Services to Economies in Transition

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Throughout the world massive economic changes are taking place. Some of the most dramatic of these involve the move from centrally planned to free market systems, but equally important changes are to be found as countries move from subsistence to export economies, devolve an ever-growing range of activities from public to private sector or decentralise decision-making and financial control. Such changes are not simply about economics but about the adoption of fundamentally new perceptions and concepts.

ULG has roots in both the public and private sectors. Within the water sector we draw on the experience of Northumbrian Water Limited which has undergone the transition from public to private ownership, and now serves a customer base which includes individual consumers, industry, and government organisations. The Group has played a key role in the successful clean up of a polluted industrial conurbation in the north east of England - a challenge frequently faced by large industrial complexes in many countries moving from a centrally planned to a market economy. We have provided advice to the UK agricultural and food industry - farmers, government agencies and commercial enterprises – over the last 30 years, and combine a practical knowledge of European farming, and its associated legislation, with extensive experience of the development process. Since the very outset of the political and economic changes in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union, we have been involved in assisting governments in adapting to the new economic order.

ULG’s work has covered almost every facet of technical, economic and organisational change and we have assisted in the management of change through institutional strengthening and capacity building. We have supported the reorganisation of ministries and municipalities, advised on the revision of education in agriculture and business management, assisted in the establishment of private sector business advisory services, set up credit programmes and advised on environmental and other legislation which may need to be met to conform with international standards. In the rural sector we have also been involved in the broader aspects of development, including the reformation of the social infrastructure and the creation of alternative income generating activities for households in rural communities.We have implemented this through a mix of long term technical assistance, short term consultancy inputs and a wide range of exposure programmes, increasingly focusing on the development of local consultancy expertise to help ensure sustainability of effort after our withdrawal.