Agenda

Sep 25 - 27 (2024)

Agenda

Day 1 | Workshop for Bhutan National Stakeholders on Business Integrity

Session 1: The Landscape for International Anti-Corruption and Business Integrity Standards

The session will examine the landscape of international anti-corruption and business integrity standards, such as the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and its 2021 Anti-Bribery Recommendation, the OECD Recommendation on Public Integrity, and the Multilateral Development Bank General Principles for Business Integrity Programmes.

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Session 2: Understanding business integrity risks

In developing a clean business environment, assessing risks related to business integrity is crucial. This session will discuss integrity risk assessment, particularly in areas such as international business transactions, public procurement, and state-owned enterprises.

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Session 3: Public policies to boost business integrity and anti-corruption compliance

This session will discuss practical policy instruments and implementation mechanisms that effectively support business integrity through robust policy tools and mechanisms.

Discussions will focus on implementing ethical standards such as anti-corruption compliance programmes or measures (especially for SMEs), codes of conduct, establishing comprehensive internal control systems, implementing whistleblower protection mechanisms and enforcing anti-corruption regulations.

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Session 4: Leveraging Public-Private Partnerships in Bhutan - Break out groups

Public-Private Partnerships are efficient channels to foster joint efforts from public authorities, business organisations, professional associations and civil societies against corruption.

This session will discuss examples of public-private partnerships that help achieve fundamental cultural changes from different stakeholders in the fight against corruption.

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Day 2 | Seminar on Government Incentives for Corporate Anti-Corruption Compliance

Session 1: Why is incentivizing anti-corruption compliance and business integrity important?

Protecting the company’s reputation, along with avoiding sanctions, are key drivers for corporate business integrity and anti-corruption compliance efforts. To complement sanctions, governments should provide effective frameworks to incentivize the private sector to adopt anti-corruption and integrity measures. Finding the right balance between carrots and sticks is a common challenge in many economies.

This session will discuss how governments can develop and implement an appropriate mix of sanctions and incentives for encouraging business integrity, building on the 2024 OECD/UNODC/UNGC “Resource Guide on State Measures for Strengthening Business Integrity”.

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Session 2: : Granting Incentives in public contracts or other public advantages to promote business integrity

The session will explore how governments can promote business integrity by granting incentives through public procurement contracts and other public advantages, such as public subsidies, licences, tax benefits and contracts funded by official development assistance.

Topics for discussion will include:

Types of incentives governments can use in relation to public advantages
The underlying objectives of such incentives
Appropriate conditions for granting incentives

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Session 3: Reputational incentives – Breakout session

The session will explore how governments can provide reputational incentives by promoting recognition of business integrity efforts. In addition, it will discuss the potential for governments to debar companies from public contracts in case of corrupt practices.

Topics for discussion will include:

Public recognition incentives, championing companies
Debarment and other measures to reflect reputational harm
Role of integrity due diligence to prevent reputational harm

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Session 4: Integrity first: Providing guidance to the private sector

The session will discuss the role of governments in providing training and guidance to enhance ethical behaviour within the private sector. It will also explore how governments can ensure that companies receiving incentives have genuine and effective internal controls and compliance programmes or measures in place.

Topics for discussion will include:

What makes an effective compliance anti-corruption programme
Conflict-of-interest measures for the private sector, particularly in relation to gifts, hospitality, donations, political contributions and pre- and post-public employment
The role of governments in supporting companies’ compliance and integrity efforts

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Day 3 | Seminar on Government Incentives for Corporate Anti-Corruption Compliance

Session 1: Anti-corruption & integrity requirements in international trade agreements and Investment frameworks

There is a growing number of international trade agreements and investment frameworks that include anti-corruption & integrity provisions, aiming to set out a trustworthy environment that attracts quality investment and is conducive to sustainable growth. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), for example, identify corruption as a major impediment to free trade and investment and set forth integrity requirements for governments and companies.

This session will discuss the anti-corruption & integrity requirements in international trade agreements and Investment frameworks. It will also review the drivers for business integrity and anti-corruption reforms that contribute to the broader sustainable socio-economic growth of the region.

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Session 2: Public-Private Partnership and Collective Action for Business Integrity

Public-private partnerships and collective action initiatives are effective channels to promote business integrity. The session will build on the lessons learned from the Southeast Asia Collective Action Workshop, organised in August 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. It will also explore how public-private partnerships and collective action can incentivise companies, including SMEs, to promote business integrity through mechanisms such as integrity pacts, certification, education and training.

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6th Meeting of the Asia and the Pacific Law Enforcement Network (restricted) | 27 September 2024

Session 1: Incentivising self-reporting of transnational bribery and corruption

The 2021 OECD Anti-Bribery Recommendation highlights the importance of incentivising and rewarding good corporate behaviour by requesting member countries to consider taking into account voluntary disclosures to law enforcement as a mitigating factor for the application of sanctions for foreign bribery.

This session will address the role of self-reporting in detecting corruption and related offences and seeks to examine effective strategies, regulatory frameworks, and incentives that encourage companies to voluntarily disclose wrongdoing in their operations. Discussions will focus on developing guidance to aid companies in understanding the benefits and processes of self-reporting. The session aspires to identify actionable good practices that foster ethical business practices and robust enforcement of anti-bribery laws.

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Session 2: An overview of corporate liability models in Asia and the Pacific region

This session will present an overview of current corporate liability frameworks in the Asia Pacific region. It also aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the challenges faced by prosecutors and investigators in prosecuting legal persons for corruption and related offences.

Speakers will share case studies and practical insights into the complexities associated with investigating and obtaining evidence from corporate defendants. Participants will be invited to join in the discussion and share details of their countries’ corporate liability models to further inform the discussion.

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Session 3: Non-trial resolutions: an overview of the 2021 Anti-Bribery Recommendation

In this break-out session, participants will engage in a discussion on current challenges in the implementation of NTR mechanisms, and their potential for increasing enforcement of economic offences while impacting corporate culture and incentivising voluntary disclosures. Participants will be invited to report back at the end of the session on their findings.

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Conclusion and LEN next steps

Next steps by Ms Alejandra Tadeu, Legal Analyst, Anti-Corruption Division, OECD

Closing remarks by Mr. Gyeltshen, Director General, Anti-Corruption Commission, Royal Government of Bhutan

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Meeting of the Asia and the Pacific Public Integrity Network (PIN)

Session 1: Anti-Corruption strategies in Asia and the Pacific

Fighting corruption and promoting integrity in both the private and public sectors are critical to fostering an environment of trust and accountability, and conducive to sustainable and inclusive economic development. The OECD Recommendation on Public Integrity states that adherents should develop a strategic approach to mitigating public integrity risks in the public sector, most notably corruption. Some countries have opted for a single national integrity or anti-corruption strategy, although strategic integrity objectives may be located in several government documents owned by various authorities. An effective strategic approach for public integrity should be based on reliable evidence to identify key public integrity risks, developed in consultation with key stakeholders through existing government procedures for strategy development, and adequately implemented and monitored.

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Session 2: Technology for transparency in asset declarations and beneficial ownership

Ensuring that public officials act with integrity is essential to safeguarding the public interest. For public officials to be held accountable for their actions, they must act in a transparent manner. Disclosure of assets through mandatory declarations of assets and interests are a useful mechanism for anti-corruption authorities to assess whether an official has acquired unjustified wealth. Beneficial ownership transparency mechanisms can uncover complex corporate structures and reveal who really benefits from owning an asset.

This session will focus on the use of technology to promote transparency in asset declaration systems to identify illicit assets, and to uncover the proceeds of corruption and tackle abuse of corporate entities through the disclosure of beneficial ownership.

Agenda

Sep 25 - 27 (2024)

Agenda

Day 1 | Workshop for Bhutan National Stakeholders on Business Integrity

Moderator:

Julia Fromholz

Speakers:

Annika Wythes

Chiawen Kiew

Elodie Beth Seo

Ong Leng Keong

Moderator:

Dr. Julio Bacio Terracino

Speakers:

Dr. Adama Coulibaly

Ryan Patrick G. Evangelista

Tashi Wangmo

Trashi Wangyal

Ujjwal Deep Dahal

Moderator:

Alice BERGGRUN

Speakers:

Alma Sedlar

Annika Wythes

Christophe Sauer

Tandy Wangchuk

Moderator:

Alejandra Tadeu

Speakers:

Alma Sedlar

Christophe Sauer

Rinchen Dorji

Ryan Patrick G. Evangelista

Day 2 | Seminar on Government Incentives for Corporate Anti-Corruption Compliance

Moderator:

Dan Wilcock

Speakers:

Christophe Sauer

Elodie Beth Seo

Julie Louise Ticehurst

Pema Wangdi

Moderator:

Chiawen Kiew

Speakers:

CHEUNG Chin Kit

Karma Wangdi

Ryan Patrick G. Evangelista

Moderator:

Annika Wythes

Dan Wilcock

Elsa Ronterre

Wangay Dorji

Moderator:

Dr. Julio Bacio Terracino

Speakers:

Alma Sedlar

Ipi Maryati Kuding

Karma Thinley Wangchug

Paulina Rauca

Day 3 | Seminar on Government Incentives for Corporate Anti-Corruption Compliance

Moderator:

Julia Fromholz

Speakers:

Andita Primanti

Annika Wythes

Chiawen Kiew

Julie Louise Ticehurst

Ryan Patrick G. Evangelista

Moderator:

June Nguyen

Speakers:

Dan Wilcock

Juliana Awo Quist Lawson

Michelle Hau'ofa

Phrommet Bencharongkit

6th Meeting of the Asia and the Pacific Law Enforcement Network (restricted) | 27 September 2024

Moderator:

Jamtsho

Speakers:

Verity Le Maitre