3 November 2009

EuropeAid ACP-EU Business Climate Facility awarded

'Investment Climate Initiative of the Year'

The European Commission, in partnership with the ACP Group of States, has
been funding a € 20 million programme to support the creation of a business
enabling environment in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
After three years of activities, financing more than 70 projects, the ACP-EU
Business Climate Facility, short 'BizClim', was awarded the Investment and
Business Leader Award in the category Investment Climate Initiative of the
Year.

"This award brings international recognition to the EU-funded Business Climate

Facility that seeks to improve business conditions for the private sector in ACP
countries, which is crucial for sustained economic growth, poverty reduction and
achievement of the Millennium Development Goals," said Raul Mateus Paula, Head of
the Unit Centralised operations for the ACP countries.

The Investment and Business Leaders Awards, which are given away each year by
Africa investor, a leading international investment research and communications
firm, are the most respected international prize to recognise exceptional business
practices, economic achievements and investments across Africa. In the category
Investment Climate Initiative of the Year, BizClim clearly stood up to strong
competitors, such as the Investment Climate Facility for Africa, the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development and the World Bank Doing Business Survey.

The Facility's main purpose is to improve the business environment and the
investment prospects in ACP countries. It does so by addressing structural
weaknesses that hamper the development of ACP states' economies, most notably
those impeding private sector development. BizClim, whose first operational phase
ended in September 2009, has been providing a wide range of services in different
fields, including reforming the legal, regulatory and judicial systems, promoting
private-public partnerships and creating professional networks among EU and ACP
actors.

The launch of the second phase BizClim II, funded with € 10 million from the 10th
European Development Fund, is expected to be fully operational by August 2010.

For further information please contact:

Blaise Peccia-Galletto
Project Manager BizClim Facility
EuropeAid Cooperation Office
Phone: +32 2 299 8442
Email: Blaise.PECCIA-GALLETTO@ec.europa.eu