OECD publishes good-practice guidance for governments on strengthening state ownership policies for SOEs

The OECD has published a Business and Finance Policy Paper setting out practical guidance for governments on how to design and strengthen state ownership policies so that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are managed responsibly, accountably and with integrity. Drawing on the OECD Guidelines on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises and international experience, the paper argues for a single, cohesive ownership policy to clarify why the state owns enterprises and how ownership rights are exercised and overseen. The guidance describes key elements of an effective ownership policy, including clear ownership rationales and objectives, governance arrangements that delineate roles and responsibilities between the state and SOE governing bodies, and mechanisms for implementation, public disclosure, monitoring and periodic review. It also proposes a six-step process for developing and updating ownership policies, from defining rationales and consulting stakeholders through high-level endorsement, disclosure, and ongoing evaluation supported by tools such as aggregate reporting, benchmarks and external assessments; among 57 surveyed economies, 32 disclose explicit rationales for state ownership and around half have an overarching ownership policy, with more countries integrating sustainability and integrity expectations into ownership practices.