Workshop on investment opportunities in the Western Balkans for Italian businesses, 07 May, Milan

Organised in co-operation with the World Bank and the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE), this workshop aimed to promote investment and co-operation opportunities in the Western Balkans for Italian companies, sectoral associations and districts.

The workshop focused on four main sectors (automotive components, information and communication technologies, business process outsourcing, and textile and garment), chosen on the basis of the results of the sector prioritisation analysis conducted during the first phase of the Investment Compact/World Bank Strengthening Sector Specific Sources of Competitiveness in the Western Balkans project, which aims to strengthen the attractiveness of the region as an investment destination.

The workshop brough together investment promotion agencies from the Western Balkans and Italian businesses, sectoral associations and districts from the 4 sectors. Public sector representatives (regions, chambers of commerce, etc.) also participated.

The workshop was based on a pragmatic approach to meet participants' expectations. It comprised three sessions: (1) A plenary session with representatives of ICE, the Investment Compact and the World Bank; (2) Four parallel sessions on the 4 sectors: each parallel session will start with a presentation of the sectoral findings of the project and will be followed by presentations by IPA representatives of specific and concrete investment and/or and co-operation opportunities in the sector; (3) Bilateral meetings on the basis of Italian participants' requests.

For further information on the workshop, please contact andrea.beltramello@oecd.org.