Fair Market Conditions for Competitiveness in Six OECD Partner Countries

The project aims to support the positive efforts of Algeria in the areas of anti-corruption and fair competition through the promotion of international standards and the adoption of a multi-stakeholder approach. Activities focus on the creation of a Collective Action community that involves all relevant actors, including the private sector, academia and civil society representatives. This dialogue platform facilitates the development of coalitions against corruption to strengthen business integrity in strategic economic sectors particularly exposed to corruption risks. Furthermore, the OECD provides targeted and actionable policy recommendations to policymakers to enhance the institutional framework and to strengthen capacities of enforcement agencies.

Several objectives guide the implementation of the project:

• Raise awareness about OECD standards and good practices of anti-corruption, integrity and fair competition for competitiveness with governments, business and civil society;
• Build capacity and foster the implementation of concrete policy recommendations with regard to the transparency and efficiency of anti-corruption authorities;
• Promote the latest knowledge on international standards and practices in the area of anti-corruption and integrity for competitiveness in academic curricula;
• Promote High Level Reporting Mechanism (HLRM).

OECD data show that despite Croatia’s progress in fighting corruption, the country could further advance relevant policies to improve the effectiveness of its institutions. Croatia has thus embarked with the OECD South East Europe Regional Programme  to sustainably enhance competitiveness and integrity. To strengthen prevention mechanisms and government agencies, the next phase of activities builds upon the project, Fair Market Conditions for Competitiveness in the Adriatic Region, and focuses on capacity building and knowledge exchange. To ensure lasting change, local actors will benefit from assistance in implementing new OECD tools and practices to foster integrity among businesses and SOEs, introducing new methods for legal provision on anti-corruption practices in the academic curricula.

Several objectives guide the implementation of the project:

• Raise awareness of OECD standards and good practices of anti-corruption, integrity and fair competition for competitiveness with governments, business and civil society;
• Build capacity and foster the implementation of concrete OECD recommendations regarding the transparency and efficiency of anti-corruption and competition authorities;
• Promote the latest knowledge on international standards and practices in anti-corruption and integrity for competitiveness in academic curricula.

Leveraging Saudi Arabia’s recent anti-corruption efforts as part of its Vision 2030 development plan, the project aims to raise awareness of international anti-corruption and integrity standards and encourage the creation of a Collective Actions community. For this purpose, the OECD organises a series of consultations, workshops and roundtables including a wide spectrum of state and non-state actors. This enables stakeholders from the public and private sectors, academia and civil society to contribute collectively to the promotion a culture of integrity in all sectors of society and ensure that policies are tailored to all relevant stakeholders’ needs.

The activities organised within the framework of this project strive to:

• Raise awareness about OECD standards and good practices of anti-corruption, integrity and fair competition for competitiveness with governments, business and civil society;
• Promote the latest knowledge on international standards and practices in the area of anti-corruption and integrity for competitiveness in academic curricula.

Serbia has progressed in the fight against corruption. However, OECD evidence shows that policy design and implementation needs to further improve. Therefore, Serbia has embarked with the OECD South East Europe Regional Programme on a collective action approach to sustainably enhance competitiveness and integrity. To strengthen prevention mechanisms and government agencies, the framework builds upon the project Fair Market Conditions for Competitiveness in the Adriatic Region and addresses shortcomings identified in the OECD Competitiveness Outlook 2024. The collaboration now moves into a new phase with a focus on knowledge exchange, expanding alignment with local NGOs while introducing OECD tools and practices to improve market conditions.

Several objectives guide the implementation of the project:

• Raise awareness of OECD standards and good practices of anti-corruption, integrity and fair competition for competitiveness with governments, business and civil society;
• Build capacity and foster the implementation of concrete OECD recommendations with regard to the transparency and efficiency of anti-corruption and competition authorities;
• Promote the latest knowledge on international standards and practices in the area of anti-corruption and integrity for competitiveness in academic curricula; 

In the continuation of the close partnership between South Africa and the OECD, this project seeks to support further reforms on SOEs and broader anti-corruption strategies for South African public officials, corporations and other relevant stakeholders in the private sector and academia. The OECD also helps raise awareness of principles and best practices on integrity and fosters business integrity in strategic sectors through the creation of a Collective Action community. 

More generally, this project aims to:

• Raise awareness about OECD standards and good practices of anticorruption, integrity and fair competition for competitiveness with governments, business and civil society;
• Build capacity and foster the implementation of concrete policy recommendations with regard to the transparency and efficiency of anti-corruption authorities;
• Promote the latest knowledge on international standards and practices in the area of anti-corruption and integrity for competitiveness in academic curricula.

Since 2017, Uzbekistan has been pursuing reforms to open markets and boost private sector contributions to economic development. Despite progress, challenges remain in creating a competitive business environment due to excessive state presence, particularly through state-owned enterprises (SOEs). By 2024, the government aimed to reduce SOEs by 75% through privatisation, but implementing clear rules and ensuring fair competition for private businesses are ongoing challenges, as noted in the OECD’s Improving the Legal Environment for Business and Investment in Central Asia progress report. The Fair Market Conditions for Competitiveness in Uzbekistan project aims to strengthen its competition framework and align with international best practices.

In particular, it:

• Raises awareness of OECD standards and good practices in anti-corruption, integrity, and fair competition;
• Provides insights into the strengths and weaknesses of Uzbekistan's competition regime;
• Offers recommendations to improve the legal and enforcement framework;
• Builds capacity and fostered the implementation of OECD recommendations to enhance transparency, efficiency of competition authorities, and corporate governance standards.