CIPE’s 2010 strategy in Asia and South Asia focused on grassroots efforts to improve democratic and economic conditions, including strengthening the capacity of chambers of commerce and business associations, engaging with young people on democratic values and market ideas, and facilitating civil society input in the policymaking processes. CIPE worked with organizations across the region to implement this strategy. Despite the challenges of working in Asia and South Asia, there have been encouraging changes in the growing role that women play in local economies, and the way that chambers and associations are better able to represent their members.

Going forward in 2011, CIPE will continue to build on these successes, encouraging organizations to take a greater role in policy advocacy, and strengthening governance in both the public and private sectors.

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CIPE’s work with the Thai Institute of Directors (IOD) cultivates private sector support for anti-corruption strategies. Shortly after its launch in 2010, this joint project successfully translated the growing interest in collective action into a viable private sector campaign. IOD developed an initial “business ethics declaration” containing broad themes: fighting corruption, promoting ethics, and raising employee and competitor awareness. Declaration signers commit to implement anti-corruption policies and compliance programs within a common framework and to provide business conduct guidance to managers and employees. Companies pledge to disclose and share their internal policies and experiences, even with competitors, to help disseminate and promote best practices. Notably, these companies agree to support the development of a certifying body to ensure continued compliance. In a country where public perceptions of corruption helped trigger nation-crippling chaos on several occasions in recent years, this joint partnership is making invaluable contributions to Thailand’s democratic development. Collective action is no longer an abstract concept in Thailand – it is an actual movement within the business community to attack corruption. Looking forward, CIPE’s work in 2011 will help IOD design the details of the commitment.

The Institute of Directors’ work resulted in an increased understanding of business ethics:

Commissioner of Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission, Professor Pakdee Pothisri, spoke at the Collective Action Coalition’s November 2010 National Conference in Bangkok.

• In his remarks at the opening ceremony of the November 2010 International Anti-Corruption Conference, Prime Minister Abhisit publicly lauded IOD’s initiative “as a viable approach to promote fair competition” and its potential to “provide tangible business incentives” for firms to eschew corrupt practices.
• More than 40 companies have signed a business ethics pledge. Many of Thailand’s most prominent firms have pledged to support this initiative.

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(From left) CIPE Pakistan Senior Program Manager Hammad Siddiqui, Executive Director John D. Sullivan, and Dawood Group Chairman Hussain Dawood celebrate the launch of the Responsible Business Guide.

CIPE’s efforts in Pakistan are part of a long-term strategy in the region, focused on strengthening corporate governance, building the capacity of chambers of commerce and business associations through technical assistance and small grants, and enhancing the skills of journalists to report on economic issues. In 2010, over 50 chambers and associations from around the country took part in various CIPE training programs. Increasingly, CIPE has begun to explore ways to bring these organizations together to articulate a shared vision of reforms needed for the private sector to flourish.

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