With a growing integration via trade and investment, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that have traditionally been oriented towards domestic markets increasingly compete with private firms in the global market place.

State-owned enterprises (SOEs) play an important role in economies worldwide, often providing key public goods and services. Over the past two decades, their share in the global economy has nearly quadrupled.

The OECD Guidelines on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises give concrete guidance to help policy makers evaluate and improve the legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the ownership and governance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

Good governance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) is essential for efficient and open markets at both the domestic and international level. In many countries SOEs are the main providers of key public services, including public utilities.

The OECD Working Party on State Ownership and Privatisation Practices is the only international forum for government officials charged with the oversight of state-owned enterprises. The Working Party is responsible for the implementation of the OECD Guidelines on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises (the “SOE Guidelines”).

Adopted at the OECD Council Meeting at Ministerial Level on 22 May 2019, the ACI Guidelines add another dimension to the OECD’s toolkit for combating corruption and promoting integrity. They draw on and complement existing global standards including the SOE Guidelines, the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance, the OECD

in the OECD have a legacy of dispersed SOE ownership involving numerous government agencies that effectively hamper the exercise of ownership rights on a whole -of -government basis. Experience shows that changing such structures is often politically difficult, and in many cases change only occurs amid macroeconomic o r fiscal crises.

During 2023-2024, the OECD has revised its foundational set of internationally-recognised corporate governance standards - the G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance (2023) (Principles), and the OECD Guidelines on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises (2024) (Guidelines).

In several OECD countries, State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) still represent a substantial part of GDP, employment and market capitalisation. Moreover, State-Owned Enterprises are often

This working paper summarises the main findings of a data collection exercise documenting the size of the national state-owned enterprise (SOE) sectors in OECD countries (in terms of number, employment and economic value of enterprises), and provides a breakdown by main sectors and types of incorporation.