News & Events

News

Western Balkans continue progress in SME policy implementation

18-Jun-2009

The Western Balkans continue making significant progress in the implementation of policies supporting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to the 2009 SME Policy Index Report released in Brussels on 17 June 2009.

Fighting corruption around the world

12-Jun-2009

Regional initiatives help the OECD reach out globally to curb corruption. This newsletter provides highlights, events and publications from our programmes in Africa, Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe and Central Asia and Latin America, as well as our dialogue with China.

The crisis and its impact on cross border investment

03-Jun-2009

With the the global economic crisis, governments are now focused on restoring national economic and employment growth and financial stability which also poses risks for freedom of investment. If they all recognise that open markets will ultimately contribute to a sustainable recovery, they might be tempted to adopt “beggar thy neighbour” policies, including investment protectionism and unfair incentives to attract or retain investments, according to the OECD Secretary-General.

The OECD’s effort to help build a stronger, cleaner and fairer global economy

03-Jun-2009

The current economic crisis has exposed the deficiencies of economic global governance and the risk of having a highly integrated global economy with fragmented global economic decision-making and regulation. To improve our impact, we do need stronger, more inclusive and better coordinated international organisations, warned the OECD Secretary-General.

Renewable Energy and Water Sector Projects under Annex IV of the Arrangement

02-Jun-2009

The following table shows the number and value of renewable energy and water projects prior notified under Annex IV of the Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credits for the period July 2005 to December 2008.

The "Global Standard” of the 21st Century

13-May-2009

The economic crisis has generated an urgent need to restore confidence in our future and make the world economy stronger, cleaner and fairer. There is growing political consensus on the need to develop a set of common principles and standards in order to ensure a more stable and sustainable development of the global economy, according to the OECD Secretary-General.

Investment policies and economic crises: lessons from the past

21-Apr-2009

How have governments responded to national and international crises in terms of their policies towards international investment? This paper looks at the range of investment policies adopted in previous crises and at how investors responded. It then compares this historical experience with recent measures announced to mitigate the current crisis.

Development aid at its highest level ever in 2008

30-Mar-2009

In 2008, total net official development assistance (ODA) from members of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) rose by 10.2% in real terms to USD 119.8 billion.  This is the highest dollar figure ever recorded.  It represents 0.30% of members’ combined gross national income.

Resist investment protectionism, countries meeting at OECD agree

30-Mar-2009

Countries participating in a “Freedom of Investment” initiative, which together represent four fifths of the world economy, have pledged to resist discriminatory policies and new forms of protectionism towards investment in the context of the global economic crisis and to continue to monitor measures and commitments.

Keeping markets open at times of crisis

30-Mar-2009

This report prepared for the G20 meeting, reviews actual and potential policy responses to the crisis in terms of trade and investment. The unprecedented degree of global economic integration today implies that even small measures could inflict lasting harm on globalisation with serious effects on recovery and future prosperity.


Events

UN Global Compact and OECD intensify collaboration

on 27-Oct-2009

The United Nations Global Compact and the OECD have recently begun to enhance their collaborative efforts, particularly in countries that have both Global Compact Local Networks and National Contact Points NCPs on the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

Responsible business conduct in the MENA region

on 26-Oct-2008

The first meeting of the Regional Task Force on Responsible Business Conduct took place in Cairo on 26 October. Participants discussed concrete initiatives for engaging in responsible business conduct and strengthening partnerships in the MENA region, focusing particularly on fighting corruption, education and employment standards, environment and health.

OECD Working Group on Bribery – press conference today at 11.00 a.m. in Paris

on 17-Oct-2008

The OECD’s Working Group on Bribery will hold a press conference at 11.00 a.m. today at OECD headquarters to report on the recent Phase 2bis examination of the United Kingdom under the terms of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. It will be webcast LIVE.

Defining and strengthening sector specific sources of competitiveness in the Western Balkans

on 10-Jun-2009

With the 10 June 2009 publication of its study on defining and strengthening sector specific sources of competitiveness in the Western Balkans, the Investment Compact for South East Europe completed the first of two phases of one of its implementation support projects.

Seminar to launch the Investment Reform Index (IRI) 2009

from 15-Sep-2008 to 16-Oct-2008

The IRI is the South East Europe Investment Compact’s flagship publication, providing a comprehensive assessment of policy reform, institutional settings and achievements in key dimensions of policy that impact the business climate, from infrastructure to human capital development. The IRI 2009 was launched at a seminar in Sarajevo attended by representatives from throughout South East Europe.

Latin-American Regional Conference: Commitment and Co-operation in the Fight Against Corruption and Transnational Bribery

from 29-Sep-2008 to 30-Sep-2008

This conference aimed to reaffirm regional commitment to fighting corruption and upholding international standards, foster exchange of information and improve co-operation, and contribute to countries’ national anti-bribery strategies.

High-level meeting on economic and governance policy reforms in Iraq

from 08-Jul-2008 to 10-Jul-2008

High-level representatives from the Government of Iraq and OECD-member countries met in Paris on 08-10 July 2008 to discuss Iraq's investment climate, anti-corruption policies and aid management -- three issues identified as priorities by Iraqi officials during prior meetings held under the framework of the International Compact with Iraq. The meeting was organised by the MENA-OECD Initiative on Governance and Investment for Development and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Iraq.

Keynote presentation by Professor John G. Ruggie

from 24-Jun-2008 to 25-Jun-2008

Professor John G. Ruggie, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Business and Human Rights, delivered the keynote presentation on the occasion of the 8th annual meeting of National Contact Points in Paris on 24 June 2008.

OECD Global Forum in Paris 27-28 March to focus on investment for development

from 27-Mar-2008 to 28-Mar-2008

What can developing countries do to attract more and better investment? And how can the momentum of investment globalisation be maintained amid rising protectionism?

OECD-ILO Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility

from 23-Jun-2008 to 24-Jun-2008

Jointly organised by OECD and ILO, this conference was devoted to the theme of "Employment and Industrial Relations: Promoting Responsible Business Conduct in a Globalising Economy". Discussions focused on wider dissemination of good corporate labour practices and better understanding and use of the OECD and ILO instruments.



Top of page

7-8 December 2009 Paris, France

8th Global Forum on International Investment

22-23 November Marrakech, Morocco

2009 MENA-OECD Ministerial Conference

11-12 November 2009, Johannesburg

Ministerial conference on investment in Africa

Recent statistics, policy analysis and tools promoting investment

Investment Newsletter

Practical guidance for implementing the Policy Framework for Investment

Investment policy toolkit

OECD checklist for public action

Private sector participation in water infrastructure

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