We are implementing PFS through the following two major activities:

• PFS Program Assistance to CEE Countries
  

  EWMI seeks to strengthen the basic financial sector institutions and structures that are already in place in the region, by identifying and filling gaps through specialized regional training and advisory programs. We hope that the experience in financial sector reform in one country can be shared with other countries in the region. For example, the lack of adequate understanding of the capital markets discourages investors in the Baltic States and thus undermines market progress. As such, we are considering holding an investment seminar for the Baltic States in spring 2001 in order to provide needed information to potential domestic and foreign investors who must be educated and encouraged to invest for the markets there to progress.
   

• PFS Assistance to SEE Countries
  

  Unlike the CEE countries, the SEE countries are still in the process of building much of the institutional capacity in their financial sectors. USAID missions are still present in these countries and active in providing technical assistance in the areas of financial sector reform. Consequently, EWMI’s objective is to enhance USAID’s financial sector programs on an as needed basis. EWMI accomplishes this by supplying CEE experts to provide comprehensive training and advice in response to requests by indigenous entities in the SEE countries. In filling these basic needs, we are depending heavily on EWMI-led “East-to-East” exchanges referred to above. EWMI could, for example, identify experts in securities/stock market issues in Slovenia and Poland, two CEE “graduate” countries, and send them to work closely with the USAID projects and missions in Banja Luka in order to bring that expertise to bear in Bosnia. By promoting active intra-regional problem solving and training/advisory programs the self-sustainability of the financial sector within the region will be enhanced.