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Tradeflow Study - UNDP Black Sea Trade and Investment Promotion ...

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III.2. Climate for investment<br />

The predictability of government policy in the areas of monetary, fiscal <strong>and</strong> trade policy are<br />

major determinants in investors’ decisions to invest. In this regard, the countries of BSEC<br />

have undertaken major market reforms <strong>and</strong> undertaken fiscal reforms <strong>and</strong> increased<br />

transparency in their government policies. Another major area of importance is the<br />

government’s policies with respect to the flow of capitals, the ability for foreigners to invest in<br />

the economy <strong>and</strong> the regulations governing the labour market. Table 18 presents some<br />

principal characteristics of the countries in the region concerning the government’s policies in<br />

the areas of current account convertibility, investment controls, exchange rate regime, interest<br />

policies, wage regulations <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong> ownership rights to foreign investors. All countries have<br />

fully liberalised the current account transactions <strong>and</strong> interest rates, <strong>and</strong> only two countries<br />

(Azerbaijan <strong>and</strong> Russia) still apply restrictions on foreign direct investment. Wage regulations<br />

are maintained in five countries. Restrictions are maintained by virtually all countries on l<strong>and</strong><br />

ownership (except in the case of Moldova), <strong>and</strong> only five countries maintain a market<br />

determined exchange rate.<br />

Table 18. Regulations governing international <strong>and</strong> national transactions<br />

Current<br />

account<br />

convertibility<br />

Controls on<br />

inward direct<br />

investment<br />

Interest rate<br />

liberalisation<br />

Exchange<br />

rate regime<br />

Wage<br />

regulation<br />

Tradability of<br />

l<strong>and</strong><br />

Albania full No full<br />

managed<br />

limited de<br />

no<br />

float<br />

facto<br />

Armenia full No full floating no<br />

full except<br />

foreigners<br />

Azerbaijan full Yes full<br />

managed<br />

limited de<br />

no<br />

float<br />

jure<br />

Bulgaria full No full<br />

currency<br />

full except<br />

yes<br />

board<br />

foreigners<br />

Georgia full No full floating no<br />

limited for<br />

foreigners<br />

Greece full No full floating yes n.a.<br />

Moldova full No full floating yes full<br />

Romania full No full<br />

managed<br />

limited de<br />

yes<br />

float<br />

facto<br />

Russia full Yes full<br />

managed<br />

limited de<br />

no<br />

float<br />

facto<br />

Serbia full No full<br />

managed<br />

limited de<br />

no<br />

float<br />

jure<br />

Turkey full No full floating yes n.a.<br />

Ukraine full No full<br />

managed<br />

limited de<br />

no<br />

float<br />

facto<br />

Source: EBRD Transition Report 2006; OECD Economic Studies No36, 2003/1; UHY Doing business in Greece, July<br />

2006;<br />

61/135

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