United Russia’s victory in the Russian parliamentary election in September 2021 is unlikely to mark a departure from the strained relationship of EU and US with Russia and to improve the prospects for doing international business in the country. Only the more robust investors are willing to accept the risks linked to operating in the…
Tag Archive for business risks
The future of US sanctions on Iran
One of the top foreign policy priorities for the Biden administration is to strike a new nuclear deal with Iran. The administration got one step closer to reaching this goal at the beginning of April when indirect talks began between the two parties in Vienna to negotiate a return to the Obama-era deal (JCPOA, see…
Whither Ukraine?
Analyzing the Role of Politically Exposed Persons in Tender Projects
A major concern for a company getting engaged in a tender project in a foreign country is the opaque role that Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) might play through the relationship between business and politics surrounding the project. This article builds on previous explorations of approaches to political risk research, and ties in with the recent…
Human Rights Due Diligence (I): Corporate Social Responsibility meets Compliance
Integrity Due Diligence – Towards an integrated approach to Compliance (I)
The serious impact and long-term effects of economic crimes, such as money laundering, corruption and fraud (‘MLFC’), may not seem to be as apparent as those resulting from hard security threats. These crimes do, however, pose some of the most menacing risks currently facing governments, institutions and corporations. The following article aims to discuss an…
The UK Bribery Act and the Call for Integrity Due Diligence
The United Kingdom Bribery Act 2010 that came into effect on July 1, 2011, marks a new development in extraterritorial jurisdiction in the context of the worldwide campaign against corruption. This article aims to explore, in how far foreign companies are affected by the Bribery Act and what they can do in order to avoid…
Corruption Risks and International Climate Investments
The several hundred billion Dollars to be invested in measures to fight climate change over the coming years, not only encourage the good who seek to halt dangerous global warming, but they also attract the crooks who look for new booty. Transparency International (TI), the renowned international civil anti-corruption organization, recently published a comprehensive report…
Political Risk and Political Due Diligence (I)
The dramatic and still undecided processes of regime change in the Arab world highlight the fundamental relevance of political risk for doing business in countries that were wrongfully regarded as stable, until the outbreak of civil unrest. Even though political violence in host countries is the most vivid case of political risk, there are other…
Business and Investment Regulations Worldwide
In order to promote the economic and social development of countries, improving their business environment for private entrepreneurs is key. The World Bank’s eight annual Doing Business report, which tracks relevant regulations in 183 economies, has become influential since governments are increasingly concerned about their rank and reputation in the global commercial arena. Given this…