Regional conference on public - private partnerships

Kraljevo, April 29, 2012 - Sustainable Local Development Project (SLDP) and Business Enabling Project (BEP) organized a regional conference on April 20 in Kraljevo on the New Legal Framework for public-private partnerships (PPPs) and its Implementation Challenges.

At the conference, SLDP presented three PPP manuals on infrastructure financing, parking services and energy efficiency.  These manuals will assist local governments to establish new PPPs under the 2011 Law on PPPs and Concessions.  This new law expands opportunities for PPPs in the areas of municipal services and financing of local infrastructure. 

Local government officials and public utility managers from the SLDP-supported Kraljevo, Novi Pazar and Uzice–led inter-municipal cooperation (IMC) areas participated at the conference, as did representatives from regional development agencies and the civic sector. 

BEP used this opportunity to showcase their support to the National Commission for PPPs and for the preparation of by-laws that guide local authorities in determining ‘value-for-money’ with regard to PPPs.  Participants expressed interest for support to identify potential PPP opportunities, particularly in the areas of solid waste management and energy efficiency. 

SLDP and BEP will also co-sponsor an upcoming regional conference on PPPs in Novi Sad during the last week of May.