Regional Policy Forum on Growth Strategies after the Crisis

The Regional Policy Forum on Growth Strategies after the Crisis took place on June 24, 2011, at the Grand Hotel Union in Ljubljana. It was organized by the Center of Excellence in Finance honoring its 10th anniversary. It focused on how to reinforce the economic growth potential of economies in South East Europe and how to continue the transition towards more diversified and modern market economies in order to overcome the impact of the financial and economic crisis. The discussions evolved from a global economic outlook and its implications for the region towards strategies to boost the region's growth performance.

The Regional Policy Forum brought together policymakers and experts in the region who are involved in drafting agendas to strengthen growth, particularly that which is endogenously driven. High-level speakers from international organizations shared their views on key themes of the growth agenda in the region.

Laza Kekic (The Economist Intelligence Unit) set the stage for the discussions by addressing the opportunities and risks in the global outlook. Thomas Mirow (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development), Philippe Le Houérou (The World Bank), Anton Rop (European Investment Bank), and Gerd Schwartz (International Monetary Fund) shared their views on the regional growth agenda together with ministers of finance and central bank governors of SEE. The Forum was co-chaired by Max Watson (Wolfson College, Oxford) and Mojmir Mrak (University of Ljubljana), both CEF associate fellows; Mitja Gaspari (Minister for Development and European Affairs, Slovenia) provided his closing remarks.