Towards New Arrangements for State Ownership in the Middle East and North Africa
The role of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the Middle East and North African economies (MENA) has historically been and remains significant in terms of their contribution to the economic value added, employment and the provision of vital services. State-owned enterprises operate across a wide range of sectors in the region - hydrocarbons, banking, construction – but also in network industries. Despite the privatisations carried out during the 1980-1990s, the role of the state in Arab economies has not declined and in many ways have indeed increased, reflecting the growth of oil and gas SOEs, sovereign wealth funds and infrastructure development projects, often carried out with the involvement of the state. This publication seeks to provide insight into the varied and rich experience in SOE reform in the region over the past decade, highlighting reform initiatives undertaken at national and country specific levels. It is unique in highlighting the challenges faced by policymakers in reforming the governance of regional SOEs
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State-owned enterprises in Kuwait
history and recent developments
State-owned enterprises have been an important feature of the Kuwaiti economy since the establishment of the nation state. As highlighted in this chapter, their importance in the Kuwaiti economy has only increased over the years, and today they play an important role in the provision of basic services, employment and fiscal revenue. This analysis outlines the development of the state-owned sector in Kuwait, in order to situate the current structure of the sector and its governance practices in a historical context. Following the introduction of the privatisation legislation in Kuwait in 2010, the privatisation process, which until now has been slow, is expected to accelerate with the initial disposal of a stake in the Kuwaiti Airways Corporation.
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