Public Private Dialogue The PSFU Experience by Gideon

Public Private Dialogue The PSFU Experience by Gideon Badagawa Director, Policy Advocacy A presentation to the PPD Workshop Dakar Senegal 3 rd April 2008

Mandate of PSFU Policy Forum for Capacity Advocacy dialogue Building Policy Provide a research and forum for advocacy for policy the Uganda dialogue with private sector government Capacity building for the private sector 2

Partnerships in PPD Government: Public–Private Partnerships Developme nt Partners PSFU Civil Society (NGO Forum, UDN) PSFU Members Private-Private Partnerships 3

Consultations within PSFU and the private sector Level 3 Action Level 2 Board Committee on Policy and PSFU Policy Committees Manufacturing BUDS-EDS BUDS-ERT Trade Servic es Touris m Agriculture Level 1 PSFU Members (Sectors, Associations, 4

Rationale for the Committees To provide a forum for constructive dialogue with government n To articulate the concerns of the private sector and monitor implementation of government policies n To influence policy from the private sector eye n 5

An Example of the Consultative Process: Participation in the Budget process n n n n National Activity (Oct-Dec every year) Budget Sector Working Groups (SWGs) Mobilisation of Private Sector to participate in the discussions – use of champions SWG Budget Framework Papers prepared SWG Retreat organised Harmonisation of BFP for discussion and endorsement by Cabinet Development of Budget strategy Public Expenditure Review (PER) Meeting 6

Key Outputs over the past one year n n n n 1 Annual Platform For Action Policy Document 5 position papers on pension sector reforms, counterfeiting, inland port, Agricultural finance, Mortgage Bill 14 Policy updates on transport, energy, agriculture, counterfeits, Tourism, PIRT and competitiveness forum 3 Research reports on the National Business Register, National Firm Survey and Impact of the Energy Crisis on Firms in Uganda 7 policy briefs on Agrochemical Input Regulation, Industrial Policy, Standards and Standards Related Strategy, National Export Strategy, MSME Policy and Financial Markets Development 2 Background papers on tourism and MSMEs 5 sector briefs on fish, flower, tourism and coffee 2 semi-annual cost of doing business comparisons in 7

Key Achievements Quarterly meetings with HE and Government officials n u u u Squashing of planned Inland Port Monopoly Deferment of an 8% increase in cost of doing business due to the national health insurance bill 62 Billion Shillings to mitigate shock in electricity tariffs Zero-Rating of diesel for industrial generators Zero-rating of raw materials in the EAC Customs Union 8

Annual Public Expenditure Reviews (PER) Quarterly Parliamentary committee meetings Post Budget meetings with Minister of Finance 9

Some Successes for PSFU Fiscal policy reforms Reforms in the URA n Tax Appeals Tribunal established n Waiver of tax on raw materials n Tax relief under the EAC Customs Union n Tax waiver on Solar Equipment and Accessories n 10

Some Successes for PSFU cntd Other reforms n n n Measures to resolve the power crisis agreed Upgrading of waterways, road and rail infrastructure Pronouncement on Pension reforms Streamlining of Public Procurement Institutional support to UNBS Financial sector reforms 11

Some Successes for PSFU cntd Support to the agricultural sector announced n Tourism: Upcountry airfields are being upgraded to make domestic air transport more efficient n Parliament now publishing legislative agenda for public information and comments n National Planning Authority established n 12