Cooperation Strategy Serbia 2010 - 2013 - Deza - admin.ch

SWISS COOPERATION
Sub-domain: business environment
reform (SECO)
Economic competitiveness depends on a conducive
business environment. SECO will continue to
promote new reforms, especially at the sub-national
level in medium-sized municipalities, with
an emphasis on implementing policies, enforcing
the regulatory framework and building related
capacities. Ten out of twenty leading municibility,
improving the competitiveness of SMEs,
employment creation and regionally-balanced
economic development.
Domain objectives (SECO/SDC)
SECO and SDC’s domain portfolio contributes
to (i) a functioning public and commercial financial
sector, (ii) a conducive business environment
and regulatory framework, (iii) strengthening the
export potential of private enterprises, and (iv)
SME-driven pro-poor market growth.
Interventions in this domain will build on emerging
needs and potentials in order to address the
impact of the global economic crisis in a flexible
manner.
Sub-domain: financial sector support
(SECO)
The current macroeconomic imbalances impact
directly on the public sector’s fiscal position, as
well as the private sector’s access to finance.
In the public domain, activities relate first and
foremost to improving public financial management
in order to optimize the use of increasingly
scarce budgetary resources. It is expected
that the resulting changes will have a positive
effect on the country’s management of public
finances – as monitored by Public Expenditure
and Financial Accountability (PEFA) indicators
– in terms of improved fiscal discipline, allocative
efficiency, and operational performance. In
addition, opportunities to help improve stability
and integrity through regulatory measures will
be explored.
In the commercial domain, a sustained access
to finance and related services for SMEs must be
ensured. The main activity lines are (i) expanding
financial intermediation in the banking and
non-banking sectors and (ii) ensuring a greater
depth of the financial sector and a stronger market
infrastructure, in particular by restructuring
the banking and insurance sectors. Measures to
enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of payment
transfers to Serbia will be explored further
as opportunities arise. The specific contribution
made by projects in this sub-domain will
be measured in terms of employment creation,
leverage, and the effects on the local economy.
The government’s commitment to continue macro-economic
stability policies and to restructure
the banking and insurance sectors will be the
crucial context variables to be monitored.
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