How can we engage SMEs exporting to frontier markets with the case for doing business with integrity?

challenge description

The challenge

Bribery and corruption are major barriers to global trade and investment. The UK Government's Business Integrity Initiative (BII) aims to build a successful British business presence in frontier markets while promoting high standards of integrity and ethical behaviour in line with the 2010 UK Bribery Act.

Initial Research among UK businesses, in particular Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), suggests, on the one hand, a lack of awareness and understanding of the corruption risks associated with exporting to frontier markets and the requirements of the UK Bribery Act and, on the other, the potential business benefits that can arise from doing business responsibly.

This Challenge, with support from the UK's Department for International Development, has explored how to engage SMEs doing business in frontier markets with the benefits of putting integrity at the heart of business strategy and practice.

The output

Through our engagement with SMEs and experts, we have developed a range of additional resources:

Expert advice - articles that set out what doing business with integrity means, how to comply with the UK Anti-Bribery act, and why doing business with integrity drives commercial success.

Case studies – practical examples of how SMEs are benefiting from doing business with integrity in frontier markets and how they approach embedding integrity in their businesses and supply chain.

For more on the UK Government’s business support and advice services, please go to the Business Integrity Hub.

The timeframe

9 months, launching January 2019.

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