PACIFIC BASIN ECONOMIC COUNCIL
MAIN PAGE | EVENTS & PROGRAMS | 1999 | COMBATING CORRUPTION

Main Page Summary Overview Agenda PBEC Continues Efforts to Foster Greater Transparency Transparency has been consistently identified as an important ingredient in fostering economic growth and stability. PBEC is committed to helping build a business environment where PBEC member corporations can grow and prosper. As part of this overall commitment, PBEC has played a leadership role in the area of transparency. Lead by our working committee on transparency, PBEC has spoken out forcefully in support of initiatives enhancing transparency, and has adopted a charter on transparency.     PBEC, in association with the ADB, OECD and other international organizations, recently held a workshop on transparency in Manila, Philippines.     Michael Davies, chairman of the PBEC Working Committee on Transparency, confers with conference delegates.     PBEC member Stuart Deming (Inman Deming L.L.P.) continues the discussion during a coffee break. To further our efforts in the area of transparency, PBEC recently acted as an associated partner organization with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) at a workshop entitled "Combating Corruption In Asian And Pacific Economies." Held at the ADB headquarters in Manila from September 29 through October 1 the workshop hosted over 160 senior officials, leading business and civil society representatives from more than thirty countries. Participants, including a delegation of approximately 15 PBEC members, met to discuss the ever-growing importance of fighting corruption on the national and international level. Other partners in the Workshop included the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Transparency International, the United Nations Development Program, the United States Agency for International Development, and the World Bank Institute. The objective of the workshop was to foster an awareness of the serious implications of corruption in economic development and co-operation and to identify anti-corruption strategies. Three PBEC speakers had an opportunity to address the conference. Michael Davies, Chairman of PBEC's Transparency Working Committee, addressed the audience on the panel entitled "Encouraging Good Corporate Behavior", and discussed the importance of corporate codes of conduct. Alex Duperouzel of Kroll Associates Asia in Hong Kong lead the discussion in the session entitled "Private Sector Approach", which addressed what private companies and organizations like PBEC can be and should be doing to combat corruption. PBEC Secretary General Robert Lees spoke on a panel concerning "International Instruments to Fight Corruption", which provided an opportunity to outline PBEC's activism in the area of transparency. Several delegates commented favorably on PBEC's charter on transparency and the fact that PBEC was the first business organization to seriously address this issue. The conference yielded several positive, concrete outcomes: PBEC has established an intranet site for conference participants to discuss follow-up activities, and exchange information and documents. PBEC will explore the possibility of hosting a transparency conference next year, perhaps in Korea. PBEC will explore the possibility benchmarking best practices of corporate codes of conduct, as part of its future work program. Other important themes which emerged from the conference and warrant further consider and discussion within PBEC include: The importance of a free press to build support for anti-corruption activities; the value of developing international standards for professions; and further publicizing the positive foreign direct investment benefits of serious anti-corruption efforts. The PBEC Working Committee on Transparency is the primary vehicle through which PBEC members can further explore and discuss any of these issues, and all PBEC members are strongly encouraged to actively participate in the working committee, under the leadership of chairman Michael Davies. PBEC members who did not attend the conference, but would like to be registered to participate in the transparency intranet site, please contact the International Secretariat at info@pbec.org. For more information contact: Steve Olson Director, Policy Coordination & Communications PBEC International Secretariat 900 Fort Street, Suite 1080 Honolulu, Hawai`i 96813 (808) 521-9044 (808) 521-8530 Fax E-Mail: steve@pbec.org