Policies and Strategies to Improve Competitiveness Karen Grigorian, Senior Economist, WB AIPRG International Conference Yerevan, 2009

Policies and Strategies to Policies and Strategies to Improve CompetitivenessImprove Competitiveness

Karen Grigorian, Senior Economist, WB

AIPRGInternational Conference

Yerevan, 2009

IntroductionIntroduction

The Country Partnership Strategy (CPR) is centered around two main themes:

1.Addressing Vulnerability

2.Strengthening Competitiveness for Post-Crisis Growth

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Two Main Directions for Two Main Directions for Strengthening CompetitivenessStrengthening Competitiveness

Competition and Governance◦ Trade expansion strategy/preparedness for FTA with EU◦ Financial sector update or FSAP update◦ PEFA follow-up/PSM agenda◦ Improvements in the business climate◦ Higher education reforms

Knowledge Economy, Regulation and Infrastructure◦ Regular development◦ Telecoms reforms/ICT◦ Energy sector strategy◦ Advisory assistance to banks on energy efficiency and housing

financing◦ Structural reforms supported by DPOs (tax/royalty regime in

mining, telecom, spectrum, civil aviation forms, regulation of railways, health policy)

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Two Results Areas of Two Results Areas of Strengthening CompetitivenessStrengthening Competitiveness1. Governance is strengthened; as a result, public

sector efficiency risesImprovements in shape of desired outcomes expected to be seen in the following areas:

1. Competition & Conflict of Interest2. Revenue Agency Reforms3. Public Service reforms

2. Foundations for knowledge economy and competitiveness strengthened Improvements in shape of desired outcomes expected to be seen in the following areas:

1. Knowledge & Competitiveness2. PPP framework3. Private Sector4. Education5. Transport6. Energy7. Water

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Results Area 1:Results Area 1:Strengthening GovernanceStrengthening Governance

Competition and Conflict of Interest

◦ The advisory work will cover conflict of interest policy within the umbrella of a coherent strategy on governance and anti-corruption reforms.

◦ Measures are being designed to add to the powers and the reach of the Competition Commission and to enhance its technical skills.

◦ Both a strong competition focus across the board and vigorous enforcement of an appropriate competition law are needed to prevent private market abuses from reversing the benefits of reform and stifling the growth and development potential of markets.

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Results Area 1:Results Area 1:Strengthening Governance(cont’d)Strengthening Governance(cont’d)

Revenue Agency Reforms

◦ Technical advice to the revenue raising agency in both the areas of customs and tax will be provided under the DPO.

◦ Modern business processes to be developed for integration base and management across customs and tax, with heavy reliance on risk based management methods.

◦ Customs reforms will provide full behind-the-border support to the operation of a free trade agreement (FTA) with EU.

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Results Area 1:Results Area 1:Strengthening Governance(cont’d)Strengthening Governance(cont’d)

Public Service Reforms

◦ Improving governance - recently completed series of PRSCs, and ongoing Judicial Reform II and Public Sector Management projects.

◦ Further improvements in civil service reform - new follow-on loans in public sector management and financial management (FY11-12).

◦ Preparation of PEFA as well as CFAA will be followed up with further analysis and technical assistance.

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Results Area 2: Strengthening Results Area 2: Strengthening Knowledge Economy & CompetitivenessKnowledge Economy & Competitiveness

Knowledge and Competitiveness

◦ Developing a comprehensive strategy towards a knowledge-based economy and the designing the supporting infrastructure.

◦ Reforms in governance and financing of universities –to create the conditions and provide the incentives for their increased involvement in research, development and innovation.

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Results Area 2: Strengthening Results Area 2: Strengthening Knowledge Economy & CompetitivenessKnowledge Economy & Competitiveness

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Results Area 2: Strengthening Results Area 2: Strengthening Knowledge Economy & Competitiveness Knowledge Economy & Competitiveness (cont’d)(cont’d)

PPP Framework◦ Regulatory reforms on private sector participation in the

following fields will be analyzed in the context of the lending being prepared:

◦ Infrastructure and utility services,

◦ Policy reforms in telecommunications,

◦ Civil aviation liberalization.

◦ The Bank will provide advice on the management of PPPs.

◦ Outcomes will provide for the auctioning of commercially valuable radio spectrum and the full liberalization of civil aviation, once the existing monopolistic commercial agreement comes to an end in 2013.

◦ IFC may also support the development of particular PPPs either through advisory or investment work. 9

Private Sector

Improvements in the business environment

◦ IFC has launched an advisory initiative to support improvements in the business enabling environment, which will decrease the costs of doing business in Armenia and increase the competitiveness of its private sector.

◦ A related priority reform area concerns the inspections regime, which imposes inordinately high financial and transaction costs on firms.

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Finance/Banking sector reforms

◦ Prior actions in fortifying financial sector:

◦ strengthening surveillance and liquidity;

◦ undertaking frequent banking system stress tests;

◦ introducing enhanced reporting requirements;

◦ making available liquidity to banks on a temporary basis through accepting a wider range of collateral.

◦ IFC to resume longer term lending to facilitate access to finance to a broad number of private companies.

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Access to Finance for Small and Medium Enterprises

◦ A Financial Intermediary Loan (FIL), providing IBRD funds to the Central Bank of Armenia, with a guarantee from the Republic of Armenia, made effective on 16 April 2009

◦ The project's development objective is to maintain or increase Armenian small and medium enterprises’ access to medium-term finance.

◦ The Project has successfully taken off with $25MM disbursed already in May, 2009

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Education

◦ Higher education reforms will focus on innovation, and on governance and financing aspects.

◦ The Education APL-II Project (FY09) will enhance school learning by supporting the completion of the 12-year general education system while improving the school readiness of children entering primary education.

◦ The project will also help develop the quality assurance framework.

◦ IFC will support the development of student loans through its client banks.

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Transport

◦ Studies will cover management of transport assets and associated regulatory reforms.

◦ The Road Sector Operation (FY10) will improve quality.

◦ IFC will seek opportunities to capitalize private sector participation in transport and logistics projects, facilitating improved access to markets.

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Energy

◦ Analytical and Advisory Services (AAA) will support the authorities in the development of an energy strategy in light of the need to decommission the existing nuclear power plant.

◦ The Current Renewable Energy Project and Geothermal GEF Project are supporting the development of alternative energy sources.

◦ New Energy Supply Reliability and Energy Efficiency Project (FY11-12) will enhance electricity supply reliability, reduce transmission losses and energy intensity of the economy, and contribute to the export of electricity.

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Water

◦ The bank has been very active in building a new PPP in the delivery of water supply to businesses and the public through two ongoing projects:◦ Yerevan Water, and

◦ Municipal Water projects.

◦ Additional finance for the Municipal Water Project was provided in FY09 to help extend the management contract and set further quality benchmarks.

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THANK YOUTHANK YOU

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Documents

Policies and Strategies to Improve Competitiveness Karen Grigorian, Senior Economist, WB AIPRG International Conference Yerevan, 2009