The increasing clout of the private sector in development topped the agenda as a World Bank conference on development economics got under way at Bled on Thursday. Three or four decades ago the World Bank did not pay much attention to the private sector, now everyone is betting on it, Finance Minister Andrej Bajuk said in his keynote address.
Without a strong private sector, Slovenia's transition would not have been as successful as it was, Bajuk said, and Slovenia would not have become the first EU newcomer to adopt the euro.
This experience is the guiding line in Slovenia's own development aid: it is focused on the development of the private sector to enable developing countries to achieve development in accordance with their own wishes.
"The role of the private sector is more topical than ever," stressed Prime Minister Janez Jansa in his address. He said words needed to be turned into actions, as "research is successful when it actually helps the underdeveloped to achieve faster growth and progress."
Jansa said philanthropy was noble and necessary, but there were other forms of aid: for developing countries to achieve sustainable development, it takes economic, social and political mechanisms that need to include the public as well as the private sectors.
According to Jansa, it is however crucial that the private sector observes United Nations rules by protecting human rights, respecting environmental standards and refraining from the use of forced or child labour.
Jansa also noted the auspicious selection of Bled as a location for what is one of the biggest development events in the world. He said Slovenia had walked a tough path since it became independent in 1991 and was now at the highest stage of development in its history.
What is more, it has turned from aid recipient to aid donor. Jansa said it was justified to expect that Slovenia would continue to do more in this field and the country was certainly committed to allocating 0.17% of GDP for development aid by 2010.
Bajuk echoed Jansa's words, saying in a statement for the press that Slovenia would participate in the World Bank's efforts to eradicate poverty "to the best of its abilities". It will also strive to preserve the key values of the welfare state at home.
Hopeful that companies would join in these efforts too, Bajuk said that "in our new role as donor country, it is very important that we join the efforts."
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