GCC Focus: Transparency efforts pay off

The 2009 version of Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) shows improved rankings for most members of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and for good reasons.

Saudi Arabia made the best stride by advancing 17 notches in a single year. Conversely, Bahrain suffered a setback by virtue of losing three places.

Berlin-based Transparency International (TI) issues an annual CPI report ranking countries based on perceived corruption. Like that of 2008, the latest report ranks 180 economies and relies on results of 13 surveys. Reviewed economies earn points based on perceptions expressed by business and academic professionals concerning ways of doing business in various countries.

The respondents, which include local and expatriate residents, provide views about possible corruptive practices involving public officials about winning business preferences such as contracts. Undoubtedly, the report is not entirely objective, as respondents express their perceptions subjectively.

However, the study relies on numerous studies conducted by internationally renowned establishments. These include the World Bank, The Economist Intelligence Unit, Freedom House, World Economic Forum, Asian Development Bank and African Development Bank.

The CPI boasts a scale from zero to ten, with higher numbers indicating less corruption.

New Zealand scored 9.4 points out of the maximum 10 points on the index and is hence regarded as the most transparent country in the world.

Benchmark

TI argues economies scoring below seven out of ten must take immediate actions to bring integrity in the dealings of public officials. As in the 2008 report, merely 22 nations including Qatar achieved a score of at least seven points.

Of all GCC countries and Arab nations at large, Qatar succeeded in securing a result deemed sufficient not to carry out urgent remedial administrative correction steps.

In fact, Qatar clinched spot number 22 in the world by advancing six rankings and scored seven out of the maximum ten points.

For its part, the UAE advanced by five notches, thereby being ranked 30 worldwide, in turn the second best result among Arab countries.

Ostensibly, the progress partly reflects legal actions of Dubai against individuals accused of profiteering from their jobs in investments partly or wholly owned by the local authority.

The result is better than that achieved in 2006 when the UAE emerged as the highest scorer amongst Arab nations after being ranked 31 worldwide.

Still, Oman continued improving its global ranking, this time advancing by two notches to reach 39 in the world. Yet, Bahrain lost three notches gained in the earlier report, and hence came in at 43 globally.

The matter partly reflects the governmental clampdown against blogs operated by activists noted for publishing materials not friendly to the authorities.

Yet, Saudi Arabia advanced by 17 positions to be ranked number 63 globally.

The extraordinary progress reflects proliferation of telecommunication and internet culture in the kingdom.

The Saudi progress pushed Kuwait to the worst spot amongst GCC states.

In fact, Kuwait continued its downward trend by losing a single ranking to be ranked 66 in the world among 180 economies.

GCC states cannot overlook the index's significance, as they seek to attract foreign direct investments to help address economic challenges. International investors partly rely on TI's rankings in selecting countries of choice for their investments.

Singapore's feat

The Asian nation of Singapore should serve as a model, a country noted for having zero tolerance for corruptive practices. Singapore scored 9.2 points in the 2009 report to be placed third worldwide on CPI.

At any rate, the 2009 CPI report gives GCC countries reasons to celebrate, as Qatar's score allows for global recognition. Countries like France, Chile and Cyprus lag behind Qatar.

The writer is a Member of Parliament in Bahrain.