Press Releases 2000

[Index]      

Press Release ECE/TRADE/00/15
Geneva, 15 December 2000

 PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS COULD HELP SOLVE INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS IN SOUTHEAST EUROPE

 

Public-private partnerships (PPPs)^1/ will be a critical component in the reconstruction of southeast Europe. This was one of the main conclusions of the international "Forum on PPPs for Infrastructure Development: the Next Steps", which took place on 4 and 5 December 2000 at the Palais des Nations, Geneva. Two hundred and fifty participants from 32 countries attended the Forum, which was organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE). Both the public and the private sector were represented, as well as international organizations including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Several non-governmental organizations also participated.

The Forum discussed a set of Guidelines on PPPs for infrastructure development which had been drawn up by a group of experts on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) projects and considered what action should be taken. With the development of modern and efficient infrastructure seen as crucial for revitalizing southeast Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Forum reached the consensus that firm action must be taken to accelerate the effort of getting the public and the private sector to work together.

"These Guidelines point to the need for a dialogue between the two sectors", stated Corinne Namblard-Bouverot, Chairperson of the BOT group. "While the private sector’s participation is crucial, private companies will not be taking over the responsibility of the public sector." Vladimír Sokolík, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of the Czech Republic explained further that "each party will be given a share in the PPP projects according to what it knows best: on a legitimate basis the public sector will assist in the implementation of projects of public interest and, in turn, on a highly professional basis, the private sector will prepare, finance and subsequently operate the projects". The Forum called for a larger involvement of the local business community in this process.

The Forum launched a programme to promote the development of PPPs in the priority area of southeast Europe. This programme, called the "Regional Flagship Initiative", was launched under the auspices of the Investment Compact of the Stability Pact for southeast Europe. It is committed to three objectives: improving regulatory and legal instruments, building capacity at both the local and the national level in developing PPP projects and launching pilot projects in the area.

A Public-Private Partnerships Alliance was also created. Open to Governments, companies and international organizations, it aims at providing a framework for cooperation between the public and the private sector and creating a network of government agencies and private-sector partners throughout Europe to provide information and advice on best practices. Its scope will cover not only southeast Europe but also eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

For further information, please contact:

Geoffrey Hamilton
Regional Adviser for Trade and Investment Promotion
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Tel: (+41 22) 917 28 38 or 917 13 79
Fax: (+41 22) 917 00 37

E-mail: [email protected]

 

1/ PPPs is a term which embraces a range of structures implemented and operated on the basis of a form of long-term contract between public authorities and the private sector.