Geneva, 15 June 1999
ECE/TRADE/99/11
NEW
INITIATIVES TO BOOST PRIVATE-SECTOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE
TRANSITION ECONOMIES
A number of significant
decisions to support private-sector development in transition
economies were made during last week's annual session of the
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's Committee for
Trade, Industry and Enterprise Development (8-10 June).
New programme approved to
support the private sector in transition economies and of
an advisory group to assist these countries with the
protection and implementation of intellectual property
rights*
Network of national contact
organizations in the region created for distributing and
promoting the Committee's recommendations, norms and
standards. Many potential users of the Committee's work
can be found among the private sector, especially among
small and medium-sized enterprises. The United Nations,
however, does not have the resources to fully promote its
work to these groups. Therefore, the Committee plans to
do this by cooperating with national organizations that
work with the private sector on a regular basis.
Advisory Group established
to examine the problems in implementing commercial
arbitration in transition economies as well as possible
amendments to the UN/ECE Convention on International
Commercial Arbitration. For investors, commercial
arbitration is an alternative method of dispute
resolution which they often consider to be more efficient
and impartial than national court systems. Therefore, to
encourage greater foreign direct investment it is
important to improve the implementation for arbitration
in countries in transition where the investment risks are
frequently perceived to be higher.
Group established to
develop proposals for reducing non-tariff barriers to
trade in the region through the referencing of
international standards in technical regulations
governing international trade. This would be an
alternative to the current practice in many countries of
including detailed technical specifications in such
regulations.
New series of UN/ECE Trade
and Investment Guides launched with the publication of
the first volume, Trade Finance in Transition
Economies - Practical Ways to Support Exports and Imports.
This Guide provides important information for
organizations in transition economies on how to manage
and minimize the financial risks associated with
international trading.
Forum announced on the "Business Implications of New
Trends in Competition Law with Reference to State
Subsidies" , to be held in Brno, Czech Republic, at
the end of 1999 under the auspices of the UN/ECE Working
Party on International Legal and Commercial Practice.
Round table decided for the
June 2000 Committee meeting on "Electronic Commerce and its Implications
for International Trade in the UN/ECE Region". This round table will take into
particular consideration the implications of electronic
commerce for transition economies and will be a major
event, with input from all of the major international
organizations working in this area.
For further information on
the above or on the activities of the Committee for Trade,
Industry and Enterprise Development, please contact:
Ms. Virginia Cram-Martos
Trade Division
United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10,
Switzerland
Tel. +41 22 317 2745
Fax +41 22 917 0037
E-mail:[email protected]
* Details regarding these first
two initiatives have been issued in other press releases which
can be obtained either from the UN/ECE Public Information office
or from the contact person given above.