Projects in Europe & Central Asia (by Year)

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COUNTRY	FISCAL YEAR	TYPE of PROJECT	DESCRIPTION
Armenia	2007	Administrative Barriers [Implementation]	FIAS assisted the government of Armenia in fostering the private sector's access to credit by addressing shortcomings in its secured transactions regime.
Azerbaijan	2007	Administrative Barriers	FIAS, together with IFC- PEP and the Doing Business team, assisted the Government of Azerbaijan in reviewing and designing a reform strategy that will minimize the entry controls imposed on businesses.
Bosnia and Herzegovina	2007	Institutions	FIAS assisted the government of Bosnia in moving the reform process forward by building the capacity of the working group; developing and implementing monitoring tools; fostering public-private dialogue; and providing expertise in issue-specific areas related to the technical aspects of the reform.
Bulgaria	2007	Administrative Barriers	FIAS provided solution designs for administrative barriers relating to on-site inspections and construction procedures in Bulgaria, and advice on institutional reform mechanisms.
Poland	2007	Administrative Barriers	FIAS identified the key legal and institutional impediments to contract and property rights enforcement in Poland and proposed reform solutions.
Russian Federation	2007	Administrative Barriers	FIAS conducted a study of administrative barriers to investment and business development in Magadan City in Russia, which included the Administrative and Regulatory Cost Survey (ARCS), business procedure templates, a baseline for monitoring, facilitation of dialogue between the public and private sectors, and specialized expertise.
Russian Federation	2007	Administrative Barriers	FIAS conducted a study of administrative barriers to investment and business development in Irkutsk Oblast in Russia, which included business procedure templates and ARCS, and developed specialized recommendations for improvements, focusing on land issues.
Russian Federation	2007	Administrative Barriers [Implementation]	As follow-up to the previous project in Leningrad Oblast in 2000-01, FIAS carried out administrative barriers reform in Russia by assisting in the implementation of the recommendations of the first series of the administrative barriers studies. The project included business procedure templates and ARCS, and developed specialized recommendations for improvements, focusing on land issues.
Russian Federation	2007	Administrative Barriers	FIAS conducted a study of administrative barriers to investment and business development in Rostov Oblast in Russia, which included business procedure templates and ARCS, and developed specialized recommendations for improvements, focusing on land issues.
Russian Federation	2007	Administrative Barriers	FIAS piloted a survey of administrative barriers to investment and business development in four regions in Russia, using primarily business intermediaries as respondents who accumulate information about business procedures serving many businesses.
Tajikistan	2007	Promotion strategy	At the request of the government of Tajikistan, FIAS, and MIGA provided technical assistance to the government by addressing the shortcomings in Tajikistan’s investment climate and by developing a more effective institutional framework for investment facilitation.
Albania	2006	Administrative Barriers	FIAS advised and supported the government of Albania with the design of a Regulatory Reform Action Plan based on streamlining existing regulation, improving the flow of new regulation, building regulatory capacities and institutions; and monitoring and evaluating regulatory performance.
Czech Republic	2006	Investment Laws, Policies, & Promotion	FIAS reviewed policy advocacy activities to provide assistance to CzechInvest in strengthening its current policy advocacy function and clarify the role of the Business Environment Development Council (BEDEC).
Kyrgyz Republic	2006	Investment Laws, Policies, & Promotion	FIAS implemented a review of the investment law as an entry point for broader public-private dialogue on a more comprehensive IC reform agenda in the Kyrgyz Republic, with a view to working with the Ministry of Finance and the Presidency to implement far reaching IC reforms in the medium to long term.
Latvia	2006	Investment Laws, Policies, & Promotion	FIAS provided assistance to the government of Latvia in supervising the third bi-annual round of ARCS Survey for purposes of monitoring the impact of reforms to remove administrative barriers to investment, and helped develop domestic capacity for local organizations to supervise future monitoring surveys.
Macedonia	2006	Administrative Barriers	FIAS provided implementation inputs and assistance on business environment reform, construction permits, and licensing. FIAS also conducted an intermediaries cost of business survey, as well as a survey of potential investors.
Russia	2006	Industry Competitiveness	As Russia emerges as a key supplier of timber to Europe and Asia, intensive illegal logging in Russia’s Far East is being reported. FIAS provided support for the high-level international cooperation process called “Forest Law Enforcement and Governance” aimed at preventing illegal logging in Europe and North Asia embracing 30 countries.
Russia	2006	Administrative Barriers	At the request of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the Federal Antimonopoly Service, FIAS designed and carried out a baseline survey of businesses regarding procedures for access to land and real estate in the Russian Federation. This survey documented problems of bureaucratic delays and corruption and established a baseline against which the impact of reforms can be measured.
Russia	2006	Administrative Barriers	FIAS worked with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade to develop new federal legislation to improve the transparency and efficiency of procedures for access to land throughout the Russian Federation. FIAS also worked with the Federal Antimonopoly Service to help improve the effectiveness of their efforts against the anti-competitive behavior of some public sector bodies in the area of land and real estate.
Russia	2006	Investment Laws, Policies, & Promotion	FIAS found that in Sakhalin Oblast it was quite easy to register a business, but it was more difficult than in other Russia’s regions to buy a land plot or to obtain a license or a building permit. This project came up with solutions aimed at simplification of relevant procedures.
Russia	2006	Administrative Barriers	FIAS conducted a second round of business surveys which demonstrated some positive trends in decreasing of administration barriers and improving of business environment in the Tomsk Region.
Albania	2005	Administrative Barriers	Assisted the government in updating the 1999 Administrative Barriers Study based on the self-assessment method, including a regulations and admin barriers survey, and helped develop an action plan for implementation.
Armenia	2005	Administrative Barriers	Updated the 1999 Administrative Barriers Study and the fourth Armenia Regulatory and Administrative Costs Survey.
Azerbaijan	2005	Investment policy: Law	Provided technical assistance to government officials and Parliament on the development of the Draft Investment Law in line with the best practices in FDI laws, clarified the commentary and guidelines, and provided drafting assistance for the development of the Draft.
Azerbaijan	2005	Promotion Strategy	FIAS and MIGA/IMS helped develop the strategy and structure of the IPA and translate the recommendations included in our diagnostic study into action with the best institutional framework strategy to carry them.
Bosnia And Herzegovina	2005	Administrative Barriers	Provided assistance in the design and implementation of local review of the administrative processes that affect the operation of companies for the Municipality of Gradiska in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Poland	2005	Administrative Barriers	Assisted the Government in carrying out a self-assessment of Administrative Barriers to Investment.
Romania	2005	Administrative Barriers	Assisted the Government in conducting a monitoring & evaluation project to strengthen implementation and impact of reforms.
Russia	2005	Administrative Barriers	Assessed removal of administrative barriers, including business survey, baseline for monitoring, facilitation of dialogue between public & private sectors, and specialized expertise.
Russia	2005	Investment policy	Provided an analysis and recommendations on the draft law, with a view to improve the framework for SEZ development that both converges toward international best practices in free zone policies and operations and, at the same time, ensures sufficient regulation by the Government. Also provided regulations to better integrate the SEZ program within wider efforts to reform the investment regime by providing a ‘test pilot’ for the introduction of more liberal investment policies and practices.
Turkey	2005	Competition Policy	Assisted the Government in conducting a competition policy study on how to attract FDI and strengthen the competitiveness of private sector as the primary engine for sustainable private sector led economic growth. The study focused on telecommunications, electricity, passenger airlines, and the fast moving goods sector.
Turkey	2005	Investment policy	Provided follow-up assistance to the Government for the second meeting of the Investment Advisory Council to help strengthen the Government’s ongoing investment climate reforms more effectively.
Albania	2004	Administrative Barriers [Implementation]	Assisted the Government in establishing the institutional framework for implementation and developing and action plan.
Bulgaria	2004	Administrative Barriers	Instituted a comprehensive self-assessment methodology to review the impact of administrative procedures for doing business and implement a reform mechanism based on structured dialogue among the public and private sectors.
Croatia	2004	Administrative Barriers [Implementation]	Assisted the Government in implementing the findings of the 2002 Administrative Barriers to Investment Study aiming to streamline procedures for doing business in the country.
Georgia	2004	Administrative Barriers [Implementation]	Assisted in implementing recommendations of the administrative barriers study and built the capacity of counterparts and fostered private-public dialogue.
Georgia	2004	Administrative Barriers	Assisted the government in designing the scope of the country's investment climate program and set up the institutional framework for further reforms.
Latvia	2004	Administrative Barriers [Implementation]	Analyzed impact of Latvia's reforms to remove administrative barriers to investment.
Macedonia, FYR	2004	Administrative Barriers [Implementation]	Provided recommendations for institutionalizing the government's capacity for business environment reform and delivering technical inputs on access to land, construction permits, and business registration.
Moldova	2004	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed the Government's draft law on foreign investment and discussed recommendations with Government officials responsible for drafting the proposed law and, in a separate meeting, with representatives of the Government, foreign investors, and donors. The law has since been enacted, including most FIAS recommendations.
Regional (Central Asia)	2004	Investment Policy/Promotion Strategy	Conducted a joint expert workshop with EBRD and OECD on Partnership for Development with Central and Eastern Asia, which focused on trade and investment policy issues and next steps for policy reforms and technical assistance work in the region.
Russia	2004	Administrative Barriers	Analyzed and provided recommendations for removing administrative barriers to investment in Perm Oblast.
Russia	2004	Administrative Barriers	Analyzed and provided recommendations for removing administrative barriers to investment in Kaliningrad Oblast.
Russia	2004	Administrative Barriers [Implementation]	Provided implementation assistance for recommendations to remove administrative barriers to investment in Tomsk Oblast.
Russia	2004	Diagnostic	Conducted a survey of potential and "runaway" investors in three Russian Regions.
Serbia and Montenegro	2004	Administrative Barriers	Analyzed and provided recommendations for removing administrative barriers to investment.
Serbia and Montenegro	2004	Promotion Strategy	Provided a diagnosis of the investment environment and advised on ways in which it could be improved, especially for the attraction of (FDI), including through privatization.
Turkey	2004	Competition Policy	Conducted the keynote speech and presentations on investment climate and the role of competition policy to provide policy directions to the country's Competition Board.
Turkey	2004	Investment policy/Administrative Barriers	Assisted the Government in establishing an Investment Advisory Council to support its ongoing investment climate reforms based on international best practice.
Albania	2003	Administrative Barriers	Assisted the Government in conducting a regulatory and administrative cost survey among existing firms, investigated the issues concerning the business community most (including customs, tax administration, land, and licensing), and provided policy and technical advice on needed improvements. Also provided additional assistance to turn the recommendations into an implementation action plan.
Armenia	2003	Investment policy: Law	Provided a desk review of the existing and proposed investment law, based on best practices and previous advice provided by FIAS and sent a legal consultant to discuss the commentary with stakeholders and provide additional assistance to the Government lawyers.
Azerbaijan	2003	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed a new Draft Law on Investment Activity and provided a set of guidelines for drafting an investment law in line with international best practices.
Bosnia Herzegovina	2003	Administrative Barriers	Followed up earlier study of administrative barriers to investment, in cooperation with the Bank's Business Environment Adjustment Credit; focused on strengthening the dialogue between the public and private sectors and developing a monitoring system to assess the impact of reforms made on the basis of the administrative barriers recommendations.
Bulgaria	2003	Administrative Barriers	Updated the earlier Administrative Barriers Study, including a comprehensive business survey of administrative and regulatory costs, and a set of "templates" filled by government agencies regarding six of the most problematic procedures as identified by the business survey.
Latvia	2003	Administrative Barriers	Updated an earlier administrative barriers study and piloted a "self-assessment" of administrative barriers to investment, including a business survey of administrative and regulatory costs and templates filled by government agencies regarding the key administrative procedures for starting a new business and for operating a business.
Latvia	2003	Backward Linkages	Provided policy recommendations to develop the country's knowledge intensive sectors over the next decade, with an emphasis on the role of FDI and technology transfers.
Latvia	2003	Backward Linkages	Contributed to a larger World Bank Labor Market Study by assessing training policies provided at the firm level and their contribution to technology development within the country.
Macedonia, FYR	2003	Administrative Barriers	Conducted a study of administrative barriers to investment, including a business survey of administrative and regulatory costs and templates filled by government officials regarding procedures necessary to start and operate a business.
Regional (Europe)	2003	Administrative Barriers	Conducted pilot survey of consulting firms, law firms, accounting/audit firms, etc. regarding the experiences of their clients with administrative procedures to investment (time/cost requirements, types of problems, etc.).
Romania	2003	Administrative Barriers	Assisted the Government in evaluating the implementation of the Action Plan to Remove Administrative Barriers enacted by the Government based on the findings and recommendations of the previous FIAS study. The evaluation included a company survey to collect private sector feedback and a round of interviews with relevant government agencies. Findings of the evaluation contributed to the revision of the Action Plan for the next stage of implementation.
Turkey	2003	Institutions/Promotion Strategy	Developed a strategic and institutional framework suitable to the current situation in Turkey to promote FDI inflows and improve the FDI environment in the country.
Turkey	2003	Investment policy: Law	Provided assistance in revising the Draft Law on Foreign Investment and the Draft Law on setting up an Investment Promotion Agency.
Albania	2002	Investment policy: Law	Provided implementation assistance on the legal framework for investment promotion.
Azerbaijan	2002	Diagnostic	Assessed the investment climate from the policy, legal and regulatory, and institutional perspectives, which was complemented with an investment climate and regulatory costs survey.
Georgia	2002	Administrative Barriers	Conducted a study of administrative barriers to investment at the request of the Economic Adviser to the President and the Presidential Commission on Investment.
Kazakhstan	2002	Administrative Barriers	Conducted a Transactions Cost and Cumulative Delay Study.
Latvia	2002	Administrative Barriers	Implementation assistance for removal of administrative barriers to investment.
Romania	2002	Incentives (Implementation)	Provided implementation assistance in investment incentives.
Russia	2002	Administrative Barriers	Developed a methodology as part of a follow-up administrative barriers study.
Russia	2002	Administrative Barriers [Implementation]	Implementation assistance for removal of administrative barriers to investment.
Turkey	2002	Investment policy: Law	Assisted in developing a new draft legal framework for FDI.
Yugoslavia	2002	Diagnostic	Conducted a comprehensive assessment of the country's legal, regulatory, and institutional environment for FDI.
Albania	2001	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic review of the investment climate and identified priority areas for reform. Also advised on developing an appropriate investment promotion strategy and institution.
Armenia	2001	Administrative Barriers	Conducted an administrative barriers study to investigate the procedural impediments to the establishment and operation of investment projects.
Armenia	2001	Institutions	Developed an institutional framework for foreign investment promotion.
Bosnia Herzegovina	2001	Administrative Barriers	Conducted an administrative barriers study and reviewed the commercial/legal framework to investigate the procedural impediments to the establishment and operation of investment projects.
Croatia	2001	Administrative Barriers	Conducted fieldwork for this administrative barriers assessment.
Croatia	2001	Incentives	Provided guidance to the government on the reform of their tax incentives and other aspects of the tax regime that affect FDI.
Kyrgyz Republic	2001	Investment policy: Law	Provided a brief review of the latest draft of the country's new investment law.
Romania	2001	Administrative Barriers	Conducted an administrative barriers study to investigate the procedural impediments to the establishment and operation of investment projects.
Russia	2001	Administrative Barriers	Carried out a study of administrative barriers to investment within four regions in Russia: Novgorod Oblast, St. Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast, and Sverdlovsk Oblast, with recommendations for improvement.
Slovak Republic	2001	Administrative Barriers	Conducted an administrative barriers study to investigate the procedural impediments to the establishment and operation of investment projects.
Turkey	2001	Administrative Barriers	Identified administrative barriers to investment and recommended streamlining various approvals and inspections, reforming the tax and incentives regime, and improving conditions for export-oriented investors.
Turkey	2001	Diagnostic	Diagnosed the FDI environment focusing on legal and macroeconomic policies and institutional issues.
Yugoslavia	2001	Investment policy: Law	Completed a desk review of the Yugoslav Foreign Investment Law and provided drafting guidelines for preparing a new Foreign Investment Law.
Armenia	2000	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed the investment law and provided assistance in implementing a revised law.
Bosnia-Herzegovina	2000	Institutions	Provided assistance in the development of an institutional framework for the newly established Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA).
Bulgaria	2000	Administrative Barriers	Assisted the Government in identifying ways to streamline procedures associated with the establishment and operation of private investments.
Czech Republic	2000	Backward Linkages	Developed a proposal for a program to promote backward linkages between foreign direct investors and domestic firms.
Lithuania	2000	Administrative Barriers	Conducted a study of administrative barriers to investment.
Macedonia, FYR	2000	Investment policy: Law	Assisted the government in implementing legal reforms that were recommended in a prior report.
Moldova	2000	Investment policy	Reviewed the draft Investment Policy Strategy document prepared by the Ministry of Economy and Reforms for parliamentary discussion.
Romania	2000	Incentives	Reviewed the country's investment incentives and made proposals for improvements in its corporate tax and incentive policies.
Russia	2000	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed the investment law.
Slovak Republic	2000	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed the country's Tax Laws and the FDI Laws and Regulations.
Slovenia	2000	Administrative Barriers	Conducted a study of administrative barriers to investment.
Turkey	2000	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed the country's FDI Law.
Armenia	1999	Diagnostic	Conducted an investor perception survey.
Armenia	1999	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed the country's FDI legislation.
Bulgaria	1999	Incentives	Reviewed the country's investment incentives.
Bulgaria	1999	Investment policy	Assisted in implementing the policies on arbitration awards and contracts.
Bulgaria	1999	Investment policy: Law	Assisted in reviewing the laws on arbitration awards and contracts.
Croatia	1999	Promotion Strategy	Sponsored a roundtable on investment promotion as part of the Central Europe initiative.
Czech Republic	1999	Diagnostic	Prepared a diagnostic reassessment of the foreign investment climate.
Hungary	1999	Institutions	Assessed the possibilities of private funding for investment promotion agencies.
Kyrgyz Republic	1999	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic update of the foreign investment environment.
Kyrgyz Republic	1999	Institutions	Provided advice on implementing previous recommendations on the institutional framework for foreign investment.
Kyrgyz Republic	1999	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed draft foreign investment laws.
Latvia	1999	Administrative Barriers	Conducted a study of administrative barriers to foreign investment.
Lithuania	1999	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed the draft foreign investment law.
Macedonia, FYR	1999	Diagnostics	Prepared a review of the country's foreign investment environment.
Moldova	1999	Diagnostics	Completed a review of the country's foreign investment environment.
Russia	1999	Investment policy	Conducted an assessment of the FDI implications of the country's WTO accession.
Slovenia	1999	Investment Policy/Promotion Strategy	Concluded a review of FDI policy and promotion.
Bosnia-Herzegovina	1998	Investment policy: Law	Helped draft a foreign investment policy law.
Croatia	1998	Institutions	Assisted the country's Investment Promotion Agency in reviewing its work program and developing capacity for investment promotion.
Estonia	1998	Promotion Strategy	Assisted the government in developing an appropriate national investment promotion strategy and identifying concrete measures to enhance the country's competitiveness for generating exports and attracting FDI.
Georgia	1998	Institutions: Training	Assisted the country's Investment Center in reviewing its work program and in developing capacity for investment promotion.
Hungary	1998	Backward Linkages	Assisted in the development of a backward linkages program, drawing upon international "best practices" to determine policy, legal, promotional and financial options.
Kazakhstan	1998	Diagnostic	Reviewed the country's investment climate.
Kyrgyz Republic	1998	Investment policy: Law	Commented on the draft Foreign Investment Law as well as the draft Law on Economic Zones.
Romania	1998	Diagnostic	Assisted the government in identifying ways to improve the attractiveness of the country to foreign investors by focusing on areas such as the financial system, access to land and utilities, and the privatization process.
Romania	1998	Investment policy: Law	Prepared guidelines for drafting an investment promotion law.
Russia	1998	Investment policy: Law	Analyzed proposed amendments to the Foreign Investment Law and the new Law on Licensing.
Slovenia	1998	Sector: Infrastructure	Assisted the government in analyzing the investment climate in electricity, telecommunications, transportation, and water supply.
Ukraine	1998	Investment policy: Law	Commented on the draft law on investment incentives granted to foreign investors.
Croatia	1997	Institutions	Helped in the development of the mandate, organizational structure, and the work program of the investment promotion agency.
Estonia	1997	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic review of the investment climate.
Georgia	1997	Institutions	Provided advice on the structure, design and strategy of an investment promotion agency.
Georgia	1997	Investment policy: Law	Reviewed the draft of a new foreign direct investment law.
Kyrgyz Republic	1997	Diagnostic	Conducted a second review of the environment for FDI, with emphasis on administrative and legal barriers, and the way to structure a promotion agency.
Russia	1997	Diagnostic	Conducted a review of the investment climate in Novgorod Oblast in Russia.
Russia	1997	Institutions	Conducted a one-day workshop on the organizations and functions of sub-national IPAs.
Uzbekistan	1997	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic review of foreign direct investment environment.
Belarus	1996	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic review of the investment climate.
Bulgaria	1996	Investment policy	Conducted a review of impediments to the formation of joint ventures between foreign investors and Bulgarian state enterprises.
Croatia	1996	Investment policy	Provided assistance to the Government in drafting an investment policy statement.
Georgia	1996	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic review of the investment climate.
Latvia	1996	Investment policy	Reviewed policies and procedures affecting FDI, as well as the ongoing privatization program, from the strategic investors' point of view.
Croatia	1995	Diagnostic	Reviewed the legal and regulatory environment for foreign investment and helped develop an institutional framework for investment promotion.
Kazakhstan	1995	Diagnostic	Conducted a survey of multinational companies on the foreign investment environment in the country and assisted the Government in revising the foreign investment law.
Kyrgyz Republic	1995	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic study of the investment climate.
Bulgaria	1994	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic study of the investment climate.
Russia	1994	Investment policy: Law	Advised on amendments to Russia's Foreign Investment Law.
Slovak Republic	1994	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic study of the investment climate.
Ukraine	1994	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic study of the investment climate.
Estonia	1993	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic review of the investment climate.
Latvia	1993	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic review of the investment climate.
Lithuania	1993	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic review of the investment climate.
Russia	1993	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic review of the investment climate.
Russia	1993	Institutions	Developed a technical assistance proposal for the promotion and regulation of foreign direct investment.
Regional (Central and Eastern Europe)	1992	Investment promotion: Taxation	Prepared a report on the impact that CEE corporate income tax regimes have on the profitability of foreign investments in five CEE countries. The results were presented in a workshop sponsored by FIAS at the UNIDO Center in Vienna.
Czechoslovakia	1991	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic study of the investment climate.
Czechoslovakia	1991	Investment policy/Institutions	Reviewed the legal framework for foreign investment and the investment promotion agencies and made recommendations.
Hungary	1991	Investment policy: Law	Conducted a review of screening and approval procedures, taxation and the legal framework for foreign investment.
Romania	1991	Diagnostic	Conducted a diagnostic review of the investment climate.
Hungary	1990	Diagnostic	Reviewed incentives, screening and the role of foreign direct investment in the privatization of state-owned enterprises.
Poland	1990	Diagnostic/Institutions	Conducted a diagnostic study of the investment climate and prepared a review of the role and organization of the Foreign Investment Agency.
Yugoslavia	1990	Investment policy: Swaps	Assisted in the design of regulations and procedures to implement a debt-equity swap program.
Yugoslavia	1989	Investment policy	Prepared a review of obstacles to increased flows of foreign investment and commented on the draft of the new foreign investment law.