Weekly Update: Multiregional

HIGHLIGHTS

CIPE partner in Egypt works to codify freedom of information in the new constitution; CIPE focuses on corporate governance in Pakistan’s state-owned enterprises; Kyrgyz partner looks at fixing problems with domestic trade laws.

• Egypt – CIPE partner the United Group, an Egyptian human rights law firm, held an event on June 20 to publicly disseminate three draft constitutional articles, including one to codify freedom of information, developed by United Group with CIPE support. The event, which attracted approximately 100 attendees, aired live on Al Jazeera and received coverage from Mubasher and other national media outlets. Negad El-Borai of the United Group discussed the importance of enshrining freedom of information in a constitution and praised CIPE’s efforts. The draft article was published along with summaries of the roundtables and conferences that served as platforms for gathering input and building consensus on the issue. CIPE’s work with the United Group on freedom of information is part of a multi-year, U.S. Agency for International Development-funded CIPE initiative to combat corruption and promote transparency in Egypt.

• Pakistan – As part of a series of public policy debates, CIPE, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), the Ministry of Finance’s Economic Reform Unit (ERU), and the Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance organized a business policy roundtable on corporate governance in state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The session was attended by 48 representatives from SOEs, and government officials from Sindh and Balochistan. Presentations were made by Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, and Syed Asad Ali Shah, Chairman of the ERU Taskforce on the Code of Corporate Governance for SOEs. The discussion was led by the Chairman of the SECP, who said that the recommendations generated at the roundtable will be incorporated into the Code.

• Kyrgyzstan – On June 15, CIPE partner the Association of Suppliers (Manufacturers and Distributors) (ASMD) held a roundtable on determining the main problems with the law on domestic trade in the Kyrgyz Republic, at which over 35 participants included members of the Jogorku Kenesh (parliament), Ministry of the Economy and Anti-monopoly, retailers, the business community, economic experts, and the media. As a result of this roundtable, a working group will draft proposed amendments to this law and advocate for them to be instituted into law.

GLOBAL PROGRAMS, COMMUNICATION, AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

Washington, DC – CIPE republished an Economic Reform Feature Service article, “The Businesses of Democracies that Deliver,” by Executive Director John D. Sullivan. In this article, originally published on the occasion of CIPE’s 25th anniversary, Sullivan provides a brief history of democracy programs; explores the continued need to build market-oriented democracies; and examines CIPE’s role, business model, and the key themes of its work. He also looks ahead to the challenges and opportunities for democratic and market-oriented reform around the world. Read the full article online at www.cipe.org/publications/detail/business-democracies-deliver-reflections-cipe%E2%80%99s-25th-anniversary.

Washington, DC – CIPE hosted a conference call of the steering committee for the new Free Enterprise and Democracy Network. The committee developed a statement of principles regarding the role of the private sector and economic freedom in democracy, and has begun a work plan for the network’s initial activities. Conceived to ensure that the private sector has a global voice in democratic reform, the Free Enterprise and Democracy Network will launch later this year.

Washington, DC – On June 19, CIPE Global Program Officer Anna Nadgrodkiewicz published “Corruption isn’t somebody else’s problem,” on TrustLaw, a Thomson Reuters blog. In the post, Nadgrodkiewicz analyzes perceptions of corruption and trends in companies’ tolerance for misconduct. Read the full blog at www.trust.org/trustlaw/blogs/anti-corruption-views/corruption-isnt-somebody-elses-problem.

Washington, DC – On the CIPE Development Blog, Senior Knowledge Manager Kim Bettcher reflects on the shared aims and approaches that emerged at U.S. Agency for International Development’s Frontiers in Development conference (www.cipe.org/blog/2012/06/18/frontiers-in-development/); and Social Media Coordinator Jon Custer assesses the cooperative model of partnership between the public and private sectors in Malaysia (www.cipe.org/blog/2012/06/21/a-third-way-in-malaysia/).