02.06.2010 Due to vast economic losses caused by corruption, experts advice raising awareness among companies about the damage caused by corruption, as well as using the new generation of innovative tools for strengthening the regulatory capacities of institutions.
There is a relapse among the activities for raising awareness in regards to corruption in the business sector. The level of public culture amongst Macedonian companies is still low, thus appearing as a limiting factor that prevents progress towards stronger corporative integrity. The business sector should realize that corruption related risks exist at all levels, starting from the smallest bribe and spreading throughout with enormous speed. Corruption is a global phenomenon that harms business and needs to be addresses by everyone, starting from the small entrepreneurs and all the way up to the multinational corporations. These were the main recommendations from the conference “Corporative Business Principles and Challenges of Global Corruption”, organized by” Transparency- Zero Corruption” (TZC).

According to Gro Skaaren Fystro, special advisor of Transparency International Norway, corruption is a threat for companies and society in every country. “Corruption damages both companies and employees. It destroys business relations and decreases economic growth. Companies that face problems related to corruption have difficulties in attracting foreign investments” stated Fystro. She is on the opinion that the main problem is lack of business culture; insufficient transparency of companies, and lack of programs and trainings for employees in order for them to deal with corruption.

“Many companies lack business culture. Thus, they see bribery as a unique instrument and opportunity for a successful business. The more serious the business is, the higher the bribe is too” Fystro points out. She suggests companies to produce detailed programs, which besides trainings for their employees will have sanctions for employees that have received bribery, too. Fighting corruption needs to start within the top of the company, she says.

Cvetan Mojsov, member of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption (SCPC), locates the problem with corruption in the limited legislative framework. “Within the Law for prevention of Corruption only two articles refer to private companies in the fight against corruption” Mojsov points out. “SCPC does not have insight in the final accounts, as these reports are being only delivered by companies to the Central Register and Public Revenue Office “adds Mojsov. Non-transparency, according to Mojsov, is another large problem in the private sector. “According to the conclusions of the SCPC insufficient transparency has been noticed when appointing concessions on the central and local level, thus resulting in unfavorable business surrounding and high percentage of grey economy” says Mojsov. Thus, he is on the opinion that a lot has to be done in regards to business morals in private sector, “as the business moral first of all mean respect of the legal provisions”.
Besides corruption, according to Slagjana Taseva, president of TZC, nepotism is another question that needs to be addressed with special attention. “Nepotism and corruption undermine competition, objective prices and efficiency of the private sector on the global level” Taseva pointed out.

The Global Corruption Report places Macedonia on the 71th place in the world. According to the Global Corruption Report in 2009, prepared by Transparency International, the level and range of bribery in the business sector are terrifying. Two out of five directors have been asked for a bribe when contacting public institutions. Half of them have made estimations that bribes increase the price of their projects for at least 10%. One out of every five directors has made a claim that their company has noticed losses as a result of paid bribery by their competition. Corrupted politicians and state servants in developing countries accept bribery between 20-40 billions dollars per annum, a sum that is 20-40 % out of the total official aid for development.

Source: Kapital