After a long gestation period, the secretariat is in a position to inform you that the UNECE PPP Roster of Experts is now operational. Individual members are being involved in UNECE PPP activities, including capacity building and training activities, as well as policy advisory work, especially that related to the legal framework in countries with economies in transition. The roster will be shortly posted on the UNECE website, and an information notice in this regard will be emailed to you all in due course. Meanwhile the secretariat would like to express a special thanks to the following experts who have been involved on a pro bono basis in providing advisory services to the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Belarus, and providing excellent comments and advice with regard to the draft laws on Public-Private Partnerships of these countries:

• Mr. Richard Armitage, a partner at Simmons & Simmons, London;
• Ms. Tatiana Bessarab, a partner at Bessarab and Partners Attorneys at Law;
• Mr. Bruno de Cazalet, a partner at Gide Loyrette Nouel, Paris;
• Mr. Peter Dombkins, an associate at Simmons & Simmons, London;
• Mr. Spyros Panagopoulos, a partner at Panagopoulos & Partners - Law Office;
• Mr. Tony Smith, a solicitor at Farne Project Consultancy;
• Mr. Wim Timmermans, advocaat at Timmermans & Simons Int'l Business Lawyers.

Welcome Statement by His Excellency Ambassador Luzius Wasescha Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the World Trade Organization and European Free Trade Agreement (UNECE, UNCTAD, ITC)
UNECE PPP Days 2012, 21 – 24 February 2012, Geneva*

"Mr. Chairperson,
Mr. Executive Secretary (Officer in charge),
Excellencies,
Dear colleagues,
Dear delegates,
Ladies and Gentleman,

It is a great honor for me - on behalf of the Swiss Government, the host of this year’s Public-Private-Partnerships Days - to warmly welcome all delegations, speakers and participants to this conference. An important opportunity to discuss one of the most important challenges for development among experts of the public and private sector.

Infrastructure lies at the very core of economic and human development. It is far more than just the power plants, bridges, networks, roads or trains we build. Infrastructure is about access to water, electricity, mobility, education and health.

It is about opportunities..."
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* A full report on PPP Days 2012 can be found on the UNECE website

JAN VAN SCHOONHOVEN

‘PPP is not a difficult thing;
governments just have to be up to it.’

Interview by Laurence Groen

Q: Who are you and what do you do?
A: ‘My name is Jan van Schoonhoven and I am in charge of setting up the UNECE International PPP Centre of Excellence, a global resource to assist the governments of member States with innovative PPP delivery and financing options, strategic advice and support. Currently I am working on a business plan with respect to this project spending most of my days doing interviews with major stakeholders (the International Financial Institutions such as the World Bank, ADB), the UNECE Executive Committee (governing body of the UNECE) and representatives of countries wishing to become a member of our network or would like to benefit from this initiative. Since the project is demand driven it is very important to listen carefully to what these institutions and people need. Whenever countries want to participate in the UNECE International PPP Centre of Excellence, just contact me.’
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Contact details:Jan.VanSchoonhoven@unece.org

Mr. Sven Alkalaj, UNECE Executive Secretary, and Dr. Enrique T. Ona, Minister of Health of the Philippines, met on 23 May to discuss strengthening cooperation in the area of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). The Government of the Philippines plans to make the most of the potential that PPPs offer to modernize the country's health sector. In this regard, close cooperation has been developed over the last years with UNECE's PPP programme, to build up capacity and share best practices.

The meeting, which took place on the occasion of Dr. Ona's visit to Geneva to participate in the World Health Assembly, cleared the way for the establishment of the Specialist Centre for Health in the Philippines. The Specialist Centre will be integrated as a part of the Government of the Philippines, and will operate under a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed in the coming weeks between UNECE and the Philippines.

Contact details PPP Specialist Centre on Health, Philippines: Mr. Celso Manangan (Program Manager) at celso.manangan@gmail.com

Specialist and Training Centres will be the international focal point in the identification, collection, analysis and dissemination of best practice in an assigned sector/area.

Specialist Centres will:

• Conduct research within the sector
• Develop and disseminate PPP best-practice
• Develop sector-specific capability development strategies for governments

Training Centres will:

Provide specialised training in PPP within their geographic remit using training materials developed by the UNECE International PPP Centre of Excellence and the Specialist Centres.

More information at: www.unece.org/ceci/ppp.html or e-mail us at: ppp@unece.org