Friday, July 15, 2005

Kosovo, European agency draw up plan to improve business environment

Prishtina [Pristina], 14 July: The Kosova [Kosovo] Chamber of Commerce [OEK] and the European Agency for Reconstruction [EAR] have composed a strategic plan that aims at creating a better environment for Kosovar businesses.

The plan outlines changes that will make the OEK more efficient in providing services, advice and representation to businesses.

OEK head Ismail Kastrati said that the plan follows parliament's approval of the law calling for changes in the OEK operations and development of the strategy. He believes that the OEK operates in accordance with the law and in an institutional way.

Kastrati said that the OEK hopes to raise its staff capacities so that it can better help businesses. "We want to improve the OEK in order to better represent businesses in government structures and provide services and advice, as well as to raise the OEK's ability to face future phases of European integration," Kastrati said.

OEK representatives said that they will focus especially on increasing their ability to provide good services for businesses and on improving business management, analysis and marketing. [Passage omitted]

OEK representatives discussed the establishment of the Privatization Fund as part of the OEK or as a special fund alongside the OEK. They reported that no decisions have been finalized.

According to officials, the Fund would allow many small and medium-size enterprises to unite their shares and compete as joint ventures to buy Socially Owned Enterprises [SOEs].

Source: KosovaLive web site, Pristina, in English 14 Jul 05

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