Press
Release ECE/GEN/00/29
Geneva, 24 November 2000
"Through the Looking Glass: a Handbook for
Investors"
"Through the Looking Glass: a Handbook for Investors" - presented by Ms. Danuta Hübner, UN/ECE Executive Secretary, and Mr. Paolo
Garonna, Director of the UN/ECE Statistical Division, at the CEl Summit Economic
Forum of Budapest (22-25 November 2000) is a tangible sign of the UN/ECE and CEI
commitment to support investment in the region.
Ms. Danuta Hübner will present the role of the United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) in the region during the CEI high-level political meetings
- Meetings of the Heads of Governments and Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and a Round Table
of Ministers of Economy (24 and 25 November 2000 in Budapest).
Since 1998 the UN/ECE and the CEI are implementing a cooperation
programme to attain common objectives, particularly the promotion of a suitable investment
environment.
The Central European Initiative (CEI) is the oldest and largest of the
regional cooperations in Central and Eastern Europe that emerged in 1989 and has enlarged
thereafter. At present it comprises 16 Member States, two of which are members of the
European Union (Austria and Italy), seven are candidates for EU membership (Bulgaria,
Czech Republic, Hungary. Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia), four are from South
Eastern Europe (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia) to which the European
Union has offered a new approach in the form of "stabilization and association
agreements" on an individual basis, and the three Western CIS (Commonwealth of
Independent States) countries (Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine).
The CEI has established an integrated framework of dialogue,
coordination and cooperation among its member countries in the political, economic,
cultural and parliamentary fields.
The UN/ECE actively contributes to the organization of the CEI Summit
Economic Forum (SEF), organized annually in connection with the CEI Summit. On the
occasion of this year's edition of the Forum the UN/ECE representatives will be attending
several sessions as organizers and/or speakers on the following issues:
Investment Promotion, including project presentation
Real Estate Markets
Private Sector Development
Information Technology
Euroregions
Women Entrepreneurship Development
During the Forum, investment and development projects will be presented
within the framework of the joint UN/ECE-CEI Project Opportunity Methodology (POM) giving
the opportunity for several bilateral contacts and follow-up.
The UN/ECE in cooperation with the CEI has also prepared a special
Handbook for the Forum focusing on investment in the CEI region: "Through the
Looking Glass 2000-2001". This Handbook is designed as a practical planning tool
showing where we are and where we are heading, and what to do to teach a successful
investment strategy in the CEI region. This publication highlights the socio-economic
environment, highlights the institutional tools and focuses on selected and concrete
opportunities.
This year, the Forum will address issues concerning Euroregionalism,
SME's development and support, information society, women's entrepreneurship, investments
in environment and technology, infrastructure projects, trade fairs promotion, and will be
attended by Ministers of Economy, Presidents of CEI Chambers of Commerce, Directors of
Agencies for Business Development along with a high level participation of the business
community, the financial sector, international organizations as well as investment
analysts, industry leaders, consultants, bankers and fund managers.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Gianluca Sambucini
CEl Focal Point at the UN/ECE
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE)
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Tel.: +(4122) 917 11 75
Fax: +(4122) 917 01 78
E-mail: [email protected]