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Jem Bendell, posted on Apr 1st, 2008
I am pleased to see "The role of the big emerging economies" listed first amongst strategic priorities. Rather than an emerging issue it is already a central one in many countries. TI's bribe payers index from 2006 illustrates one aspect of the problem, with China and India the worst performers on their ranking. As celebrities bring the issue of Chinese investment in Southern Sudan into public consciousness, working out the best role for EITI, PWYP and other initiatives to help emerging markets to trade with and invest in each other in beneficial ways should be a top strategic priority. As you point out, questions of the legitimacy of multistakeholder processes will grow from countries with limited civic participation at national or international levels. The answer may well be in new or enhanced intergovernmental arrangements. To achieve that the reasons why greater transparency would benefit India, China and other large investors in extractive industries will need to be analysed and communicated better than ever before.

