Introduction

Across the Gulf, much of Africa, South-East Asia, and large parts of the emerging market world, state-owned enterprises and government-linked companies remain central to the economy. The governance question is no longer whether they should exist, but how they should be run. Where should the owner sit? How independent should the board really be? What does meaningful accountability to parliament look like when the parliament also sets the policy framework?

This training course addresses those questions directly. The OECD Guidelines on the Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises provide the spine, but we spend most of our time on the practical mechanics: board composition, mandate setting, performance contracting, and the awkward conversations that arise when the state acts as owner, regulator, and customer at the same time.

Key focus areas include:

Key Learning Outcomes

By the end of the training course, participants will be able to:

Training Methodology

The training course is built around comparative case work. Participants examine how state ownership is structured in leading jurisdictions, what works, and what does not. Where the evidence is mixed, we acknowledge it. Group discussion is central, and participants are encouraged to bring live governance issues from their own organisations.

Governance of State-Owned Enterprises and Government-Linked Companies

Who Should Attend?

The training course is well suited to:

  • Board members and senior executives of state-owned enterprises
  • Officials within ownership entities, ministries of finance, and economy
  • Senior managers within government-linked companies
  • Governance, compliance, and assurance professionals
  • Internal auditors and audit committee members
  • Legal advisers, corporate secretaries, and policy professionals

Course Outline

Day 1

State Ownership: Rationale, Models, and Frameworks

  • Why states own enterprises: history, sectors, and rationale
  • Ownership models: ministerial, dual, agency, and holding company
  • The OECD Guidelines on the Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises
  • The role of the state as owner, regulator, and customer
  • National frameworks and comparative practice
Day 2

Board Composition, Independence, and Effectiveness

  • Board mandate, structure, and committee design
  • Independence, fit-and-proper standards, and director nomination
  • Chair, CEO, and the separation of roles
  • Board evaluation, succession, and renewal
  • Director development and induction
Day 3

Mandate, Strategy, and Performance Contracting

  • Setting the mandate: commercial, public service, and developmental objectives
  • Performance contracts, KPIs, and target setting
  • Capital structure, dividend policy, and the cost of state capital
  • Investment decisions and capital allocation
  • Performance review and intervention mechanisms
Day 4

Risk, Compliance, and Assurance

  • Risk management frameworks tailored to state-owned entities
  • Compliance with sector regulation and competition rules
  • Internal audit, external audit, and the role of supreme audit institutions
  • Anti-corruption, integrity, and ethics programmes
  • ESG, sustainability, and public expectations
Day 5

Transparency, Accountability, and Reform

  • Disclosure, annual reporting, and integrated reporting
  • Accountability to government, parliament, and the public
  • Listed state-owned enterprises and minority shareholder protection
  • Restructuring, privatisation, and ownership transitions
  • Case studies and action planning

International Standards & Professional Alignment

Our training courses are aligned with internationally recognised professional standards and frameworks across leadership, strategy, finance, governance, risk, compliance, and audit. By integrating globally trusted models, we ensure learners develop practical, relevant, and industry-recognised capabilities.

Our trainings draw on leading international standards and professional frameworks, including ISO, ISACA, COSO, OECD, IIA, FATF, Basel, IFRS/ISSB, GRI, NIST, CPD, ILM and the OECD AI Principles. This alignment ensures consistency with global best practices across financial management, risk oversight, digital governance, sustainability, and strategic decision-making..

Designed in alignment with globally recognised professional bodies, our courses support continuous professional development, strengthen organisational capability, and provide clear pathways toward professional certifications valued worldwide.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Reserve your slot today and start your learning journey with us.

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