Commercial Law Development Program

The Commercial Law Development Program (#CLDP) is a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce that helps achieve U.S. foreign policy goals in developing and post-conflict countries through commercial legal reforms. We work to improve commercial legal frameworks around the world that are critical to fostering attractive environments where businesses can find opportunity. To achieve this mission, we deliver unique, government-to-government technical assistance programs by designing and implementing conferences and workshops, utilizing long and short-term advisors, and training foreign delegations in the U.S. and other countries.

From November 19-20, 2024, CLDP hosted an insightful International Arbitration Workshop for Moroccan Judges in Rabat, Morocco.???? This important event brought together leading international arbitration experts and members of the Moroccan judiciary to explore key topics in international arbitration and the Moroccan Arbitration Law (2022). The workshop also delved into international best practices from leading jurisdictions, providing valuable insights for Morocco’s growing legal framework for arbitration.??? The discussions emphasized the critical role of the judiciary in understanding Morocco's arbitration laws and how the judiciary can help make Morocco a leading arbitration-friendly jurisdiction and attractive climate for doing business.????? A big thank you to all the participants for their dedication to strengthening Morocco's position in the global arbitration landscape! #CLDP #InternationalArbitration #ADR #Morocco #CLDP

With 2.4 million cases pending in Pakistan's courts, CLDP is proud to support the development of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to clear the backlog.?We partnered with Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) and the Legal Aid Society - Pakistan to train LAS's trainers in mediation best practices.?This training will enable LAS to offer its own trainings in Pakistan and increase the number of qualified mediators who can resolve disputes out of court.? ? CLDP looks forward to continuing this work and growing ADR in Pakistan!

As national #investmentscreening mechanisms mature within the #EuropeanUnion, EU candidate countries have even more models to look to in enhancing their own #economicsecurity practices. ??Last week, CLDP, in partnership with the Romanian Competition Council, organized a workshop in Bucharest, Romania with the goal of assisting EU candidate countries with developing investment screening mechanisms. ?? #Transatlantic cooperation on #investmentsecurity can contribute to a more secure economy within Europe and beyond while maintaining the strength of free market economies. Many thanks to our partners in #Romania, #Montenegro, #Albania, #NorthMacedonia, and #Moldova for their contributions to this program! #ScreenersAcademy

?? Budget Stabilization Funds and Income Savings Endowment Funds can help economically empower regional governments by providing additional buffers for fiscal stability and serve as a permanent fund to benefit citizens. ? ??On November 11-15, in partnership with the U.S. Commercial Service Jakarta and the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs (CMEA), CLDP conducted a five-day workshop on regional sovereign wealth funds in Indonesia. The aim of the workshop was to provide more clarity for Indonesian government officials at the national and regional levels about the differences between budget stabilization funds and income savings endowment funds, as well as to discuss the potential for a Phase III Pilot Project. ? ?? Thank you to the U.S. Embassy Jakarta, U.S. Commercial Service Indonesia, and Kementerian Koordinator Bidang Perekonomian Republik Indonesia for your support of these programs. ?

We are excited to announce that there will be a one-day intensive course taking place on November 16th, 2024, on Alternative Dispute & Resolution & International Commercial Arbitration. The course will be hosted by the Centre for Learning Law and Business (CLLB) student council in Peshawar, Pakistan. This is in collaboration with the Vis Alumni Network Pakistan and the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP). This course offers a rare opportunity to engage deeply with core principles of dispute resolution and the nuances of international arbitration. Those who attend will have an opportunity to gain insights from industry experts, explore advanced ADR techniques and refine your skills for practical application in global commercial law.

CLDP was thrilled to be back in Lima this week, continuing our work on public procurement efficiency and transparency with PERú COMPRAS, Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas del Perú, and OSCE - Organismo Supervisor de las Contrataciones del Estado. On November 7, CLDP conducted a technical roundtable ?? on the new draft procurement regulation with more than 20 officials from Peru’s three procurement agencies. CLDP presented its recommendations to align the draft regulation with international best practices ?? and highlighted areas of concern that could impede the effective implementation of Peru’s public procurement reform ??. Thank you to our amazing counterparts for making this roundtable possible! ?? #Peru #PublicProcurement CLDP estuvo encantado de volver a Lima esta semana, continuando nuestro trabajo sobre la eficiencia y la transparencia de la contratación pública con PERú COMPRAS, Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas del Perú, y OSCE - Organismo Supervisor de las Contrataciones del Estado. El 7 de noviembre, CLDP llevó a cabo una mesa redonda técnica ?? sobre el nuevo proyecto de reglamento de contratación pública con más de 20 funcionarios de los tres organismos de contratación pública del Perú. CLDP presentó sus recomendaciones para alinear el proyecto de reglamento con las mejores prácticas internacionales ?? y destacó las áreas de preocupación que podrían impedir la aplicación efectiva de la reforma de la contratación pública de Perú ??. ?Gracias a nuestras increíbles contrapartes por hacer posible esta mesa redonda! ?? #Perú #ContrataciónPública

CLDP was thrilled to be back in Pristina this week to work with Kosovo Customs. Partnering with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Ministerstwo Finansów (Ministry of Finance of Poland), CLDP hosted a “train the trainers” event to help prepare current Kosovo Customs officials to train their incoming new hires on customs valuation and tariff classification. Kosovo Customs is set to bring on 115 new hires by the end of the month. CLDP is looking forward to working with Kosovo Customs throughout the year as they build this next generation of customs officers. Thank you so much to our wonderful experts and local partners for making this event possible! #Kosovo #customs #trade #customsvaluation #tariffclassification?

???How do you “backwards plan” the regulation of a mine for its entire life??How can governments set the high expectations needed to attract responsible operators and protect the public? ? On Nov. 12-14, in Sofia, Bulgaria, #CLDP’s #EnergyTransition Team, sponsored by U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Energy Resources Energy and Minerals Governance Program, and in coordination with the #USEmbassySofia and the Bulgarian Ministry of Energy, held a lively discussion with multiple #minerals stakeholders from North Macedonia, Kosovo, Romania, Albania, and Bulgaria to address regulating tailings and mines. CLDP was welcomed with opening remarks by the Deputy Minister Nenov and culminated with a visit to one of Europe’s largest mineral collections.?CLDP’s Winfield Wilson and University of Colorado Law School Professor Mark Squillace met with stakeholders from these five countries to support #sustainable development and attract responsible investment in #criticalminerals.?CLDP will continue cooperation and progress in mining governance by reviewing existing and proposed legislation in line with international best practices.

“When you tap into creativity, you find diamonds.” -Dr. Richard Cahoon (Technology Transfer Expert, Cornell University) ?? Technology transfer fosters creativity, innovation and economic development by enabling the academics to protect and commercialize their intellectual property. In order to assist #Tajikistan to utilize technology transfer to improve its economy and increase intellectual property rights protection, CLDP has worked with the government of Tajikistan and local universities since 2022 to develop a centralized Technology Transfer Office (#TTO) in Tajikistan that will advise academics regarding how to patent and commercialize inventions based on their research. ?? To that end, on 14 November 2024, CLDP conducted a workshop regarding Patent/Market Research and Marketing for government and university staff to learn how to select and promote academic inventions worthy of patent and commercialization efforts. Experts from Boston University and Cornell University presented on: Investment Assessment; Patentability & Property Control Positions; Market Relevance of Inventions; The Value Proposition; Technology Readiness Level, Ten-point Tech Scoring Template; Tech Marketing & Finding License Partners; and Tech Marketing, Business Development, Commercialization Allies. ???? A TTO in Tajikistan will lead to a more prosperous Tajikistan as well as lead to increased protection of intellectual property for Tajik and US products alike in Tajikistan. Thank you to the U.S. Embassy Dushanbe for their support in conducting this program.