IFC Convenes Conference to Help Reform the Technical Regulatory Environment for Business in Ukraine
In Kyiv:
Natalya Shevchuk
Phone: (+38044) 490-6400
E-mail: nshevchuk@ifc.org
In Moscow:
Ilya Sverdlov
Phone: (+7 495) 411-7555
E-mail: isverdlov@ifc.org
Kyiv, Ukraine, April 28, 2008—IFC,
a member of the World Bank Group, has organized an international conference
in Ukraine to address the challenges of reforming the country’s technical
regulatory system. The event provided an opportunity for Ukrainian policymakers
and the business community to draw on experiences and expertise from neighboring
countries.
The conference, organized by the IFC
Business Enabling Environment Project, brought together Ukrainian experts
in technical regulation and their counterparts from Latvia, FYR Macedonia,
and Poland. Other participants included representatives of the Ukrainian
government, members of parliament, and the local business community. The
main objective was to harness and transfer advice, best practice recommendations,
and lessons learned to Ukrainian decision makers on the best approaches
for reforming a complex technical regulation system.
Key issues addressed at the conference
include standardization, conformity assessment, market surveillance, and
consumer rights regulation. Among the highlights were presentations from
international specialists on the regulatory environment in their respective
countries prior to the reform process, actions taken by their governments
to promote and enable reform, and the role and participation of the business
community in designing and implementing reform and review processes.
The attendees agreed that there is an
urgent need for Ukraine to reform its technical regulation system. The
following priorities were identified:
- Making existing standards voluntary
for the majority of products
- Reducing the number of product categories
subject to mandatory certification and encouraging voluntary conformity
assessment
- Reviewing and abolishing duplication
among controlling authorities
- Introducing a risk-based system of
market surveillance
- Harmonizing national standards with
the European Union
“These are fundamental issues that must
be addressed in the reform process. Much can be learned from the experience
of our neighbors and those who have traveled this road recently,” commented
Natalya Korolevskaya, Head of the Parliamentary Committee for Industrial
and Regulatory Policy and Entrepreneurship.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, fosters sustainable economic
growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment,
mobilizing private capital in local and international financial markets,
and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments.
IFC’s vision is that people should have the opportunity to escape poverty
and improve their lives. In FY07, IFC committed $8.2 billion and mobilized
an additional $3.9 billion through syndications and structured finance
for 299 investments in 69 developing countries. IFC also provided advisory
services in 97 countries. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
The IFC Ukraine Business Enabling Environment
Project works to promote the development of small and medium enterprises
and to improve the country’s investment climate. The main objectives are
to simplify business inspections and business permits for SMEs; simplify
technical regulations (standardization and certification); monitor the
business environment through representative surveys; and conduct outreach,
information, and advocacy work to ensure adoption and implementation of
reforms. Donors include the Canadian International Development Agency,
the Dutch Agency for International Business and Cooperation, the Swedish
International Development Cooperation Agency.
For more information about IFC’s partners,
please visit:
The Canadian International Development
Agency, www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/index.htm
The Dutch Agency for International Business
and Cooperation, www.evd.nl
The Swedish International Development
Cooperation Agency, www.sida.org
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