperation and the sharing of information and experience on reforms at the economic and local levels.
Project’s aim: Establish an effective mechanism for regional cooperation and exchange of knowledge on the implementation of reform processes for economic growth at both the national and local levels.
The project's goal is to enhance the prospects for local economic growth and municipal development in the six Western Balkan economies in accordance with prerequisites for EU membership.
The BFE Platform is a network of organizations that support the development of a unified regional market and the EU's expansion agenda while working to improve the business climate in their economies and the region as a whole. Its emphasis is mostly on local economic growth, which is based on the utilization of environmentally friendly, socially conscious, and cutting-edge digital solutions. The BFE Platform, which encourages debate and values expertise and knowledge, is an effective mechanism for enhancing regional cooperation and exchanging information regarding the execution of reform processes for economic growth at both the national and local levels.
* This name is without prejudice to the status and is in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and the opinion of the International Court of Justice on the declaration of independence of Kosovo
The platform's future vision:
An improved business climate between the Western Balkan economies and the economies of EU member states, built on the sharing of best practices and contributing to competitiveness, economic growth, and the EU integration process, for the benefit of all citizens.
The platform’s future mision:
Facilitate partnerships between public and private, national and sub-national users in the region to enable idea exchange and carry out reforms in line with EU standards and best regional practices for public administration in favor of a better business environment. Helping public policies shape and increase user capacity to put them into action.
The platform will be based on three pillars:
- local economic development;
- improving the business environment;
- promotion of partnerships and public-private dialogue.
The platform will be based on the current BFC SEE network, which has successfully implemented the Certification Program of Southeast European cities and municipalities with a favorable business environment since 2012 and which brings together over 25 organizations from five countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Croatia, including representatives of relevant ministries, chambers of commerce, associations of businesses, and other organizations.