Policies and Strategies to Improve Competitiveness

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

2. Introduction The Country Partnership Strategy (CPR) is centered around two main themes: • Addressing Vulnerability • Strengthening Competitiveness for Post-Crisis Growth 2

3. Two Main Directions for Strengthening 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) 3

4. Two Results Areas of Strengthening Competitiveness • Governance is strengthened; as a result, public sector efficiency rises Improvements in shape of desired outcomes expected to be seen in the following areas: • Competition & Conflict of Interest • Revenue Agency Reforms • Public Service reforms • Foundations for knowledge economy and competitiveness strengthened Improvements in shape of desired outcomes expected to be seen in the following areas: • Knowledge & Competitiveness • PPP framework • Private Sector • Education • Transport • Energy • Water 3

5. Results Area 1:Strengthening 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 reachof 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. 4

6. Results Area 1: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. 5

7. Results Area 1: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. 6

8. Results Area 2: Strengthening Knowledge 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. 7

9. Results Area 2: Strengthening Knowledge Economy & Competitiveness E-Society and Innovation for Competitiveness Project (EIC) • Providing technical support and financing for key infrastructure • The projects ultimate aim is : to contribute to the government’s higher level strategic objective of creating a world class competitive Armenian economy anchored on a modern Knowledge-and Information-based Society. • Project Structured around three main components: • E-Society Infrastructure development • Innovation Infrastructure Development • IT Industry and E-Society Demand Stimulation 8

10. Results Area 2: Strengthening Knowledge Economy & Competitiveness (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

11. Results Area 2: Strengthening Knowledge Economy & Competitiveness (cont’d) 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. 10

12. Results Area 2: Strengthening Knowledge Economy & Competitiveness (cont’d) 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. 11

13. Results Area 2: Strengthening Knowledge Economy & Competitiveness (cont’d) 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 12

14. Results Area 2: Strengthening Knowledge Economy & Competitiveness (cont’d) 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. 13

15. Results Area 2: Strengthening Knowledge Economy & Competitiveness (cont’d) 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. 14

16. Results Area 2: Strengthening Knowledge Economy & Competitiveness (cont’d) 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. 15

17. Results Area 2: Strengthening Knowledge Economy & Competitiveness (cont’d) 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. 16

18. THANK YOU 17