Deputy Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Jelica Minic welcomed today the launch of the OECD Investment Reform Index 2010 report, the preparation of which was initiated at the RCC offices in Sarajevo in September 2008. The report was prepared based on inputs from governments, independent experts and the private sector in South East Europe, using over 100 indicators.

“The OECD Investment Reform Index 2010 report presents an excellent opportunity to take stock of the progress made in the previous period, but also focuses our attention to the areas that still require substantial engagement from regional policy makers”, said Minic.

The publication of the 2010 report comes at an opportune period for SEE, when the economic crisis is slowly subsiding to be replaced by the first signs of recovery. The OECD’s Investment Reform Index 2010 provides a qualitative assessment of policies and institutions that critically affect the environment for direct investment in 10 economies of South East Europe: Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, UNMIK/Kosovo, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia.

Some of the major recommendations of the report include better enforcement of intellectual property rights, improving education and training systems, expediting the adoption of EU technical regulations and standards, and cooperating with neighbours to develop better infrastructures.

The Investment Reform Index is being prepared under the auspices of the South East European Investment Committee, a high-level policy forum whose management and cooperation will be transferred from the OECD to the RCC over the next year.

A summary brochure of the Investment Reform Index 2010 report is available HERE. Full report can be ordered through THIS LINK.