The MENA-OECD Working Group on Corporate Governance was launched in 2005 in order to provide a platform for discussing corporate governance priorities in the MENA region, sharing best practices and evaluating their implementation. It is comprised of representatives of regional securities regulators, central banks, stock exchanges, ministries of Finance and Economy as well as other public and private sector actors interested in further promoting corporate governance in the region.

Three regional taskforces have been formed under the umbrella of this Working Group to address specific challenges:

• Taskforce on Corporate Governance of Banks
• Taskforce on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises
• Taskforce of MENA Stock Exchanges for Corporate Governance

These taskforces provide unique and specialised venues for peer dialogue, research and sharing of good practices.

In addition, the Working Group provides country-specific advice and assistance. Over the past years, the OECD has provided on request technical input in a number of important regional initiatives such as the introduction of corporate governance codes and other support to securities regulators. We also collaborate actively with the private sector and have recently established the MENA Investor Council composed of key portfolio investors to address challenges related to attracting long term investment to the region.

Key documents

• The Role of MENA Stock Exchanges in Corporate Governance, 2012
• Towards New Arrangements for State Ownership in the Middle East and North Africa, 2012
• MENA Corporate Governance Survey 2011
• Final statement from the 6th Annual Regional Corporate Governance Conference, 1 November 2011, Dubai
• The Second Corporate Wave in the Middle East and North Africa, 7 February 2011
• Muscat Declaration on Corporate Governance, 1 November 2010
• Concept Note for “Turning the Page: Towards New Arrangements for State Ownership in the Middle East and North Africa”
• Policy Brief on Corporate Governance in Banks [ Arabic ], November 2009
• Survey on Insolvency Systems in the Middle East and North Africa, October 2009
• Dubai Declaration, 27 November 2006
• Survey on Corporate Governance, October 2005

 Meetings 

• 17 December 2012, Expert Workshop on addressing priorities for the development of the Casablanca Stock Exchange, Casablanca, Morocco
• 12 October 2012, Consultation on Challenges and Prospects for Large Investors in the MENA Region, London, UK
• 22 June 2012, 2nd meeting of the Taskforce of MENA Stock Exchanges for Corporate Governance, Istanbul, Turkey
• 9-10 April 2012, 4th meeting of the Taskforce on corporate governance of SOEs, Kuwait City, Kuwait
• 31 October-1 November 2011, 6th Annual Regional Corporate Governance Conference, Dubai, UAE
• 5 July 2011, 1st meeting of the Taskforce of MENA Stock Exchanges for Corporate Governance, Paris, France
• 5-6 April 2011, 3rd meeting of the Task Force on corporate governance of SOEs, Rabat, Morocco
• 31 October-1 November 2010, fifth 5th meeting of the Working Group, Muscat, Oman
• 22 June 2010, fourth 4th Annual Meeting of the Egyptian Institute of Directors, Cairo, Egypt
• 23-24 June 2010, 2nd meeting of the Taskforce on corporate governance of SOEs, Cairo, Egypt
• 1 March 2010, 1st meeting of the Taskforce on corporate governance of SOEs, in conjunction with the Global Network, Paris, France
• 24 February 2010, 1st meeting of the Forum for Insolvency Reform in the MENA region, Dubai, UAE
• Meetings 2005-2009

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Towards New Arrangements for State Ownership in the Middle East and North Africa

The Role of MENA Stock Exchanges in Corporate Governance

REGIONAL PARTNERS

Hawkamah Institute

Union of Arab Banks

Union of Arab Stock Exchanges

GCC Board Directors Institute