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  1. Home
  2. Countries & Regions

The Middle East & North Africa

Since 1998, CLDP has worked to foster greater political stability through economic development in the Middle East and North Africa. By supporting the development of laws and practices fostering trade liberalization, economic diversification, and entrepreneurship, CLDP aims to encourage economic growth in the region. With support from the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), CLDP has provided technical assistance and training on a range of commercial and legal issues.

CLDP currently has programs in Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia.

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’s first program in the region focused on assisting the governments of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia with the formation and reinforcement of trade policies to support market-based economic development and promote trade and investment. CLDP’s technical assistance efforts in North Africa continue today with support from the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) of the U.S. Department of State to promote an environment conducive to trade, investment, and business development. CLDP’s presence in the region contributes to trade liberalization while supporting a major U.S. strategic objective: acceleration of private sector-led, export-oriented economic growth. 

 

ALGERIA

Goal: In support of the Government of Algeria’s goal of fostering entrepreneurship and the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), CLDP is working to build the capacity of the public and private sectors to support business and job creation through the following program areas:

Program Areas:

  • Facilitate the formation of franchises through the development of a legal and institutional framework for the franchise sector and awareness-raising 
  • Support innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems through the effective use of technology transfer offices and business incubation 
  • Improve the rate of contract enforcement through legal capacity building on alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, bankruptcy proceedings, and enforcement of intellectual property rights 

 

MOROCCO

Goal: In support of the Government of Morocco’s goals to encourage business creation and entrepreneurship, CLDP is working to build the capacity of relevant local stakeholders in the following areas: 

Program Areas:

  • Build the capacity of the government and private sector to facilitate SME participation in handicraft exports 
  • Assist the Moroccan government in supporting an effective operational framework that is conducive to technology transfer 
  • Provide capacity building for the judiciary to promptly, fairly, and predictably adjudicate contractual disputes and promote the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms  
  • Provide capacity building and peer-to-peer best practices training for government and private sector stakeholders on insolvency proceedings 
  • Provide technical assistance on the development and implementation of a modern insolvency system with an emphasis on rescue and restructuring procedures 
  • Improve the transparency and effectiveness of the public procurement system through capacity building efforts 

 

TUNISIA

Goal: In support of the Government of Tunisia’s goals of promoting economic diversification and creating jobs, CLDP is focusing on the following technical assistance areas:

Program Areas:

  • Assist the Tunisian government with the development of a favorable legal and regulatory framework for franchising while encouraging best practices 
  • Provide capacity building for judicial and private sector stakeholders on improving dispute resolution mechanisms for commercial and administrative disputes  
  • Facilitate greater SME participation in government procurement through legal and regulatory reform and capacity building efforts 
  • Strengthen local capacity to manage technology transfer offices and incubators and foster an innovation ecosystem in Tunisia 
  • Address obstacles to the development of eCommerce through increased capacity of local stakeholders to improve and adopt eCommerce regulations and practices 
  • Build the capacity of the government and private sector to facilitate SME participation in handicraft exports 

The Middle East

By supporting the development and implementation 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 U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and USAID, we are providing technical assistance and training on a range of commercial issues throughout the region. 

 

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  
  • Support the development of an Advanced Ruling Office in compliance with US-Bahrain FTA 
  • Regional international commercial arbitration moot competition for law students. 
  • Support the international commercial arbitration moot team at Bahrain University 
  • Judicial capacity building regarding insolvency and e-commerce law 
  • Supporting the Development of the Bahrain Innovation and Technology Center 
  • Improving public procurement practices and increasing access for small and women-owned businesses 

 

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 laws 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.

 

QATAR

Goal: In support of Qatar’s efforts to modernize it’s legal system, CLDP conducts consultations and workshops to encourage the development and practice of international commercial law standards. 

Program Areas: 

  • Development of international commercial arbitration moot team at Qatar University 
  • Development of a Public Private Partnership regime that follows best international practices 
  • Supporting the increased use and effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution 

 

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 U.S. and Saudi Arabia for judges to exchange judicial teaching methodologies 
  • Consultations regarding insolvency law drafting and implementation 
  • Consultations and workshop in collaboration the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration to promote alternative dispute resolution 
  • Workshops and research collaboration to support privatization in the Kingdom consistent with international best practices 
 
Countries and Regions
The Middle East & North Africa