In Turkey, the “Reform Program for the Improvement of the Investment Environment” is driven by a strong political will from the government and by a responsive and vibrant private sector. The World Bank serves as a partner rather than a sponsor.

Launched in 2001, the process aims at changing the existing business environment in a comprehensive fashion<sup>13</sup> . The government recognized early on that a productive collaboration between the public and the private sector was key in this process to ensure that policy reforms truly reflected and addressed private sector concerns. Intensive and direct involvement of companies and investors in this process has been realized through the Coordination Committee for the Improvement of the Investment Environment

# **Figure 13: Competitiveness Partnership in TURKEY**

<!-- Start of picture text --> WEAK<br>STRONG STRONG<br>STRONG<br>STRONG<br><!-- End of picture text --> (CCIIE), which has been set up as a partnership between government bureaus and private sector representatives. Through 11 technical committees, it defines the reform program, executes it, and determines the business program calendar and final completion deadlines. Driven by a strong political will, this process ensures a firm linkage between the “micro” needs of the entrepreneurs and the “macro” policy of the government. The World Bank plays an important role as the reform program directly derives from the FIAS recommendations, thus ensuring a connection between diagnosis and implementation. By reaching out to the direct beneficiaries (the private sector) and involving the highest government officials, this government-driven Competitiveness Partnership overcame the absence of a constituent with a strong and clear mandate that could carry out effective investment promotion functions such as investor servicing, investment generation and policy advocacy.

In Vietnam, the “Vietnam Business Forum” is now a well balanced process. The IFC and the World Bank have served as sponsors and have provided instruments such as technical assistance and hosting. The public authorities are responsive and the private sector is now well engaged in advocacy.

<!-- Start of picture text --> WEAK<br>STRONG STRONG<br>STRONG<br>STRONG<br><!-- End of picture text --> Launched in 1998, the forum aim is to “improve the business environment, to stimulate economic development in Vietnam and to increase employment and improve people’s lives”<sup>14</sup> . Entering its sixth year of operation, the Forum has succeeded in creating a formal dialogue between the government and the private sector, both foreign and domestic. Its achievements in domains such as tax, licensing, labor and administrative reforms have derived from a strong partnership and direct

> 13 Information on the “Reform Program for the Improvement of the Investment Environment” is derived from presentations and reports issued in 2003 by the Coordination Council for the Improvement of the Investment Environment CCIIE and by Gokhan Akinci who coordinated the program for the World Bank.

14 This quote and other information on the Vietnam Business Forum originate from the VBF activity report 2003, the VBF Website at www.vietnambusinessforum.org and the Socio-Economic Situation In 2003 and tasks for 2004, Government report, Presented by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the Fourth Session of the Eleventh Vietnam National Assembly Legislature on October 21, 2003.

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