[Index]
Forum on Best Practice in
Development of Entrepreneurship in Countries
in Transition:
The Romanian and Slovak Experiences
Palais des Nations
(Conference Room XX), Geneva
31 March 2004
Geneva, 26 March 2004 - The Forum
on Best Practice in the Development of
Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium-Sized
Enterprises (SMEs) in Countries in Transition
to be held on 31 March 2004 at the Palais
des Nations, will focus on the experience
of two neighbouring countries: Romania
and the Republic of Slovakia.
The two represent growing
economies but with some differences in
their stage of transformation to a market
economy and EU accession. Slovakia will
accede to the EU on 1 May 2004, Romania
could do so three years later.
The aim of this Forum
is to identify the potential and capabilities
of SMEs in stimulating economic growth
and on the importance of creating a business-friendly
environment, including good governance,
conducive to the transformation of society
and the economy to a market-based one.
Another important issue to be addressed
at the Forum is the dissemination of good
practices, and the provision of technical
assistance to those countries, which are
lagging behind.
The Forum will be co-chaired
by H.E. Ambassador Mr. Doru Costea,
Permanent Representative of Romania and
H.E. Ambassador Mr. Kálmán
Petöcz, Permanent Representative
of Slovakia. Mr. Eugen Ovidiu Chirovici,
President, National Agency for SMEs and
Cooperatives, will head the delegation
from Romania and Ms. Eva Šimková,
State Secretary, Ministry of Economy,
will head the delegation from Slovakia.
Discussions will be moderated by prominent
experts, such as Mrs. Signe Ratso,
Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Economic
Affairs and Communications (Estonia),
Mr. Miroslaw Marek, CEO, Polish
Agency for Enterprise Development (Poland),
Mr. George Starcher, Secretary
General, European Baha’i Business
Forum (France) and representatives from
other UN agencies and international organizations.
The UNECE already organized
five other successful Forums on this topic.
They were organized on the Czech and the
Hungarian experiences in 1999 and 2000,
followed by Poland and Belarus in 2001,
and Croatia and Slovenia in 2003. More
and more countries are becoming interested
and eager to promote and develop their
small and medium-sized enterprises. This
is in line with the recent EU policy,
which highlights “Thinking small
in an enlarging Europe: Europe must listen
better to small business”.
Romania during the last
few years has taken important steps in
this direction adopting its policy to
the acquis communautaire and having the
European Charter for Small Enterprises
as a useful guide in SME policy making.
While preparing the Forum,
Ambassador Kálmán Petocz,
Permanent Representative of the Slovak
Republic, emphasised that Governments
should play an active role in establishing
and maintaining a facilitating environment
for SMEs but they should refrain from
undue interference so that SMEs preserve
their ability to be responsive to market
impulses.
For further information,
please contact:
Mr. Antal Szabó
Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship
and SMEs
United Nations Economic Commission for
Europe
Palais des Nations, Bureau 440
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: + 41(0)22 917
24 71
Telefax: + 41(0)22 917 01 78
E-mail: [email protected]
Ref: ECE/IREEDD/04/P02