Transition Years in ECA

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Transition Years in ECA

• Johannes Linn
• October 21, 2004

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The World of 1955-1985
West
East
CE
SU
CH
US
WE
JA
ME
SA
SE
LA
AF
AU
South
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The World of 1990-2020
SU
CH
US
EU
JA
Eurasia
ME
SA
SE
LA
AF
AU
AU
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Europe and Central Asia (ECA) GDP Index 1990 -
2004 (1990 100)
Source The World Bank
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Sub-Regional Trends and Challenges in ECA

• Central Europe and the Baltics
• South-East Europe
• Turkey
• The CIS
• Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine,
• The CIS-7
• The ECA MICUS (Belarus, Turkmenistan)

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The Bank in the ECA Region Some Ups and Some
Downs

• Some ups
• Sometimes we did well, e.g.
• The Balkans BH
• CEB EU Accession Partnership
• Russia 1999
• Turkey from 2000
• Tajikistan

• Some downs
• Sometimes we were
• Overly optimistic
• Unpersuasive
• Silent or late
• Not prepared for crises
• Not regional enough
• Not political enough

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The ECA in the Bank A Microcosm of Bank-wide
Challenges

• MICs
• LICUS/MICUS
• Managing Change ECA Renewal and all that
• Changing Management Some last and lasting
  messages

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Changing Management Some Last and Lasting
Messages!

• Good management is value added, not control!
• Always be ready for change its the only way to
  survive!
• Client focus and corporate priorities you must
  have both!
• Scaling up and results you can do it!
• Team work, always no us-versus-them, ever!
• Partnerships are key!
• Dont churn!
• Involve and communicate with staff!
• Give it your best and have some fun!
• ? KISS!
• Keep It Simple, Stupid!

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My Favorite T-Shirt A motto to live
by.
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and to exit with!