ISTANBUL/SARAJEVO – Joint cooperation in Southeast Europe is a prerequisite for regional economic growth and development, said the RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic at the two-day Balkan Economic Summit that ends in Istanbul today.

The RCC Secretary General highlighted the need for key regional stakeholders to design and implement joint projects to rationalize regional resources, especially in view of the current world economic and financial crisis.

Secretary General Biscevic informed the Summit participants of the RCC-designed mechanism of cooperation on regional developmental projects, comprising SEE authorities, the European Commission, the IFIs and RCC experts.

At a separate meeting with the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Nazim Ekren, Secretary General Biscevic emphasized the important role Turkey plays in Southeast Europe, both as a leading European economy and the incoming Chair of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP).

The Summit “The New Investment Environment in Balkans” gathered relevant ministers and prominent businessmen from Southeast Europe, who discussed improvement of investment climate, public private partnerships, and energy and infrastructure development in the region.