Open data provides enormous potential in improving the business and investment climate in participating States, say participants at an OSCE event
The role of open government data as a critical component for enabling and improving the business investment climate across the OSCE region was discussed at a webinar organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) on 19 February 2021.
More than 50 representatives from governments, chambers of commerce, civil society organizations, international organizations and academia discussed the potential of digital solutions and open data in creating investment opportunities and enhancing good governance mechanisms in the OSCE region.
The event featured guest speakers from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Bank (WB), Microsoft as well as experts from Estonia and Georgia. The sessions focused on land governance and the importance of open cadastral data for the business environment and emerging digital justice and digital tools that could be used to address investor grievances and mediations.
“The selected best practices of digital platforms and data use highlighted during the webinar, if properly implemented, go a long way to create more attractive economies for businesses and investors,” said Iris Pilika, Programme Officer, Economic Co-operation and Governance, OCEEA.
The speakers recognized that accessible and well-analyzed data is essential for the private sector as it enables companies to efficiently execute their business plans. They also focused on the potential of open data to improve business planning, thus creating a favourable and predictable investment environment.
The OSCE, as part of its good governance and anti-corruption portfolio, provides a platform for open discussion and capacity-building among relevant stakeholders on the potential of open data in enhancing good governance measures and enabling economic recovery during and in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.