Media Information

• 24/02/2005 Media Update: Over 200 delegates are participating as from today, Thursday 24 February, in the first OECD Development Centre/Black Sea Economic Co-operation/Hellenic Business Council Forum on private sector development. (in English only)

• 15/02/2005 Press Release: Mayor of Thessaloniki to Sponsor Black Sea Conference (in English only)

• 08/02/2005  Press Release: “Making Competition and Co-operation Work in the Black Sea Region" (text below)

Also available:
Για την Ανάπτυξη του Ιδιωτικού Τομέα στην Περιοχή του Ευξείνου Πόντου: Προτεραιότητες και Προοπτικές (Greek) 
Karadeniz’de işbirliği ve rekabetin artırılması (Turkish)
Развитие конкуренции и сотрудничествa в Черноморском регионе (Russian) 
Favoriser la concurrence et la coopération dans la région de la mer Noire (French)

Strong private sectors in Black Sea Economic Co-operation (BSEC) countries underpin the whole region’s economic development. In this sense, the region is no different from any other. To promote and accelerate development, it is urgent to fortify regional linkages that support private initiative, competitiveness, innovation and development.

While, business people, political representatives and economic experts from the whole region recognise the need to work together and to co-operate for the benefit of all, the task is not always simple or easy.   The OECD Development Centre, the BSEC and the Hellenic Business Council also see the need to reinforce dynamic relationships between the Black Sea countries and among the region’s economic sectors.

Hence the birth of an idea. A regional forum, “Private-Sector Development in the Black SeaRegion: What are the Priorities?” is being held in the Greek port city of Thessaloniki – hosted by the Greek Chairmanship of BSEC (November 2004 – April 2005) – on 24 and 25 February 2005. The Forum will benefit not only from the interchanges between BSEC members and businesses, but will be enriched by OECD experience world wide.

In particular, the OECD Development Centre has extensive knowledge of developing, transition and emerging economies and the role of the private sector in them. Most recently, the Centre organised an experts’ meeting on fostering trade and investment in the Caucasus and Central Asia region, hosted by Turkey in Istanbul (www.oecd.org/dev/ist). Elsewhere, the Development Centre has had considerable experience of helping governments and civil society to develop policies supportive of private business in Africa, Asia and in Latin America. This expertise will be placed at the disposal of participants in the Thessaloniki event.

In advance of the meeting, please find attached a current  agenda and list of speakers. Media representatives from the region are strongly encouraged to attend the forum by contacting the media contacts listed below.

Interviews with the Director of the Development Centre Prof. Louka. T. Katseli, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in Greece Mr. Evripidis Stylianidis and the President of the Hellenic Business Council and Chairman-in-Office, BSEC Business Council Mr. Panayiotis Koutsikos may be possible both prior to and during the event.

The Conference's principal language will be English. Some translation and interpretation will be available in Greek, Russian and Turkish. Press enquiries to the Paris office can be sent in English, French and Greek, though English-language requests will receive the quickest response. Greek enquiries should be addressed to Ms Sophia Kokoni.

Media Contacts:

Ms Sophia KOKONI, Assistant, Email: bsec.forum@oecd.org

Mr Colm FOY, Head of Communication, Email: Colm.Foy@oecd.org

OECD Development Centre

Le Seine St Germain

12 Boulevard des Îles

92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux

France

Telephone : +33 (0)1 45.24.95.71 or +33 (0)1.45.24.84.80

Fax. +33 1 44 30 61 50

www.oecd.org/bsec