Koror (Palau), 24 May 2022 – A new partnership to increase integrity in the private sector in Palau just started between the Palau Chamber of Commerce (PCOC) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The project builds on previous activities delivered by UNODC and PCOC to strengthen the capacity of women entrepreneurs and young people to create businesses that thrive with robust integrity measures. This new project will enable Palau business operators to better identify practices that will make doing business in the country easier while promoting more transparency.
Palau Chamber President Mr. Sam Scott said that as Palau businesses move back into more open borders for trade and tourism, there is a need to ensure that business practices remain fit for purpose.
“The COVID lockdowns and supply chain interruptions heightened the need for better use of technology and equipment, so we are pleased that this new project enables the Chamber to secure appropriate equipment and technologies to deliver the best services we can to our membership while also proactively developing policies and concrete programmes to address corruption internally and within our members’ supply chains,” said Mr. Scott.
The new project is anchored in the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the Teieniwa Vision, the anti-corruption roadmap adopted by 18 Pacific Island countries, including Palau.
“The Palau Chamber has proved adept at working with the Government, media and civil society to advocate for the private sector. The integrity activities within this new project recognize that fighting corruption is a whole-of-community undertaking,” said UNODC Pacific Anti-Corruption Adviser, Ms. Marie Pegie Cauchois.
“Businesses in Palau are not only challenged to avoid bribery, extortion and other forms of corruption, but also challenged to work collectively and join civil society, media, the UN and government to realize a more transparent global economy,” said Ms Cauchois.
Other activities planned during the remainder of 2022 include shaping advice and solutions that could be incorporated to address ease of doing business issues, building the capacity of the Women Entrepreneurs’ Group within the Palau Chamber, and producing a toolkit to enable Palau Young Entrepreneurs to engage in good governance and promote proactive disclosure.
The new initiative with PCOC is administered by UNODC through the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project (UN-PRAC), a joint initiative between UNODC and UNDP, supported by the New Zealand Aid Programme.
