Transcript The Egyptian Junior Business Association

The Egyptian Junior Business
Association
National Business Agenda
Presented by:
Eng. Ashraf Sheta
EJB Business Environment Council Head & Board Member
Introduction
• A National Business Agenda is a tool for the
business community to promote development
and economic growth.
• It addresses the barriers that hinder growth and
suggests reform recommendations.
• The private sector uses the NBA to address the
impediments of the community to stakeholders,
government officials and regulatory authorities.
Objectives
• To encourage the role of business participation
in government decision-making.
• To introduce and make available modern
management techniques and international best
practices to business people who have the
potential to modernize the Economy.
• To build the private sector’s capacity to
challenge these barriers by pursuing dialogue
with the government.
• To increase the public’s awareness of the
barriers to economic growth
• To capitalize on the private sector's
negotiation power and the ability to
influence policies.
The Process of Developing the
National Business Agenda
The EJB has taken a Seven - Step
approach to effectively determine the
challenges facing the national economy
and to develop appropriate and effective
policies for improving competitiveness.
• Developing sector focus groups
• Holding regular steering committee meetings to
discuss each sector’s position.
• Prioritizing the issues according to the degree it
threats
the
industry
and
develop
policy
recommendations.
• Creating action plans for the implementation phase
and communicating with the relevant authority.
• Members activate the strategies with the authorities
to overcome the various obstacles identified.
• Establishing Useful projects that can be
implemented and help the sector at
large.
• Lobbying events in order to involve all
stakeholders.
The following are among the general
nation-wide issues addressed
In order for the NBA to be a comprehensive tool for
reform, several issues had to be tackled in parallel
with the processing phase:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Creating a comprehensive vision for Egypt.
Enhancing the concept of Entrepreneurship.
Increasing transparency and combating corruption.
Linking small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with
international markets.
5. Decentralizing governmental agencies.
6. Increasing the availability and transparency of
information.
7. Harmonizing
Egyptian
standards
with
international ones.
8. Instituting corporate governance.
9. Judiciary Reforms.
10. Enhancing and advocating Public Private
Partnership (PPP).
11. Educational Reforms
Legislative Tracking System
-
Stakeholders Involved:
-
Ministries.
Export Councils.
Business Associations.
Commercial Chambers.
Executive Authorities.
Legislative Authorities.
Objectives:
1.
2.
3.
To measure the size of the organization’s contribution in affecting policy
recommendations.
To be proactive in the process of establishing new laws and policies.
To track the efficiency and effectiveness of laws and policies issued.
Legislative Tracking System (Cont.)
Mechanism:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Invite Head of the legal Committee to attend the periodical
meetings of the NBA.
To list the changes that have occurred in the legislations.
List any legislations that is proposed to be changed.
Monitoring the legislations path through regular reports presented
by the legal committee.
Establish an advisory group members with certain qualifications
(Efficient Socio – Economic and Political Background, A Clear
understanding and belief of advocating public policy, a clear
demonstrated commitment to serve the society)
Holding regular roundtable meetings to discuss ways of legal
reform and proposed solutions, inviting relevant stakeholders.
The Way Ahead..
In order for the EJB to connect and execute its vision regarding
the NBA, several steps were taken to pave the road.
1.
Determining the power points that can facilitate
incubating and adopting the NBA.
-
Ministries & Governmental Authorities
Industrial & Commercial Chambers
Export Councils
Local & International Business Associations & Federations
Industrial Development Authority
Industrial Modernization Centre
Industrial Training Council
Legislative & Economical Committees in Peoples’ Assembly
The Way Ahead.. (Cont.)
2. Establishing a Mechanism to approach the entities
mentioned above.
- Assigning a contact person in all entities.
- Hold one to one meetings with Authority Heads &
Top Executives.
- Hold events to widen constituency and to address
problems along with proposing recommendations for
solutions.
- Trying to involve EJB active members to be part of
the decision making bodies of the mentioned above
entities.
The Way Ahead.. (Cont.)
3. Measuring the Governmental Response:
- Reaching an agreement from Government’s
side and association to establish a joint
committee for follow up on
recommendations’ implementation.
- Following up on the progress status of the
NBA with EJBians and Relevant Authorities.
The Results…
1. An average of 60% of the challenges mentioned in
the NBA were solved. (Since 2004)
2. Still some of the challenges that have been
tackled by some committees were not solved.
3. Most of the developments have been in Ministries
lead by Former Business People. (The Economic
Group)
The Results… (Cont.)
4.Outreach:
EJB members aim at enhancing public – private relations through occupying executive positions:
-
Chairman & Executive Director of the Industrial Modernization Centre
Chairman of the Construction Exporting Council
Head of the General Authority for Industrial Development.
Deputy Head of the Food Export Council & 4 Members.
Head of the Wood Export Council.
2 Members of the Spinning & Textile Export Council
Member of the Ready Made Products Export Council
Executive Director of the General Authority for Export Promotion.
Chairman of the General Authority for Investments and Free Zones.
Head of the Economic Committee, National Democratic Party
2 Members of the Egyptian Federation for Construction and Contracting
1 Member of the Medicines & Antiserums Export Council
3 Members of the Grains Export Council.
Head of the Medical Equipments Chamber
Head of the Egyptian Housing Finance Company
Head of the Industrial Training Council
Approximately 25 members in Top Decision Making Positions and another 20 Members of Steering Committees
and Governmental affiliated entities.
The Results… (Cont.)
5. The EJB through its National Business Agenda
has participated in the advocacy of free
market economy mechanisms with the
regulatory bodies that govern it, (Consumer
Protection Body, Monopoly Laws, Economic
Courts & Anti – Trust Laws) with the new
constitution that has changed towards more
economic freedom, our role has expanded
thoroughly.
The Results… (Cont.)
6. Examples of Policy Reforms that the EJB
has contributed in bringing to life:
•
Objective: Increasing the number of units owned by
foreigners:
•
Reform: Minister of Justice Decision to amend the
law No. 3338 for the year 1996 to organize the work
at the property registration offices for foreigners.
(Valid as of 7/5/2007)
The Results… (Cont.)
Objective: Developing the governmental laws
and regulations affecting the Construction &
Contracting sector.
Reform: Issuance of Law No. 148 for the year
2006 amending some of the rules of the law
No. 89 for the year 1998 on tenders and bids.
The Results… (Cont.)
Objective: Work on accelerating
settlements of the lawsuits.
-
Reform:
Amendment of Law No. 73 and Law No.
74 for the year 2007 on Court and
Criminal Procedures respectively.
“We believe in a shared Vision of shaping a
world class business Environment through
sustainable Comprehensive Development.”
We know that there are three kinds of people
Those who watch things happen,
And those who wonder what is happening,
And those who make things happen…
We decided to be the latter.