Weekly Update: Eurasia

Kazakhstan – On July 12-14, the Kazakhstan Institute of Directors (KID) conducted a Corporate Governance (CG) seminar for 26 staff members of the “Tynys” company in Kokchetau on CG in state-owned enterprises. On July 17-18, KID director Sergey Filin conducted three half-day seminars for rectors and vice rectors of Kazakhstani universities. Forty-nine participants from as many universities across Kazakhstan attended the seminars. The theme was CG in universities and the reform of higher education in Kazakhstan, and both seminars engendered lively discussion and debate on improving CG in their respective fields.

Ukraine – CIPE partner business associations in Vinnitsa and Cherkasy convened meetings on July 16 and 17 for entrepreneurs and business association leaders to discuss top legislative priorities. At each of the meetings, about 20 participants defined regional business issues in the context of parliamentary elections set for October. Journalists from radio, television, print and internet outlets reported on the proceedings, during which participants identified issues that include the need to reduce taxes faced by small and medium-sized enterprises and increase government responsiveness to SME concerns.