The advantages accruing from reforms and economic policies as well as the experience of Greek companies were evaluated at a World Bank event with the participation of SEV.
A Conference on the investment environment in the countries of the Western Balkans took place recently in Athens, organised by SEV and the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), with the support of the World Bank, which is implementing a special programme of information and technical assistance for foreign companies seeking investment opportunities.
Within the framework of the Conference, over 40 meetings on investment planning issues took place between the Greek companies participating, World Bank officials and foreign investment organisations.
Representatives to this investment road show –from organisations for attracting and promoting foreign investments in the countries of FYROM, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro– set out the basic points of economic policy and reforms, as well as individual incentives.
It arose from the relevant analysis that the emerging advantages common to all of these markets are:
However, it is also useful to assess the negative parameters noted by experienced Greek companies already active in these countries, such as:
With a population of 150 million consumers, the countries of the Western Balkans are rightly considered a natural space for the expansion of Greek business activities. These countries are in a phase of gradual economic development and are competing to create an environment that is friendly and attractive to foreign business organisations, endeavouring to increase the influx of private capital.