The World Bank Group / European Outreach Services

Accounting for more than two-thirds of foreign direct investment (FDI) in developing countries, European companies have tremendous potential as partners for the World Bank in its efforts to reduce poverty through growth. For these companies, the World Bank Group is also an interesting business partner: European companies have received 47% of all World Bank procurement (on a cumulative basis) and represent two-thirds of the customer base of IFC and MIGA.

The World Bank reaches out to the European private sector through its Enterprise Outreach Services (EOS), a unit established in January 1999 and located within the World Bank΄s Vice Presidency for Europe.

EOS MISSION

Contribute to bringing more trade and FDI to developing countries.
Facilitate a dialogue with leading companies on global issues.
Provide companies with equal opportunities to access WBG products and services.

EOS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Investment Forums and Field Missions
EOS organizes investment forums in Europe and field missions to developing countries.

Investment Forums for Pakistan, Yemen, Sierra Leone, DRC, Mozambique
Field Missions to Bosnia and Russia
Road shows in client countries (Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan)

Dialogue on Global Issues and CEO Forum
EOS helps to engage European leading companies in a dialogue on global issues, by organizing consultations and encouraging partnerships.

It includes:

Consultations on development issues: investment climate (Doing Business in 2006), HIV/AIDS, trade, global warming.
Annual CEO Forum on Development
Meetings between WB senior management and European CEOs
Launch of World Bank Flagship Reports
Partnership Development: Development Marketplace, Prototype Carbon Fund, MIGA on-line Services, DgMarket

More information about EOS mission and EOS products and services

PARTICULARLY USEFUL INFORMATION FOR INVESTORS

The Doing Business Database provides objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement. The Doing Business indicators are comparable across 190 economies. They indicate the regulatory costs of business and can be used to analyse specific regulations that enhance or constrain investment, productivity and growth. Furthermore one may find relevant publications such as the older Doing Business indicators which are now free to download.

FACILITATION OF SME ACESS TO WORLD BANK GROUP BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Of the 20 million companies in Europe, 99.8% are SMEs with fewer than 250 employees. To facilitate SME access to WBG services, EOS is managing in partnership with IFC and MIGA the Private Sector Liaison Officers (PSLO) Network. The PSLOs help disseminate information on business opportunities offered by the World Bank Group and facilitates access to the Knowledge and Partnership Bank.

Since August 2004, the private sector liaison office for Greece is located at the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 29 Tsimiski street, 54624 Thessaloniki, telephone +30 2310 370120, +30 2310 370132, fax +30 2310 370136.