Promoting Responsible Business Conduct through Trade and Investment in the Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye

3. State of play of the inclusion of responsible business conduct considerations in the trade and investment promotion and facilitation policies of MENA+T Programme Countries

Abstract

MENA+T Programme Countries have taken initial steps to integrate RBC considerations in their trade and investment promotion and facilitation policies. Even if explicit references to RBC remain limited, overarching strategies and laws across the region tend to include considerations that lay the ground for using the support provided to exporters and investors as a lever to promote RBC. All Programme Countries have used some of the tools and services to assist exporting companies and attract and facilitate investments with a view to encouraging responsible business practices, although their potential for doing so is yet to be fully exploited.

3.1. Responsible business conduct in the trade promotion policies of MENA+T Programme Countries

Governments can encourage responsible business practices by integrating RBC considerations into trade promotion in different ways and at different levels, from overarching plans and strategies to specific programmes or activities aimed at supporting exporters.

Some MENA+T Programme Countries have started to integrate considerations underpinning RBC in their overarching trade promotion policies. For instance, the 2024‑2028 Strategic Plan of Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade includes among its objectives the contribution to sustainable economic growth through support to the green and digital transitions (Government of Türkiye, n.d., p. 16[33]). Certain high-level national development policies also underline the importance of trade for economic growth while referring to areas covered by the MNE Guidelines. One example is Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision and the Executive Programme for the Implementation of the Vision in 2023‑2025, which aim to position the country as a regional trade hub with an emphasis on environmentally sustainable growth (Government of Jordan, n.d., p. 65[34]; n.d., pp. 94-97[35]). Similarly, Morocco’s New Development Model acknowledges the importance of exports to sustain economic growth and the need to support Moroccan exporters, while promoting a development pathway that creates shared value and protects the environment and natural resources (Government of Morocco, 2021, pp. 55, 82, 91[36]).

3.1.1. Responsible business conduct in financial trade support

Some MENA+T Programme Countries have begun to use the financial support provided to exporters as a lever to promote responsible business practices. This can notably be seen with the integration of RBC considerations in the support granted to exporting companies by Türkiye and Jordan through trade‑related finance (notably officially supported export credits) as well as in their direct support programmes with a financing component (see Table 3.1).

Türkiye, as an Adherent to the OECD Common Approaches [OECD/LEGAL/0393] and the OECD Recommendation on Bribery and Officially Supported Export Credits [OECD/LEGAL/0447] (see Annex A), has put in place mechanisms to prevent adverse social and environmental impacts and bribery in projects that it supports through officially supported export credits. These mechanisms encompass the exclusion from financing of certain activities due to their social and environmental risks as well as processes to prevent and mitigate adverse impacts on the environment and human and labour rights of projects financed by the country’s ECA, Turk Eximbank (see Box 3.1). Similarly, Jordan has put in place measures to detect and manage environmental and social risks in the context of the export credit guarantees subsidised by the Industrial Support and Development Fund, in co‑operation with the Jordan Loan Guarantee Corporation (JLGC).1 These include the screening of applications by JLGC to detect and manage such risks in a manner that is consistent with World Bank standards, in particular the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework and Environmental and Social Standards (Jordan Loan Guarantee Corporation, n.d.[37]).2

Box 3.1. Integration of responsible business conduct considerations in Türk Eximbank’s financial trade support

In Türkiye, export credit is provided by Türk Eximbank (TE), a company fully owned by the Turkish Treasury. Under its Sustainability Principles – which establish its high-level commitments related to sustainability and all the policies and procedures related to its Sustainability Management System – TE commits to consider the adverse impacts of its activities, and to assess, monitor, and report on the environmental and social risks of the applications for export support it receives. It also undertakes to integrate a climate change perspective in all its activities. Based on these commitments, TE has adopted various risk management mechanisms, as specified in its Environmental and Social Impact Policy:

• An exclusion list for the activities that cannot be financed by TE due to their adverse impacts on labour rights and the environment.1

• An Environmental and Social Risk Model according to which TE assesses social and environmental risks on an exporter and project basis, categorising them, and defining action plans to address identified risks. The Environmental and Social Risk Model is applied to projects seeking financing from TE if (i) TE’s share in the activities is above USD 10 million or (ii) such activities are located in or near sensitive areas or where there is a high risk of adverse human rights impacts.2

• Environmental and Social Guidelines defining the screening process applicable to projects under the scope of the OECD Common Approaches3 to prevent and mitigate adverse environmental, social, and human rights impacts. According to this process, TE reviews relevant applications, classifies them into risk groups, and then assesses them based on international standards.⁴ When support is granted for projects entailing risks of adverse impacts, TE requests the applicant to take steps to prevent, mitigate, and compensate actual or potential impacts.

In addition to these risk management mechanisms, since 2021, TE discloses information on its sustainability initiatives, projects, and impacts through a dedicated sustainability report based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards.

Notes: 1. For example, TE may not support projects related to the production and trading of wildlife products covered by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), cross-border waste management activities prohibited under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, or the shipping of dangerous items that do not comply with the standards of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

1. The Environmental and Social Risk Model is only applied to activities and projects where TE’s involvement is requested for two years of more.

2. The OECD Common Approaches apply to all types of officially supported export credits for exports of capital goods and/or services, except exports of military equipment or agricultural commodities, with a repayment term of two years or more.

3. According to TE, the standards and principles it considers when assessing the environmental and social and human rights impacts of the transactions it supports include the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework, IFC Performance Standards, the World Bank Group’s Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Source: Türk Eximbank (n.d.[38]), About Us – Türk Eximbank, https://www.eximbank.gov.tr/en/about-us/corporate/about-us; (n.d.[39]), Reports – Türk Eximbank, https://www.eximbank.gov.tr/en/sustainability/reports; (2019[40]), Türk Eximbank Sustainability Principles, https://www.eximbank.gov.tr/content/files/200ef9b4-9c83-45e7-9f7a-03aa686a3180/turk-eximbank-sustainabilty-principles; (n.d.[41]), Türk Eximbank Environmental and Social Guidelines, https://www.eximbank.gov.tr/en/sustainability/environmental-and-social-impact-assessment; (2022[42]), Türk Eximbank Environmental and Social Impact Policy, https://www.eximbank.gov.tr/en/sustainability/sustainability-policies.

Türkiye and Jordan also provide financial support to exporters through specific support programmes with a financing component that incorporate RBC considerations. In Türkiye, the “Responsible” programme, implemented by the Ministry of Trade, seeks to help exporters integrate an RBC approach in their business model and operations. Under this programme, companies can benefit from financial support to prepare and implement improvement plans pertaining to environmental, social, and governance aspects. The measures eligible for such support include several elements relevant for RBC, such as the establishment of environmental management systems, supply chain sustainability systems, or decarbonisation roadmaps. In addition, the programme gives exporting companies that have demonstrated enhanced sustainability performance the possibility of using the “Responsible” trademark granted by the Ministry of Trade to boost their sustainability profile (Government of Türkiye, 2025[43]).

In Jordan, the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) developed the “Start Business” programme, which aims to promote the creation of micro and small enterprises capable of competing in global markets and takes into account RBC considerations as part of its selection criteria (Government of Jordan, n.d.[44]). When applying to receive the technical and financial support granted under the programme, companies must answer, among others, questions on their project’s impacts on the environment and local communities, and JEDCO prioritises those with a sustainability approach (Government of Jordan, n.d.[44]). Another JEDCO initiative – the “Tatweer” programme, which targets small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with export potential in the service sector – includes among the costs eligible for reimbursement expenses related to the improvement of environmental performance (for instance, installation of energy saving, waste treatment, or renewable energy systems, or other activities relevant for the green transition) (Government of Jordan, n.d.[45]).

Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia also provide export credits, but this financial support has not yet been used to promote responsible business practices. In all three countries, trade‑related finance is provided by state‑owned enterprises, namely the Export Credit Guarantee of Egypt (EGE), the Moroccan Export Insurance Company (Société Marocaine d’Assurance à l’Exportation, SMAEX) and the Tunisian Foreign Trade Insurance Company (Compagnie Tunisienne pour l’ Assurance du Commerce Extérieur, COTUNACE) (EGE, n.d.[46]; n.d.[47]; COTUNACE, n.d.[48]; SMAEX, n.d.[49]; n.d.[50]). They all focus their decisions for granting export credits on financial considerations, and have yet to include non-financial aspects (including RBC-related ones) in their processes. Similarly, at the time of writing, none of these three countries had specific support programmes with a financing component for exporters integrating RBC considerations.

Beyond financial support programmes, the countries in scope also provide tax deductions and exemptions to exporters, frequently in conjunction with the establishment of free trade zones. For example, Tunisia awards “fully exporting companies” and “partially exporting companies” with a range of tax exemptions, such as exemption from professional training taxes and insurance taxes.3 However, it appears that, at the time of writing, none of the MENA+T Programme Countries linked the granting of these deductions and exemptions to RBC considerations.

3.1.2. Responsible business conduct in non-financial trade support

MENA+T Programme Countries have also taken action to use the specific programmes and activities providing non-financial support to exporters as a means to promote responsible business practices. In some cases, this is underpinned by the objectives of their TPAs (see Table 3.1). For example, JEDCO – Jordan’s TPA – has included a sustainability dimension in its two latest strategies. Its Strategic Plan for 2022 – 2025 aimed at helping projects observe international standards relating to environmentally sustainable production and quality and conformity, notably to improve export opportunities and expand access to non-traditional markets in Europe and Africa (Government of Jordan, n.d., pp. 7-8[51]). Its updated Strategic Plan for 2025 – 2027 seeks to boost competitiveness with a view to making progress towards sustainable development (Government of Jordan, n.d., p. 4[52]).

A first way in which TPAs may promote responsible business practices through their activities is by including references to RBC or RBC considerations in the information provided to exporters. TPAs in MENA+T Programme Countries generally provide such information through market access studies for specific jurisdictions or products. These often include information on commercial viability and compliance with technical specifications for given markets, which may be of relevance to RBC (for example information on the environmental aspects of product requirements). However, at the time of writing, they had not yet developed general export guides to provide broader information to exporters, including on RBC. TPAs may also disseminate information encouraging responsible business practices among exporters through their websites. Morocco’s TPA – the Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency (AMDIE) – includes on its webpage generic information on the MNE Guidelines and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, as well as links to access OECD RBC instruments and publications on RBC, and information on the NCP and its role (Government of Morocco, n.d.[53]). The webpages of TPAs in other MENA+T Programme Countries have not yet incorporated information on RBC, the OECD RBC instruments, or NCPs (see Table 3.1).

In addition to information provision, other support services offered by TPAs to exporters such as technical assistance and capacity-building can also be used to promote RBC. Morocco has started doing so by incorporating a few RBC considerations in some of its technical support and capacity-building programmes for exporters (see Box 3.2). This complements initiatives supporting environmentally sustainable and energy transition industries, including the “Power Export” programme led by Morocco’s SME agency, which delivers technical export support for companies active in the green or circular economy sectors (Government of Morocco, n.d.[54]). Other MENA+T Programme Countries do not yet seek to promote RBC through their technical assistance and capacity-building services for exporters.

Box 3.2. Responsible business conduct considerations in Morocco’s non-financial export support programmes

Morocco has integrated some RBC considerations in two of its non-financial support programmes for companies with export potential.¹ The programmes – which are provided by the Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency (AMDIE) – integrate sustainable development and gender among the selection criteria for participation:

• Export Morocco Now: to benefit from AMDIE’s export support services – which include market monitoring and analysis, business development actions, market access support, and training opportunities – companies must participate in this programme. The selection criteria for participation include considerations relating to sustainable development, in addition to intended export volume, employment creation, value added and export-readiness.

• Export Morocco Now Women: this programme provides support to women-led companies through several services, such as trainings on the global trade context and the preparation of an export business plan, the adaptation of products to target market requirements, and business-to-business connection opportunities. The selection criteria for participation likewise include sustainable development and gender considerations.

In addition, one of the capacity-building sessions of the two programmes related to the operational aspects of exporting focusses on “quality and exporting”. It covers topics such as certification and consumer protection, providing examples of specific tools that companies may use to reinforce their performance in areas relevant for RBC, such as the ISO 26 000 standard (on social responsibility) and the ISO 14 000 family of standards (on environmental management).

Note: This box focusses on AMDIE’s non-financial export support programmes. Other programmes may be provided by different government entities, be it in co‑operation with AMDIE or otherwise. For example, Morocco’s Industry and Trade Ministry supports the internationalisation of companies through the programme “Go to Market”, in co‑operation with AMDIE and the Moroccan Exporters’ Association (ASMEX). The ministry, AMDIE and ASMEX also provide support for newly-exporting companies and first-time exporters in co‑operation with the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM). However, as these programmes do not incorporate RBC considerations, they are not included in this box.

Source: Government of Morocco (n.d.[55]), Élargissement des bénéficiaires des deux programmes d’accompagnement à l’export de l’AMDIE à guichet ouvert, https://amdie.gov.ma/communique-presse-ami-2025/; (n.d.[56]), Élargissement des bénéficiaires du programme d’accompagnement à l’export « EXPORT MOROCCO NOW », https://www.morocconow.com/exportmorocconow/; (n.d.[57]), Programme Export Morocco Now – Règlement de participation, https://www.morocconow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2.-EMN-RDP-VF.pdf; (n.d.[58]), Export Morocco Now Women – Règlement de participation de la 2^ème phase du programme, https://www.morocconow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/7.-EMNW-RDP-VF.pdf.

Another type of service that can be used by TPAs to promote RBC among exporters is country brands, which may both emphasise a country’s performance in areas related to RBC and require that companies fulfil certain conditions related to RBC to use the brand and access related services. This is an emerging practice in other regions such as Latin America, where some countries require companies wishing to use their country brands to fulfil specific requirements in areas covered by the MNE Guidelines (OECD, 2024, p. 23[8]). For example, Costa Rica has embedded RBC considerations in the values and licensing protocol of its brand “Essential Costa Rica” (see Box 3.3) (OECD, 2024, p. 23[8]).

Box 3.3. The use of country brands to encourage responsible business practices in other regions: The case of “Essential Costa Rica”

“Essential Costa Rica” is a country brand managed by PROCOMER – Costa Rica’s TPA – which builds on the country’s positive environmental reputation and includes RBC considerations among the requirements for its use. Exporters can apply to use the brand either at the corporate level or for a specific product, for which they must obtain a license through a licensing protocol based on the values of the brand, namely “Excellence”, “Sustainability”, “Social progress”, “Innovation” and “Costa Rican Rooting”:

• Under the “Sustainability” value, the licensing protocol evaluates whether applicant companies have taken environmental management measures to efficiently use energy, reduce emissions and water use, and adequately manage waste, as well as measures to engage with local communities and prevent bribery and corruption.

• Under the “Social Progress” value, the licensing protocol assesses aspects related to human and labour rights (for example, whether the company has adopted human rights policies, worker grievance mechanisms or practices against child labour), occupational safety and health (including risk identification and management activities), and equality of opportunity for vulnerable groups.

In addition to being featured on PROCOMER’s website as a company using the country brand, benefits for licensed companies include non-financial export support (notably marketing and internationalisation trainings) and discounts on some of the other services provided by PROCOMER (such as participation in trade missions or international fairs).

Licenses may be revoked if false, incorrect or partial information is provided by the company, as well as if it fails to sustain the conditions that led to the license being obtained. At the time of writing, there were 786 companies with active “Essential Costa Rica” licenses.

Sources: Government of Costa Rica (2021[59]), Protocolo de evaluación para uso corporativo marca país esencial COSTA RICA: requisitos e indicadores de cumplimiento – Versión 2021, https://www.esencialcostarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Protocolos-de-evaluacion_Anexo1_mar24.pdf; Essential Costa Rica (n.d.[60]), Essential Costa Rica – Our Licensing Program, https://www.esencialcostarica.com/en/the-program/.

No MENA+T Programme country had a branding initiative integrating RBC and being open to company participation at the time of writing. However, through its “Morocco Now” campaign, AMDIE has taken steps to integrate considerations that can contribute to underpin RBC in country branding initiatives. Although it is not open to company participation, the campaign – which aims to promote both exports and investments – highlights the country’s sustainability performance, mainly in relation to low-carbon energy (Government of Morocco, 2022, p. 13[61]; n.d.[62]).

Table 3.1. Overview of the use of trade promotion as a lever to promote responsible business conduct in MENA+T Programme Countries

Country / Trade Promotion Agency (TPA)	Objective to promote sustainability / RBC	Promotion of RBC through financial support to exporters	Promotion of RBC through non-financial support to exporters
			Inclusion of references to RBC in information provided to exporters	Integration of RBC in services for exporters
Egypt – Export Development Authority (EDA)	No	No	No	No
Jordan – Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO)	Yes	Yes	No	No
Morocco – Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE)	No	No	Yes	Yes
Tunisia – Export Promotion Center (CEPEX)	No	No	No	No
Türkiye – Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TiM)	No	Yes	No	No

Note: TiM is an umbrella association of exporters’ associations established by Law 5910 on the Establishment and Duties of the Turkish Exporters Assembly and Exporters’ Association with the mission of, among others, contributing to the development of foreign trade. Law 5910regulates the structure and internal functioning of TiM, which is under the administrative and financial supervision of the Ministry of Trade.

Source: Based on OECD analysis of the mandate, documentation, and services of relevant agencies in MENA+T Programme Countries.

In some MENA+T Programme Countries, government efforts to enable and encourage RBC through trade promotion have been complemented by private sector initiatives seeking to support the adoption of RBC standards by exporting companies. In Türkiye, the Turkish Business Confederation (TÜRKONFED) has established a “Responsible Business Conduct Helpdesk” in co‑operation with German development co‑operation agency GIZ, seeking to support local producers in complying with upcoming RBC-related requirements in important export markets (RBH Türkiye, n.d.[63]; TÜRKONFED, 2024[64]). A similar project has been established in Tunisia, hosted by the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (Union tunisienne de l’industrie, du commerce et de l’artisanat, UTICA) (GIZ, n.d.[65]).

3.2. Responsible business conduct in the investment promotion and facilitation policies of MENA+T Programme Countries

Investment promotion and facilitation is another policy area that governments can leverage to encourage responsible business practices through the inclusion of RBC considerations at different levels. This ranges from the overarching legal and policy frameworks governing investment to the large array of tools deployed to attract and retain investments, such as investment incentives, or the support services provided by IPAs (OECD, 2024[66]; 2015[16]).

Most MENA+T Programme Countries include sustainable development among the objectives of their investment laws (see Table 3.2). Egypt and Jordan, for example, explicitly reference environmental protection and public health. In Tunisia, according to information provided by the government, the new investment law under development at the time of writing will also include references to sustainable development. This is in line with global trends that increasingly consider sustainability as a central element of investment policies and investment promotion and facilitation, and which lay the ground to encourage responsible business practices through policies and activities in the field (OECD, 2025[67]; 2024[68]).

Table 3.2. Inclusion of sustainability among investment laws’ objectives in MENA+T Programme Countries

Country1	Law	Provision	Relevant extracts2
Egypt	Law No. 72 of 2017	Article 2	“Investment in the Arab Republic of Egypt aims to promote national economic growth rates and domestic production rates, create job opportunities, encourage exportation and increase competitiveness, in a way that would contribute to achieving comprehensive and sustainable development. […] Investment shall be governed by the following principles: […] 3. Due consideration shall be given to all socially relevant aspects, and to the protection of environment and public health […]. The aforementioned investment principles shall apply to Investor and the State, all within their scope of functions respectively.”
Jordan	Law No. 21 of 2022	Article 3	“The general investment policy in the Kingdom is based on achieving economic and development visions that aims to provide job opportunities, increase economic growth, improve competitiveness and the business environment, and shall be based on the following principles: […] H- Protecting the environment and encourage transition to a green economy, safety and public health, according to social standards.”
Morocco	Framework law No. 03 of 2022	Article 1	“[T]his framework law establishes, as follows, the fundamental objectives of the State’s action in the development and promotion of investment: […] the achievement of sustainable development […].”
Tunisia	Law No 71 of 2016	Article 1	“This law aims to promote investment and encourage the creation and development of companies according to the priorities of the national economy, in particular through: […] the achievement of sustainable development.”

Notes: 1. In Türkiye, Law No. 4 875 of 2013 governs the promotion of foreign direct investment and the protection of foreign investors’ rights specifically. It does not incorporate sustainability elements in this context, nor does it address broader objectives and principles of investment policy. Therefore, it is not included in this table.

1. The extracts for Morocco and Tunisia are unofficial translations from the original French legal text, prepared by the OECD Secretariat. The extracts for Egypt and Jordan are translations made available by IPAs.

Source: Based on OECD analysis of relevant legislation in the five countries part of the MENA+T Programme.

In addition, some MENA+T Programme Countries have started integrating a sustainability dimension in their overarching investment strategies. In Türkiye, for instance, the 2024 - 2028 FDI Strategy, which aims to attract quality FDI projects, defines such projects as those that contribute to economic growth and sustainable development (Government of Türkiye, n.d., p. 60[69]). In Egypt, the forthcoming National FDI Strategy seeks to attract and retain high-quality FDI that is sustainable and aligned with development objectives, with a specific focus on strategic sectors that contribute to sustainable development, such as wind and solar energy or information and communication technologies (Government of Egypt, 2024[70]).

The inclusion of a sustainability dimension in investment laws or overarching investment strategies has provided overall direction for the incorporation, through the sustainability lens, of RBC considerations in the tools developed by MENA+T Programme Countries to attract and retain investments. Among these tools, investment incentives have been increasingly used by countries in the region to attract investors and investments that can support sustainable development through responsible business practices.

In Morocco, the general incentive programme for investment projects foresees higher incentives for projects that contribute to sustainable development and female employment (see Box 3.4). In Jordan, investment projects related to environmental protection and the green transition can benefit from greater incentives and specific incentives have also been developed to promote female employment (see Box 3.4).4

Box 3.4. Integration of responsible business conduct considerations in investment incentives in MENA+T: The case of Jordan and Morocco

To attract investors and investments that can support their efforts to make progress towards sustainable development, Jordan and Morocco have integrated RBC considerations into their investment frameworks, granting comparatively higher incentives for businesses with better environmental performance or creating enhanced employment opportunities for women.

Jordan

In Jordan, the Investment Environment Law and its implementing regulations establish different incentives based on criteria such as the size of the investment, the creation of employment, and the generation of local added value. The amount of these incentives may be increased for investment projects that contribute to protect the environment or the transition to a green economy. According to information shared by the government, this is determined based on information provided by the investor and in co‑ordination with relevant competent authorities. In addition, one of the general criteria for receiving incentives in Jordan is female employment, with investments projects where at least 50% of the workforce is female being eligible for reduced rent on publicly owned land, electricity bill support, and reduced taxes and regulatory charges.

Morocco

In Morocco, an incentive programme is available for investment projects that meet minimum thresholds in terms of job creation and/or investment value. Incentives are disbursed in the form of direct grants, the amount of which – which is based on the amount invested – is increased for projects deemed to contribute to sustainable development. This corresponds to projects that use non-conventional water resources and have water management systems, and that meet at least two of the following four criteria:

• use of renewable energy

• energy efficiency systems

• waste management systems

• “social responsibility” programmes. Investment projects are considered to implement “social responsibility” programmes when they include concrete and measurable actions relating to improvements in occupational safety and health or the integration of environmental, ethical and transparency principles in the company’s governance processes, among others.

Projects in which salaries paid to female employees represent at least 30% of all salaries are also eligible for increased incentives. The investment agreement between the government and the investor includes monitoring and verification arrangements to assess compliance with the conditions required to benefit from these incentives.

Sources: Government of Jordan (2023[71]), Regulation No. 7 for the Year 2023 – Regulating the Investment Environment Regulation, https://www.moin.gov.jo/ebv4.0/root_storage/en/eb_list_page/investment_environment_regulation_no__(7)_for_the_year_2023-english_(2).pdf; Government of Morocco (2023[72]), Décret nº2‑23‑1 du 25 rejeb 1444 (16 février 2023) relatif à la mise en œuvre du dispositif de soutien principal à l’investissement et du dispositif de soutien spécifique applicable aux projets d’investissement à caractère stratégique, https://amdie.gov.ma/lois-decrets/; Government of Morocco (2023[73]), Arrêté du Chef du gouvernement n°3‑12‑23 du 8 chaabane 1444 (1er mars 2023) pris pour l’application des articles premier et 7 du décret n° 2‑23‑1, https://amdie.gov.ma/lois-decrets/; Government of Morocco (2023[74]), Arrêté du Chef du gouvernement n°3‑13‑23 pris pour l’application de l’Article 6 du décret n°2‑23‑1, https://amdie.gov.ma/lois-decrets/.

In Tunisia, according to information shared by the government, projects of national interest5 may receive higher incentives if they meet RBC-related criteria. These include both environmental (measures supporting pollution reduction, green energy use, and water efficiency) and social considerations (measures in favour of employees and external stakeholders).6 Additionally, investments in environmental remediation projects for pollution arising from a company’s activities or in the adoption of non-polluting technologies benefit from specific incentives.7 In Türkiye, investments for the cleaning or disposal of wastes – even where they are not the main activity of the enterprise – can benefit from incentives such as value added tax exemptions and corporate tax reductions, as well as interest support for the loans underpinning the investment (Government of Türkiye, 2025[75]). Similarly, Egypt’s investment incentive regime includes measures such as tax deductions for investments generating or depending on renewable energy, as well as streamlined permits for national interest projects relating to renewable energy and electrification, alternatives to single‑use plastic products, and integrated waste management (Government of Egypt, 2025[76]).

In addition to incentives, RBC can also be encouraged through the support services granted to investors by IPAs (OECD, 2015, p. 39[16]; 2018, pp. 3-4[15]). The integration of a sustainability dimension or the promotion of RBC into the formal mandate, the general objectives or overall strategy of an IPA provides a favourable context for doing so. This is the case in Egypt, where the IPA – the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) – has the mission of “boosting and encouraging sustainable investments […] in order to achieve sustainable economic development” (see Table 3.3) (Government of Egypt, n.d.[77]). IPAs in other MENA+T Programme Countries have yet to receive such an explicit mandate.

Even where mandates or objectives explicitly referring to sustainability or the promotion of RBC are not present, IPAs in MENA+T Programme Countries have taken initial steps to incorporate considerations underpinning RBC in the context of sector prioritisation. In Egypt, GAFI’s investment targeting approach takes into account a sector’s potential use of clean energy and key performance indicators related to the low-carbon transition (OECD, 2026, p. 70[78]). Moreover, according to information provided by the government, in the context of the preparation of the country’s upcoming National FDI Strategy, GAFI has prioritised certain sectors based on both feasibility and desirability, including their contribution to long-term development goals such as sustainability. The Strategy’s monitoring and evaluation framework will also reportedly include indicators on the contribution of facilitated investments to environmental sustainability. Similarly, in Morocco, AMDIE’s sector prioritisation criteria include effects on employment and working conditions, as well as impacts on climate or the environment (OCDE, 2024, p. 158[79]). Alongside efforts to embed RBC considerations in sector selection, some MENA+T Programme Countries prioritise certain activities based on sustainability considerations. For example, according to information shared by the governments of Morocco and Türkiye, the sectors and activities currently prioritised by their IPAs include renewable energy.

In parallel, some MENA+T Programme IPAs have taken initial steps to integrate RBC in their project prioritisation by assessing investment projects’ sustainability and other RBC considerations, expanding the traditional approach which until recently had been based on criteria such as size, job creation, or effects on exports (OECD, 2019, p. 57[18]). Türkiye’s IPA offers a relevant example. Its Investor Management Model, used to evaluate and prioritise all projects in the IPA’s portfolio, includes an assessment of investment projects’ contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a pre‑defined questionnaire seeking to determine whether they support the realisation of specific SDGs (OECD, 2024, p. 28[68]). According to information shared by the government, the IPA also takes into consideration factors such as investors’ track records on environmental, social and governance matters, as well as their long-term commitment to RBC principles and standards.

Beyond prioritisation, initial efforts by MENA+T Programme IPAs to encourage RBC among investors have principally involved information provision activities. For example, GAFI’s website contains a corporate social responsibility (CSR) section with documentation related to RBC. This includes Arabic-language explanations of international RBC instruments, notably the MNE Guidelines and the UNGPs, as well as relevant tools, such as ISO and GRI standards (Government of Egypt, n.d.[80]). GAFI’s explanatory document on the MNE Guidelines also addresses the role of NCPs. Morocco’s IPA similarly provides information on the OECD RBC instruments and the NCP on its website (Government of Morocco, n.d.[53]). In addition, the investor guides of the Moroccan, Tunisian and Turkish IPAs include information on their countries’ legal framework in some of the areas covered by the MNE Guidelines, principally employment and industrial relations and, in the case of Türkiye, environment and competition (Government of Tunisia, n.d.[81]; Government of Morocco, 2022[82]; Government of Türkiye, 2024[83]).

At the time of writing, the use of other services supporting the establishment of investors and the continued operation of their projects, or the definition of preferential access to these services, to promote RBC was still limited among MENA+T Programme IPAs (see Table 3.3). A relevant example, however, is found in Egypt, where GAFI has been granting preferential access to its support services to investors that have received its Sustainable Development Excellence Award (see Box 3.5).

Box 3.5. GAFI’s Sustainable Development Award

GAFI has established a Sustainable Development Excellence Award to select the ten investment projects that best support activities in the “areas of social responsibility”, which are defined as, among others: waste recycling, water reuse, or renewable energy usage. Projects are chosen based on criteria related to corporate social responsibility and sustainable development.

The companies that receive the Sustainable Development Award can benefit from specific non-financial support by GAFI, including a mention on its website, priority access to sponsoring and participation in its conferences, and a dedicated contact person in its one‑stop-shop for administrative procedures.

Source: Government of Egypt (n.d.[84]), Sustainable Development Excellence Award for the year 2023, https://www.gafi.gov.eg/English/Howcanwehelp/Pages/CSRSubCategoryPages/Sustainable-Development-Award.aspx

Outside the MENA+T region, some countries condition access to their IPAs’ services on the observance of or commitment to observe RBC principles and standards such as the MNE Guidelines and related Due Diligence Guidance. For example, companies participating in activities related to trade and investment organised by Sweden’s trade and investment promotion agency are required by its general conditions to strive to adhere to the MNE Guidelines and the UNGPs (Business Sweden, n.d.[85]). Similarly, investors seeking support from Brazil’s trade and investment promotion agency are subject to its compliance programme, which requires the conduct of an integrity due diligence process to prevent corruption (OECD, 2024, p. 25[8]).

Table 3.3. Overview of the use of investment promotion and facilitation as a lever to promote responsible business conduct in MENA+T Programme Countries

Country / Investment Promotion Agency (IPA)	Mandate / objectives to promote sustainability / RBC	Sector / projects prioritisation related to sustainability / RBC	Promotion of RBC through support to investors
			Inclusion of references to RBC in information provided to investors	Integration of RBC in services for investors
Egypt – General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI)	Yes	Yes: renewable energy	Yes	Yes
Jordan – Ministry of Investment (Invest Jordan)	No	No	No	No
Morocco – Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE)	No	Yes: renewable energy	Yes	No
Tunisia – Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) and Tunisian Investment Agency (TIA)	No	No	No	No
Türkiye – Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye	No	Yes: general1	No	No

Note: In addition to prioritisation efforts through its Investor Management Model, Türkiye’s sector prioritisation includes renewable energy.

Source: Based on an OECD analysis of the mandate, documentation, and services of relevant agencies in MENA+T Programme Countries.

Notes

← 1.  At the time of writing, Jordan’s Central Bank held 45% of JLGC’s shares (Jordan Loan Guarantee Corporation, 2026[129]).

← 2.  The World Bank Environmental and Social Framework establishes a series of policies and procedures to strengthen the integration of environmental and social sustainability in the Bank’s activities, as well as related safeguards in the projects it supports through investment project financing. The Environmental and Social Framework includes the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Standards (ESS), which set out requirements related to the identification and assessment of environmental and social actual and potential impacts in financed projects (either directly by the Bank or through intermediaries). The Environmental and Social Framework does not require projects to implement all the ESS requirements: only the requirements relevant to the reasons for which a project’s risk profile is increased need to be implemented (World Bank, n.d.[147]).

← 3.  Government of Tunisia (2017[150]), Tax Incentives Law n° 2017‑8, Articles 8 and 12.

← 4.  Government of Jordan (2023[71]), Regulation No. (7) for the Year 2023 Regulating the Investment Environment Regulation, Article 30.

← 5.  According to Article 16 of Decree No. 389, on financial incentives for investments made under the Investment Law, investment projects may be considered of national interest if they contribute to one of the objectives of investment as established by the Investment Law, and invest at least 50mn Tunisian Dinar (approximately USD 17.2mn at the time of writing) or create at least 500 jobs (Government of Tunisia, 2017[151]).

← 6.  Response of the Government of Tunisia to the 2024 NCP Annual Questionnaire and information provided by the Government of Tunisia.

← 7.  Government of Tunisia (2017[153]), Decree No. 389 on financial incentives for investments made under the Investment Law, Article 3.