Since 1998, CLDP has worked to foster greater political stability through economic development in the Middle East and North Africa.  CLDP currently has programs in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Yemen. Please click here to learn about CLDP's results in the Middle East and North Africa.

North Africa

Work in North Africa began in 2000 under the U.S. – North Africa Economic Partnership (USNAEP).  CLDP embarked on a program to assist the governments of Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco with the formation and reinforcement of trade policies that support the development of a more market-based economy in order to promote trade and investment. This training has lead to more liberalized trade in the region and supports one of USAID’s major strategic objectives for the region: acceleration of private sector-led, export-oriented, economic growth. CLDP’s activities in North Africa continue today through the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) of the US Department of State. Of recent particular importance is the assistance provided to Morocco with the implementation of the U.S. – Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA), as well as the efforts in Tunisia towards compliance with the U.S. – Tunisia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), judicial capacity building in the area of commercial law, and the promotion of franchising.

ALGERIA

Goal: In support of the Government of Algeria’s goal of fostering a legal environment conducive to a more knowledge based economy, CLDP is working collaboratively with other USG experts to build technical capacity to support for the development of SMEs through technology transfer and licensing.

Program Areas:

• Administrative capacity to manage technology transfer and encourage innovation with Algerian research institutions.
• Technical capacity of local SMEs to manage new technologies, both through their own licensing of domestic inventions or the acquisition of new technologies from other countries.

LIBYA

Goal: CLDP is working to strengthen Libya’s legal environment and judicial independence in the area of commercial law through training of judges in international arbitration and international legal norms, training Libyan legal professionals to be competent arbitrators consistent with international standards, and supporting Libyan efforts to join international trade agreements and communities. 

Program Areas:

• Increasing the ability of Libyan judges to adjudicate commercial transactions.
• Training Libyan experts on contract disputes and international arbitration.
• Increasing the capacity for international trade and commercial reform within the Libyan Government.

MOROCCO

Goal: In support of the Government of Morocco to be fully compliant with the US-Morocco FTA requirements since the agreement went into effect, CLDP has been building the capacity of the relevant agencies.

Program Areas:

• Assistance to the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Trade to develop its trade defense regime in line with international and bilateral obligations.    
• Increasing the Government of Morocco’s ability to comply with the Rules of Origin and transshipment requirements under the FTA.

TUNISIA

Goal: In support of the Government of Tunisia’s goals, CLDP is focusing on helping Tunisia develop a knowledge-based economy.

Program Areas:

• Training on Intellectual Property, licensing and technology transfer for both the private and the public sector to spur entrepreneurship.
• Assistance with the creation of legal framework for franchising in Tunisia and sharing of best practices in franchising.

The Middle East

By supporting the development of laws and practices that support trade liberalization, economic diversification and entrepreneurship, CLDP works to improve economic conditions in the Middle East.  Through our work with the US Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and USAID, we have connected US Government experts with governments throughout the region to provide technical assistance and training on a range of commercial issues.

BAHRAIN

Goal:  In support of Bahrain’s interest in increasing international trade and entrepreneurship, CLDP advises the government on the development of commercial laws and practices that facilitate trade and small enterprise growth.  

Program Areas:

• Revisions of the Bahrain Commercial Code to support entrepreneurship-friendly lending and insolvency law. 
• Supporting the development of an Advanced Ruling Office in compliance with US-Bahrain FTA.
• Regional international commercial arbitration moot competition for law students.
• Supporting the international commercial arbitration moot team at Bahrain University.
• Judicial capacity building regarding insolvency and e-commerce law.

EGYPT

Goal: In support of the Government of Egypt’s efforts to strengthen its trade relations and encourage increased foreign investment, CLDP maintains its longstanding commitment to building legal capacity in Egypt’s judiciary, regulatory authorities and trade ministry.

Program Areas:

• Judicial capacity to adjudicate complex economic cases involving bankruptcy, intellectual property, competition, and consumer protection.
• Promote development and harmonization of Egyptian standards and improve testing abilities, as a key part of the U.S. - Egypt’s Economic Dialogue.
• Development of an international standard competition law curriculum in Egypt’s preeminent law schools and economic schools.
• Support for non-governmental organizations’ efforts to protect Egyptian consumers from fraudulent and poor quality products. 

IRAQ

Goal: In support of the Government of Iraq’s goal of fostering a legal environment conducive to economic diversification and private sector growth, CLDP has been working collaboratively with other USG experts to build legal capacity within Iraqi government ministries.

Program Areas:

• Legislative capacity to draft modern commercial law to support the growth of small and medium enterprises.
• Ministerial capacity to train commercial attaches and commercial officers in the core competencies required to promote trade with Iraq.
• Legal capacity for Iraqi State Owned Enterprises to enter into strategic partnerships with foreign companies.
• Administrative capacity to manage technology transfer and encourage innovation with Iraqi research institutions.
• Legal capacity of provincial governments to promote private sector growth as part of Iraq’s decentralization of governing powers.

KUWAIT

Goal:  In support of Kuwait raising the capacity of lawyers and judges to adjudicate complex commercial transactions, CLDP works to provide international commercial law expertise to legal education programs in Kuwait.

Program Areas:

• Development of international commercial arbitration moot team at Kuwait University School of Law.
• Judicial capacity building regarding insolvency and restructuring management.

OMAN

Goal:  In support of Oman’s interest in increasing international trade and entrepreneurship, CLDP advises the government on the development of commercial laws and practices that facilitate trade and small enterprise growth.  

Program Areas:

• Developing an insolvency law to support restructuring of struggling SMEs.
• Supporting Omani Customs in the development of an Advanced Ruling Office in compliance with US-Oman FTA.
• Supporting a sustainable international commercial arbitration moot team at Sultan Qaboos University.
• Judicial capacity building regarding insolvency and e-commerce.

QATAR

Goal:  In support of Qatar raising the capacity of lawyers and judges to adjudicate complex commercial transactions, CLDP provides international commercial law expertise for legal education programs in Qatar.

Program Areas:

• Development of international commercial arbitration moot team at Qatar University.
• Support for Qatar University to develop the Center of Excellence for Oil and Gas Law.

SAUDI ARABIA

Goal:  In support of improving the resolution of commercial contract disputes in Saudi Arabia, CLDP organizes educational opportunities and consultative exchanges for judges from Saudi Arabia.

Program Areas: 

• Commercial law regional conferences for judges from the Arabian Peninsula to share best practices and harmonize systems.
• Commercial law consultations in US and Saudi Arabia for judges to exchange judicial teaching methodologies.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)

Goal:  In support of the UAE’s interest in attracting investment and ensuring the timely resolution of international disputes, CLDP works with the UAE Government in the development of business laws that improve international commerce and dispute resolution. 

Program Areas: 

• Development of an insolvency law to support restructuring of struggling SMEs.
• Support of international commercial arbitration moot team at UAE University.
• Judicial capacity building regarding insolvency and international arbitration.

YEMEN

Goal:  In support of improving commercial law education for lawyers, judges, and civil society, CLDP works to provide commercial law expertise to legal and civil society education in Yemen.

Program Areas: 

• Advising Sana’a University faculties of law and business in commercial law education.
• Developing clinical training for higher education students to educate civil society in commercial law.