CLDP has been working in the Middle East and the Maghreb since 1998. Throughout the years, CLDP work has grown to encompass most countries in the region. CLDP has focused on assistance in the Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia),the Arabian Peninsula (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates), and Egypt and Iraq. 

North Africa

CLDP’s work in the Maghreb began in 2000 under the United States – North Africa Economic Partnership (USNAEP). CLDP was tasked with assisting the governments of Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco with the formation of trade policies that supported the development of a more market-based economy in order to promote trade and investment. This training led to more liberalized trade in the region and supports one of the U.S. Government’s major strategic objectives: acceleration of private sector-led, export-oriented, economic growth. CLDP’s activities in the Maghreb continue today with support from the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) of the U.S. Department of State.  

 

ALGERIA

CLDP provided  WTO accession assistance to the Government of Algeria and has helped to build a legal environment  more conducive to trade and investment. In addition to commercial law training for judges, CLDP has galvanized reforms in the banking sector and helped to build up the capacity for small and medium enterprise (SME) equity financing. Recent projects have focused on technology transfer practices and licensing provisions to enable more rapid development of SMEs as well as franchise management and contract enforcement. Please click here to learn about CLDP's current programs in Algeria.

 

LIBYA

CLDP has worked closely with the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli to identify a multi-front plan to encourage entrepreneurship, the growth of SMEs, and a consistent modern legal environment. CLDP is helping Libya move closer towards economic liberalization through the development of new commercial laws, such as company law and corporate finance, lending law, insolvency and bankruptcy law, contract law, competition law, and e-commerce law. CLDP is also holding several workshops and seminars for the judiciary on commercial law topics such as international contract law, alternative dispute resolution, intellectual property enforcement and government procurement. Please click here to learn about CLDP's current programs in Libya.
 

MOROCCO

Morocco has had to meet a range of obligations to be fully compliant with the U.S.-Morocco FTA requirements since the agreement went into effect in 2006. Consequently, CLDP has been providing assistance to the Government of Morocco (GOM) to facilitate full compliance. CLDP’s work has included improving technical standards, sharing best business practices, exploring joint venture opportunities and improving the government’s procurement system. In addition, CLDP worked jointly with other USG agencies and the GOM to resolve a discrepancy in trade data and also improved the perception of the FTA among the wider Moroccan population. CLDP training on trade remedies helped bring an end to a Moroccan safeguards action against U.S. importers of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) in 2010 and rules of origin training is helping to expedite customs measures. Recent projects include improving Morocco’s innovation ecosystem through technology transfer and building export capacity of local artisans. Please click here to learn about CLDP's current programs in Morocco.

 

TUNISIA

CLDP has assessed Tunisia’s intellectual property rights laws to ensure compliance and effective enforcement of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). Following the US-Tunisia TIFA (Trade and Investment Framework Agreement) meetings, CLDP has worked with the Government of Tunisia to implement management of intellectual capital, and to organize consultations regarding market access in the pharmaceutical sector. In addition, CLDP has helped to build judicial capacity by training judges on bankruptcy matters, assisted Tunisia to implement greater transparency in the government procurement process, and shared ideas with Tunisia’s SMEs on how to pursue a comprehensive international trade strategy. CLDP’s recent projects also focus on other key commercial law areas aimed at promoting small businesses and economic diversification, including intellectual property, franchise, building export capacity of local artisans, alternative dispute resolution and e-commerce. Please click here to learn about CLDP's current programs in Tunisia.

Middle East

CLDP work in the Middle East began in 1998 when it was asked by USAID to provide assistance to Egypt. The Egypt program throughout the years has been quite eclectic, incorporating work in intellectual property rights, trade policy, anti-trust, trade remedies, product standards, consumer protection, alternative dispute resolution, mortgage and insurance regulation, and e-commerce-related issues. In 2004, work in the region expanded through the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) to all of the countries of the Arabian Peninsula. In these countries, CLDP has focused on developing laws and legal systems that support increased trade liberalization and economic diversification. To that end, CLDP has conducted numerous trade agreement compliance capacity building programs to support U.S. Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in Bahrain and Oman. CLDP has advised countries in the Arabian Peninsula in the drafting of core commercial laws such as company laws, corporate governance codes, lending laws, insolvency laws and contract laws to support entrepreneurship and economic diversification. Each year since 2005, CLDP has also conducted regional judicial conferences in the Middle East to raise the capacity of judges and lawyers to enforce commercial laws based on international standards. In addition, CLDP has advised the faculties of law at universities in the Middle East and has conducted regional programs to raise the level of commercial law education in the region through curriculum development, skills training and participation in arbitration moot competitions. Since 2009, through its collaboration with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, CLDP has been an integral part of the USG effort to assist Iraq’s transition to a robust and stable economy by advising on the drafting of commercial law legislation as well as training lawyers and judges in complex commercial transactions.

 

BAHRAIN

To increase trade and entrepreneurship, CLDP assisted the Government of Bahrain in revising core business laws to support paradigm changes in Bahrain’s economy. Since 2004, CLDP has worked with Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Trade (MOICT) to shorten business start up times and to generate SME growth in Bahrain. With CLDP assistance, the MOICT drafted a new Commercial Companies Law, that has been promulgated in Bahrain. With significant input from CLDP, the MOICT launched a new Corporate Governance Code that is an excellent model code of ethics for corporate management and oversight, including incorporating Islamic financing requirements. Furthermore, CLDP has assisted Bahrain in drafting new Insolvency and Secured Lending Laws. Through a multi-year series of workshops, CLDP has trained Bahraini judges in how to adjudicate complex commercial disputes based on international best practices. In addition, CLDP helped Bahrain in the implementation of the U.S.-Bahrain FTA including the organization and launch of an Advance Rulings Office in the Bahrain Customs authority. CLDP has also worked with the Faculty of Law at the University of Bahrain to develop an innovation center and to develop commercial law courses as well as a Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot team for regional and international competition. Please click here to learn about CLDP's current programs in Bahrain.

 

EGYPT

 

IRAQ

In support of the Government of Iraq’s goal of fostering a legal environment conducive to economic diversification and private sector growth, CLDP has built capacity for the Iraqi Government to negotiate and implement durable contracts with foreign companies, improved the enforcement of arbitration awards and arbitration agreements in Iraq and prepared judges to better adjudicate complex commercial disputes with foreign parties. Please click here to learn about CLDP's current programs in Iraq.

 

KUWAIT

CLDP has supported Kuwait’s goals of raising the capacity of the Kuwaiti judiciary to adjudicate complex commercial translations. Through conferences and consultations, CLDP has helped the Kuwait Institute of Judicial & Legal Studies to train judges in international best practices in the adjudication of commercial disputes. In addition, CLDP has advised the Kuwait University College of Law in commercial law education methodology and international commercial arbitration education. Furthermore, CLDP has supported the development of the Kuwait Commercial Arbitration Center through training workshop from world-class alternative dispute resolution experts and through assisting with the drafting of a new Arbitration Law in Kuwait. CLDP has worked to support the development goals of Kuwait Vision 2035, including providing training and consultations in government procurement best practices. Through these programs, CLDP has assisted Kuwait in preparing the next generation of Kuwaiti lawyers and judges for the complex commercial transactions that are becoming increasingly prevalent in the Middle East. Please click here to learn about CLDP's current programs in Kuwait.

 

OMAN

From 2004 to 2014, CLDP collaborated with business leaders, lawyers, judges, and law faculty to support vibrant foreign and domestic business growth in Oman. To that end, CLDP advised the Government of Oman on those business laws that are significant to entrepreneurship in Oman, including Commercial Companies Law, Corporate Governance Code, and E-Transactions Law. Furthermore, CLDP paired new and experienced professors from Oman with U.S.-based academic institutions to improve commercial law education materials and teaching methodologies at the College of Law at Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat, Oman. The College of Law now has specialized course offerings in international business transactions, international trade, and international arbitration. CLDP was also instrumental in the development of a law student advocacy team at the College that competes in the annual Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Vienna, Austria each year. Please click here to learn about CLDP's current programs in Oman.

 

QATAR

CLDP has advised Qatar on the revision of the country’s commercial code and in particular those changes that would improve foreign investment and business regulation. In addition, CLDP has provided programs for legal and judicial educators in Qatar in order to improve their methods of commercial law adjudication in the country. CLDP has also conducted workshops to support Qatar’s efforts to conduct Public Private Partnerships following international best practices. CLDP has supported the modernization of the College of Law by enhancing international arbitration education, which led to the development of a Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot team for competition. Please click here to learn about CLDP's current programs in Qatar.

 

SAUDI ARABIA

CLDP has supported the Government of Saudi Arabia in its goals to modernize its judiciary and improve the environment for doing business. To that end, CLDP has organized judicial consultations for judges from Saudi Arabia and the U.S. to exchange practices in the adjudication of complex commercial transactions. In these judicial capacity building programs, judges from U.S. Federal Courts, including specialized courts such as U.S. Bankruptcy Court, have worked with judges from Saudi Arabia in order to share best practices in commercial adjudication. These exchanges have focused on commercial matters such as bankruptcy adjudication, international arbitration, and intellectual property enforcement as well as administrative matters such as case management and judicial independence. In addition, CLDP has worked with the Ministry of Justice in commercial court modernization and developing mechanisms for increased transparency of commercial laws and judicial decisions in Saudi Arabia. Of note, CLDP advised the Government of Saudi Arabia in the development and implementation of a new insolvency law regime. CLDP has also partnered with the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration to conduct alternative dispute resolution training programs for lawyers, arbitrators, and mediators. Furthermore, CLDP has supported the Kingdom’s development goals based on Saudi Vision 2030, including collaborating with the Government of Saudi Arabia regarding best practices in privatization. Please click here to learn about CLDP's current programs in Saudi Arabia.

 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)

With significant business activity, investors look to the UAE for increased opportunity, but not without risk. From 2004 – 2014, CLDP worked to mitigate the risk of doing business in the UAE through increased enforcement of commercial laws and international treaties. CLDP assisted in improving the environment for doing business in the UAE by advising the Government of the UAE regarding the development and enforcement of commercial laws related to foreign investment and competition. Furthermore, CLDP provided legislative drafting assistance and judicial training to the Government of the UAE to support the country’s efforts to comply with its obligations as a signatory to the 1958 New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards. Furthermore, CLDP advised the College of Law at UAE University in the development of commercial law courses as well as the establishment of a Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot team. Please click here to learn about CLDP's current programs in UAE.

 

YEMEN

Between 2008-13, through legal consultations and judicial capacity building programs, CLDP assisted the Government of Yemen in developing a culture of legal education for burgeoning young lawyers and judges as well as for business people in Yemen. CLDP has advised the University of Sana’a Faculties of Law and Business regarding commercial law curricula, providing commercial law resources in English and scholastic expertise for improving commercial law education at the University. In addition, CLDP has advised these faculties in the development of a clinical course for law and business students to advise micro-financing clients about their legal rights in doing business in Yemen. CLDP has also provided education to Yemeni judges focused on contracting and commercial dispute resolution. Please click here to learn more about CLDP's current programs in Yemen.