The Serbia Business Enabling Project (BEP) is a five-year US$15.5 million project funded by USAID. Through BEP, Cardno helps connect government and private sector stakeholders to implement refoms that enhance the business environment. These focus on business regulation and economic governance; fiscal policy development; and development of financial markets.
The project is helping Serbia move from a consumption-led economic growth to an export-led model of economic growth. As a demand-driven project, all activities are based on government and private sector priorities with annual stakeholder agreement on competitive business reforms.
Recent accomplishments include:
- Eliminated 138 para-fiscal charges
- Drafted Law on Inspections As a result of a BEP-supported media campaign, helped the Ministry of Health reduce administrative requirements for sick and pregnancy leave which will save around 690 million RSD annually
- Worked with government to implement recommendations for BEP’s White Paper on SME Access to Finance
- Drafted Value for Money Methodology for the newly created PPP Commission
- Delivered public administration and implementation of legislation training
- Continued facilitating public-private dialogue in the areas of investment climate improvement, PPPs, macroeconomic and fiscal policy, capital market development and access to finance.
BEP’s participatory approach is further enhanced by an aggressive strategic communications and outreach campaign, which resulted in over 800 media reports in 2012.