25-27 May 2005, Entebbe, Uganda

Organised in the context of the NEPAD/OECD Africa Investment Initiative and hosted by the Government of Uganda, the NEPAD/OECD Investment Policy Roundtable entitled Investment for African Development: Making it Happen took place on 25-27 May 2005 in Entebbe, Uganda.

The Roundtable focused on investment policy, including measures to enhance national investment climates and attract investors, with discussions focusing on two specific issues: 

• the regulatory environment for foreign direct investment in African countries; and
• the experiences with, and the prospects for, private participation in infrastructure and the utilities sectors.

The Roundtable aimed to initiate a process leading to increased private sector participation in two selected sectors, namely transport infrastructure and telecommunications. Participants were invited to discuss benchmarks for future self-evaluation and reporting of progress in the areas under consideration.

NEPAD and OECD will be jointly working toward establishing a framework for sharing information and enhancing transparency for purposes of building public-private coalitions and removing unnecessary obstacles to private investment.  

Back-to-back with the Roundtable, on 26 May, a regional consultation with African stakeholders on the Policy Framework for Investment – developed as part of the OECD Initiative on Investment for Development and launched in 2003 in Johannesburg – was organised. Discussions focused on corporate governance practices and their relevance for the investment climate.

Conference documentation

• Concluding Remarks by the Co-Chairs (Day 1 and Day 2 only)
• Draft agenda
• Opening Remarks, Kiyo Akasaka, Deputy Secretary-General, OECD

Session 1 – Investment for development: the main challenges

• Alliances for Integrity - Government and Business Roles in Enhancing African Standards of Living , Conference Summary Report 

Session 2 – The regulatory environment for international investment in Africa: statutory rules and regulation 

• Building Investment Policy Capacity, The OECD Peer Review Process, OECD
• Regulatory Environment for FDI: Preliminary Inventory for Selected African Countries, OECD
• Self Evaluation of the Regulatory Framework for Direct Investment: Uganda, Maggie Kigozi, Uganda Investment Authority
• International Investment in Tanzania, Sammuel J. Sitta, Tanzania Investment Centre

Session 3 – Beyond FDI regulation: Policies bearing on the investment climate

• OECD Initiative on Investment for Development: Progress Report, OECD 
• The OECD Initiative on Investment for Development - A Policy Framework for Investment: Competition Policy , OECD 
• The OECD Initiative on Investment for Development - A Policy Framework for Investment: Tax Policy , OECD 
• The OECD Initiative on Investment for Development - A Policy Framework for Investment: Trade Policy , OECD 
• A Policy Framework for Investment: Investment Promotion and Facilitation, OECD 

Session 4 – Enhancing the investment climate: a role for both the public and the private sector 

• Mobilising Investment for Development - ODA and Investment Synergies in Africa, Simon White, South African IDEAS
• Investment Climate Assessments in Africa, Michael Wong, World Bank

Session 5 – Private participation in infrastructure

• Assessing Public-Private Partnerships in Africa, Peter Farlam, SAIIA
• Connecting Africa to Africa and Africa to the Rest of the World, Comtel
• Encouraging Public-Private Partnerships in the Utilities Sector: The Role of Development Assistance, Stephen Thomsen
• Joint Concessioning of Kenya Railways and Uganda Railways, Anthony Muriithi, M.A. Consulting
• Investment Opportunities in the Northern Corridor with an Emphasis on Transport Infrastructure, TTCA Secretariat

For reference

• OECD-NEPAD Statement
• OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
• OECD Principles of Corporate Governance: 2004, pdf file
• Public Sector Transparency and the International Investor  
• Checklist for Foreign Direct Investment Policies  
• FDI for Development: Maximising Benefits, Minimising Costs

Conference organisers

OECD - Mr. Hans Christiansen (hans.christiansen@oecd.org)

NEPAD Secretariat - Mr. Sudir Chuckun (sudirc@nepad.org)

Uganda Investment Authority - Dr. Maggie Kigozi (mkigozi@ugandainvest.com)  / Mr. Issa Mukasa (imukasa@ugandainvest.com)