CIPE Europe & Eurasia

We love our teams at #CIPE! Happy holidays from our CIPE Europe & Eurasia teams. #teamwork

#Ukraine | The Business Associations Forum, “𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀, 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲,” co-supported by #CIPE, brought together leading business associations, international organizations, and key stakeholders to discuss strategies for fostering a sustainable and inclusive business environment in Ukraine. Stephen Rosenlund, Esq., CAE, IOM, Director of Association Development at CIPE, participated as a featured speaker, sharing his expertise on excellence standards for business associations. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱: ► The role of business associations in driving entrepreneurship development. ► Implementing international standards for business associations in Ukraine. ► Programs and strategies for building effective and impactful associations. ► The importance of partnerships in strengthening the business ecosystem. As a partner of the Forum, CIPE Ukraine reaffirmed its commitment to empowering business associations through mentorship, capacity-building, and international partnerships. CIPE’s broader initiatives to amplify the voices of Ukrainian entrepreneurs and support the country’s economic resilience include advocacy for legislative reforms, such as: ✔️Market liberalization and amendments to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs). ✔️Engagement of foreign experts in the selection processes for the Accounting Chamber, Bureau of Economic Security, and corporate governance roles. ✔️Development and adoption of the SME Development Strategy 2027 by the Cabinet of Ministers, in collaboration with business associations and think tanks, as a cornerstone of Ukraine’s economic recovery. Through these efforts, CIPE remains committed to strengthening Ukraine's business associations and advancing economic resilience.

#WeChamps #CentralAsia | Seventeen members of the #KyrgyzRepublic's Public Foundation "Women's Entrepreneurship Development Fund" traveled to Namangan, #Uzbekistan, on December 16–17, for a productive exchange hosted by the International Association of Business Women "Tadbirkor Ayol." The visit featured a roundtable discussion where women entrepreneurs from Namangan shared their experiences, addressed key business challenges, and explored opportunities for collaboration. Participants also toured Namangan’s dynamic industries, including textiles, tourism, fruit drying, and handicrafts, gaining valuable insights and inspiration. The exchange culminated in the signing of several memorandums of cooperation, establishing partnerships that aim to foster innovation and strengthen businesses. This initiative, part of #CIPE's project "Strengthening the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem by Networking Regional Women’s Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations" (WE-Champs), funded by the U.S. Department of State - Bureau of International Organization Affairs, highlights the transformative impact of cross-border collaboration in empowering women entrepreneurs. #WomenInBusiness #EntrepreneurshipExchange #EmpoweringWomen

#Moldova | In partnership with the Light Industry Employers Association - APIUS - Asociația Patronală din Industria Ușoară, #CIPE has supported the development of the 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗼𝘃𝗮. This key document provides a comprehensive analysis of the Textile, Apparel, Footwear, and Leather Goods (TAFL) sector, outlining its challenges and identifying growth opportunities. The initiative focuses on driving innovation, enhancing competitiveness, and laying the foundation for Moldova’s integration into the EU Single Market through essential policy reforms.   On December 13, APIUS hosted a presentation of the White Paper, bringing together over 50 participants, including industry leaders, public authorities, and development partners, to discuss strategies for advancing the sector.   Onorina S., CIPE Program Manager for Moldova, shared, “The White Paper is a reference document that highlights the sector’s potential and strategic priorities. CIPE remains committed to supporting public-private dialogue and necessary reforms to build a more prosperous economy and connect Moldova more closely to the European space.”   𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗟𝗲𝗳𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼, economic consultant at the Economic Council to the Prime Minister, added, “The Economic Council is mapping sectors across Moldova’s economy and has identified 12 priority areas, including the light industry. Collective efforts are crucial to ensure proper regulation and sustainable growth.”   Developed through collaboration with local producers and APIUS members, the document is grounded in extensive desk research, direct consultations, and a survey of APIUS members. It includes a thorough review of current legislation and offers targeted, evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the sector.   As a next step, APIUS will submit a position letter with these recommendations to the Ministry of Economy, the Economic Council to the Prime Minister, and other key stakeholders. The White Paper is available here: https://lnkd.in/dYVdufuN

📣 Discover how CIPE Europe & Eurasia is driving impact in our latest #newsletter: from exploring innovative financing for independent media to strengthening civil society and advancing women’s economic empowerment. Learn more about our latest initiatives and insights ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dSgrhZmh

#Armenia | With #CIPE’s support, the Working Group on Cooperation between the National Assembly and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) convened its latest session. Through CIPE’s technical assistance and small grant funding, the SME Cooperation Association has developed a comprehensive package of draft policy and legislative reforms aimed at improving the business environment for SMEs in Armenia. Key proposals include: ► Revising regulation impact assessment (RIA) mechanisms for legislation affecting over 10,000 SMEs. ► Making SME membership fees to business organizations tax-deductible. ► Reviewing critical laws, such as turnover tax, value-added tax (VAT) regimes, and social entrepreneurship regulations. The meeting, moderated by Babken Tunyan, Deputy Chair of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, featured in-depth discussions on these reforms. The working group will present the proposals to relevant government agencies and foster public-private dialogue to ensure progress. For more details on the meeting outcomes, visit the official website of Armenia’s National Assembly: https://lnkd.in/d6AgW_nx Luiza Ayvazyan-Galanteryan | Mane Torosyan | Hakob Avagyan

Jeff Lightfoot, Deputy Director for CIPE Europe & Eurasia, participated in an exclusive event marking the unveiling of POLITICO Europe’s #POLITICO28 list. Hosted by U.S. Ambassador to the EU, Mark Gitenstein, at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, this gathering brought together top policymakers and industry leaders, providing a valuable platform for exchanging insights on the future of the transatlantic relationship and other key topics.   Watch highlights from the conversation with Ambassador Mark Gitenstein during the event here: https://lnkd.in/dWFwfcJE

#Armenia | #CIPE took part in a seminar on "The Prospect of Joint Development of the Goris Community: Public and Private Sector," held from December 6-8 by the Goris Press Club as part of the USAID-funded project “Locally Led Action for Development of Goris Community,” implemented in partnership with EPF Armenia. Armine Davtyan, Public-Private Dialogue Specialist at CIPE, contributed to a session on Public-Private Dialogue, sharing insights from CIPE’s work in Georgia and Armenia. She emphasized the critical role of private sector engagement in public decision-making processes and highlighted the important contributions of unions, associations, chambers of commerce, and other membership organizations in fostering collaboration and innovation. This seminar brought together local businesses, civil society organizations (CSOs), and self-governing bodies to explore strategies for effective collaboration. Participants discussed innovative approaches to strengthening partnerships between the private sector and CSOs, with the shared goal of advancing sustainable development in the Goris community.

RECAP VIDEO 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗 🟢𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 - WEEK OF INTEGRITY IN ALBANIA “𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗨 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽” A big THANK YOU to all participants for joining us and contributing to the dialogue on fostering integrity for sustainable growth! We extend our heartfelt gratitude to CIPE Europe & Eurasia and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Albania for their great collaboration 🤝. #SuistanableGrowth #BusinessIntegrity #Parnership #CIPE #EmbassyOfTheKingdomOfTheNetherlandsToAlbania #WeekOfIntegrity International Chamber of Commerce in Albania Rozalija Vasilevska Olimpija Hristova Zaevska, PhD Esmeralda Ballesha Erik Akse Arben Shkodra Albana Laknori Aida Lahi Ardita Seknaj

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