(February 15, 2006) New international anti-bribery guidelines for export credit agencies were due to be agreed in principle early next month. Opposition from Berlin and Tokyo, plus several smaller countries, means the decision will now be delayed by months, if not years, according to officials close to the negotiations, which are taking place in the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
(February 15, 2006) Tough new guidelinesGermany and Japan have challenged new draft global anti-corruption guidelines for exporting companies, according to documents seen by the BBC. The countries say that rules aimed at improving the transparency of export credit agencies are too bureaucratic.
(November 16, 2003) The World Bank’s refusal to help fund a Canadian company’s controversial development of a huge open pit gold mine in Romania has raised concerns the Canadian government will step in with money.
(June 22, 2002) The searing criticisms of IMF policies and programs are mostly on target and come from none other than Joseph Stiglitz, the former Chief Economist of the World Bank.
(May 30, 2002) Export Development Canada (EDC) has released revised policies governing its environmental and disclosure practices following a 60-day comment period.
(May 23, 2002) Paper for UK Seminar on Export Credit Agency Reform – "Beyond Business Principles" House of Commons, UK: Recommendations for the Export Credit Guarantee Department (ECGD) on Debt and Export Credits.
(November 27, 2001) Ministers have tabled a bill allowing prosecution of firms that use bribes to win export orders. Why has it taken years?
(January 1, 2001) EDF report concludes that ECAs played a major role in financing environmentally and socially unsustainable investments by assisting foreign investors in supporting Suharto’s system of economic and political monopolies.
(November 5, 2000) A letter endorsed by 78 NGOs from 33 countries proposes that the OECD’s Export Credit Group adopt measures to prevent corruption in ECA projects.
(November 1, 2000) According to Peter Bosshard, foreign companies gained from Indonesian corruption while recieving political and financial support from northern governments, international financial institutions and export credit agencies.
(July 1, 2000) ECA activities in Africa are linked to mismanagement, environmental disruption, corruption, and increasing social conflict.
(June 13, 2000) Over 50 representatives of Indonesian and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and social movements convened in Jakarta and South Sumatra 1-7 May, 2000 for a strategy meeting on official export credit and investment insurance agencies (ECAs). They agreed on the following Declaration, endorsed by 347 NGOs from 45 countries.
(February 26, 1999) Transparency International proposes a broad framework to encourage transparency in export credit agencies.
(August 1, 1998) Export Credit Guarantees should, as a rule, only be extended for development purposes. However, increases in export credit guarantees seem to reflect an exporter-driven drive for business, rather than a borrower-driven need for funding.
(April 1, 1998) 160 NGOs from 46 countries demand greater transparency and the adoption of environmental and social standards for publicly supported export credit and investment insurance agencies.
Patricia Adams
Brady Yauch
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Lisa Peryman
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