Anti-Corruption Tools
High business costs
Corruption can pose a serious barrier to trade and is causing Danish companies to lose orders in foreign markets. Experience shows that knowledge and systematic risk management can prevent much of the corruption to which companies are exposed. Thus, the Trade Council offers counselling and simple tools to control such hazards. Today, anti-corruption requirements placed on companies are increasing rapidly.
Practical tools and competent counselling.
The Trade Council provides practical and experience based anti-corruption tools for companies operating in high risk markets. The Trade Council can, inter alia, offer the following assistance:
- Country specific information about corruption, including knowledge about particularly exposed markets, sectors, and regions.
- Risk assessment on the basis of the company’s present and potential market situation.
- Help with identification and preliminary screening of agents, consultants, and distributors.
- Help with preparation of contracts in which anti-corruption is incorporated.
- Guidance in connection with public offerings.
- Access to a network of local organizations dealing with corruption issues.
- Information about relevant national and international anti-corruption legislation.
- Assistance in relation to working with public authorities.
Anti-corruption policy
Surveys show that corruption represents a significant threat to Danish companies operating on foreign markets. Corruption permeates the public and private sector in several countries. For example more than 30% of Danish companies were in 2005 exposed to bribery or other forms of corruption, resulting in a loss of approx. DKK 530 million. Surveys further reveal that over the last five years on a global basis, more than 40% of companies consider that they have lost contracts as a consequence of corruption, and that more than 35% have declined otherwise financially attractive investments due to fear of corruption and bribery.
Consequently, there is a clear need for the Trade Council of Denmark to explicitly address the challenge as well as making sure that all Trade Commision Denmark (TCD) Missions possess the necessary competences to assist Danish companies in avoiding corruption and bribery. TCD has therefore developed an anti-corruption policy, which consists partly of strengthened advice to Danish companies and partly of an internal policy. TCD’s anti-corruption policy is to a large extent based on Danida’s anti-corruption policy from 2004. Both policies build on the principle of zero-tolerance towards corruption and bribery.
TCD’s anti-corruption policy comprises a number of services to companies designed to avoid corruption and lessen the risks associated with investing in countries where corruption is rife. To strengthen the Missions’ advisory work, a toolbox has been prepared in cooperation with the consultancy firm Global Advice.
An important precondition for proactive and professional assistance to Danish companies on how to avoid corruption and bribery is that TCD makes clear its own values, rules and procedures. Consequently, TCD’s anti-corruption policy contains an internal policy, which comprises clear rules for all staff acting on behalf of TCD, including locally employed staff, about how they should relate to corruption and bribery, both as a public authority and a service provider. The internal policy is summarized in 7 principles listed below:
1. TCD have a zero-tolerance policy in relation to corruption and bribery.
- TCD staff must not bribe or be complicit in bribery. TCD will not be unsympathetic towards local customary practice, e.g. in relation to gifts etc., however we will not compromise the zero-tolerance policy in e.g. giving, asking for or accepting gifts or other services, which have more than a symbolic value and which can influence the TCD function, work performance or judgment.
2. TCD is the Danish state's official export and investment promotion organisation.
- As an integrated part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, obligates us as an organisation and as private individuals to live up to the publics' great expectations of our conduct than. Thus, TCD is always careful to conduct in ways which cannot be associated with bribery and corruption in any way.
3. TCD protects its reputation as representatives of a nation which is known as one of the world's most incorrupt countries.
- TCD strive to emphasise integrity and credibility as a key part of Danish business culture.
4. TCD-field of activity is abroad.
- Host governments can always trust TCD, as private individuals and advisors, to respect local legislation and loyally pass on this knowledge to TCD customers. Hence, TCD will conduct accordingly to local legislation.
5. TCD is professional.
- TCD provides the highest level of professional service to its customers. TCD often identify market opportunities before others, as well as the risks associated with these opportunities.
6. TCD protects its integrity.
- TDC always ensures that its services is based on customer needs and not on own interests.
7. TCD has an obligation to act as a responsible authority.
- If the TCD becomes aware of circumstances that are in breach of Danish or local legislation, we will bring this to the attention of the customer and if needed to the Danish authorities.
For more information please follow the links below.
Information on corruption and anti-corruption in Israel.
Please find more information at Transparency International here.
Links:
https://um.dk/om-os/organisation/antikorruption