Monday, March 26, 2007

[IWS] OECD Principles for PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION in Infrastructure [26 March 2007]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016
-------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

OECD Principles for Private Sector Participation in Infrastructure [26 March 2007]
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/41/33/38297823.pdf
[full-text, 27 pages]

[excerpt]
The Principles are intended as guidance to public authorities contemplating the involvement of private enterprises as one, among several, option to improve the provision of infrastructure services. They shall not be construed as advocating the privatisation or private management of publicly owned infrastructure. The choice between public and private provision of infrastructure services should be guided by an objective assessment of what best serves the public interest  that is, supports the common well-being. Factors to be taken into account include the current levels of service delivery and the condition of assets, affordability to households and companies, coverage of networks, operational efficiency, long-term maintenance of assets as well as social and environmental sustainability. The decision also needs to be guided by the timeframe in which improvements are required and the sources of finance that are available.



Press Release 26 March 2007
OECD countries agree Principles for private sector role in infrastructure projects
http://www.oecd.org/document/40/0,2340,en_2649_34887_38305192_1_1_1_1,00.html


26/03/2007 - OECD countries have approved new principles to help governments in working with private sector partners to finance and bring to fruition major infrastructure projects in areas of vital economic importance such as transport, water and power supply and telecommunications.

The < http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/41/33/38297823.pdf> OECD Principles for Private Sector Participation in Infrastructure give governments a checklist of policy issues that they should consider in ensuring that citizens get the services they need at a fair cost and with acceptable returns to private sector partners.

"Helping countries find new ways of financing investment in areas like water supply and sanitation is one of the OECD's priorities," OECD Secretary-General Angel GurrĂ­a commented. "These Principles will help both developed and developing countries move forward with infrastructure projects to boost economic growth and improve the lives of their citizens."

Governments sometimes cannot finance such projects alone. According to the World Bank, between 2001 and 2005, more than 850 infrastructure projects in developing economies were partly financed by private money at an estimated cost of USD 175 billion.

The Principles are designed to help governments address a range of issues that may arise in working with private sector partners. They cover five main areas:
   *  Deciding on the utility and nature of potential private sector involvement
   * Providing a sound institutional and regulatory environment for infrastructure investment
   * Ensuring public and institutional support for the project and choice of financing
   * Providing disclosure and complaints procedures for an effective working partnership
   * Ensuring responsible business conduct on the part of the private sector partner

Before embarking on a project, the Principles state, governments should make sure that it is affordable, taking account of all potential sources of financing including loans and grants and anticipated payments by end users. An appropriate business model should share risks and responsibilities in an acceptable manner, while safeguarding the integrity of public finances.

AND MORE.....

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Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
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