USAID launches BRITE Program to improve business environment

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched the Business Regulatory, Trade, and Investment Environment (BRITE) Program in Moldova. The project is designed to institutionalize a process of continuous improvement in the business enabling environment, Info-Prim Neo reports. BRITE Program manager Kelly Seibold said the Program's activities will focus on improving fiscal administration, optimizing key business processes, reducing times and costs, and improving strategic communication and the public-private dialogue. This, according to the BRITE Program manager, will help to improve Moldova's indexes by 20% in the World Bank's Doing Business ranking. Further, the benefits for the public sector and private sector resulted from the promoted reforms are expected to represent $100 million for each. Attending the launch event, Prime Minister Vlad Filat expressed his hope that the BRITE Program will be efficient. “Economy is a country's engine and heart and it is important to ensure that it is healthy so that it can pump the necessary resources into all the other areas”, said Vlad Filat. He said it is important to ensure a leap in reforms which would be a signal to businessmen around the world that they could come and invest in Moldova. “I count on BRITE's participation and contribution to enhancing the dialogue between the government and the business community, a dialogue which I wish it were more closer and effective”. US Ambassador to Moldova William H. Moser noted that while Moldova has made a lot of progress lately, much still needs to be done. “The US Government is willing to further support Moldova in its reform efforts”. Ion Lesan, representative of the Timpul Business Club, particularly appreciated the fact that the BRITE will help to improve business regulations. The BRITE Program has a budget of $9 million.