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Find out moreThe first Law Update of 2024 is here, and our first focus of the year spotlights Healthcare and Lifesciences, a sector that is undergoing significant growth and development across the MENA region.
Our focus provides an insight into some of the most important regulatory updates across the region, such as the UAE’s groundbreaking law on the use of human genome, Kuwait’s resolution on nuclear and radioactive materials, the new regulations for healthcare services in Qatar, Egypt’s healthcare regulatory framework, and the impact of the Saudi Civil Transactions Law on the healthcare and life sciences sector … and there is so much more!
Beyond the healthcare pages our lawyers share with you multi-sector insights where you will discover articles on Dubai’s DIFC regulatory framework for startups, Bahrain’s commercial agencies law, and we also shed light on Kuwaiti civil code and the advantages of setting up a joint stock company in Saudi Arabia.
Read the full editionTRACE (A leading anti-bribery training and compliance organization) where Khaled Saqqaf, special counsel, Head of the Corporate & Commercial department in both the Jordan & Iraq offices, presented during their Annual Member Forum in Washington D.C.
The title, ‘Anti-Corruption Challenges in Iraq & Afghanistan’, dealt with the major challenges Iraq faces in combating corruption. In part 1, Khaled presented an overview of the main Iraqi laws and regulations relating to anti-corruption and the steps taken in 2008 to combat corruption (particularly Iraq’s accession to the UNCAC), as well as reviewing Iraq’s main anti-corruption bodies, and particularly how effective they are in performing their functions.
In part 2, the focus Khaled presented on was the tendering process which dealt with; Public Contracts, Contracting Departments with in the Governments, Financial Requirements, Methods of Contracting, Notice of Tenders and finally the Tender Periods which leads into Final Approval. The conclusions of the presentation noted that;
OECD conducted a public procurement review on Iraq, Improving Transparency within Government Procurement Procedures in Iraq: OECD Benchmark Report, and found that Iraq’s 2004 procurement law and supporting regulations provided extensive provisions adequately dealing with the whole of the procurement process.
However, the following problems were identified:
– Little co-ordination of procurement practices across government organizations, and relatively non-existent co-ordination with Iraq’s other anti-corruption agencies
– Lack of transparency in practice.
– Problems relating to sub-contracting (no-accountability).
The Final Recommendations were;
Khaled continued by explaining further relevant legislation, steps taken in 2008 to combat corruption, the establishment of anti-corruption agencies in Iraq, and the Iraqi approach of creating several authorities in charge of combating corruption in Iraq; each with its own individual competences.
For a full copy of both presentations, please contact Khaled Saqqaf at: k.saqqaf@tamimi.com
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