text:
Melbourne university in talks over calls to cut ties with Wilson Security over detention
by Edvise Hub / Wednesday, 03 July 2019 / Published in Education News
Melbourne university executives will meet anti-detention advocates in response to an open letter from more than 200 staff and academics calling for the uni to cut financial ties with Wilson Security over its involvement in Australia's offshore processing regime.
The letter was published in support of a campaign by refugee and asylum seeker-led advocacy organisation, Rise, and signed by more than 219 people including former human rights commissioner Prof Gillian Triggs, and author Prof Tony Birch.
It urged vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell to join other institutions in divesting from companies contracted by the Australian government for the assessment and detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru.
"There have been countless reports and inquiries regarding the deaths, torture and sexual abuse faced by refugees who have been arbitrarily incarcerated within Australia's mandatory detention centres," the letter said.
The University of Melbourne has a security contract with Wilson, a company that for many years provided security for Australia's offshore immigration detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru, and which remains on Nauru.
A spokesman for the university told Guardian Australia the letter had been received.
"The university's vice-president (administration and finance) and chief operating officer Allan Tait will be meeting with representatives of the Rise group to discuss the open letter and to understand their concerns," a spokesman said.
In recent years the National Gallery of Victoria, the University of Newcastle, and the Sydney Biennale have all cut ties with companies contracted to Australia's offshore immigration system, including Wilson Security and former major contractor Transfield/Broadspectrum.
During its offshore contract, Wilson Security and its staff have been accused on multiple occasions of poor conduct, including allegations of assault, and misleading parliament. In 2015 three Wilson security staff were alleged to have drugged and gang-raped a local female staff member.
The divestment campaign is spearheaded by Rise, which cites members and governing staff from more than 30 refugee and ex-detainee communities in Australia.
"Rise strongly disapproves of any refugee movement, organisation, policy or individual that creates and/or supports a refugee scheme to imprison refugees and asylum seekers in detention centres and violates our peoples' civil rights," it said.
"Many of our members have first-hand experience of the harmful effects of the detention system."
Abdul Baig, spokesman for Rise, said Wilson Security and other contractors should not be able to continue profiting from "actively [choosing] to participate in and enforce our community's torture and abuse in detention.
"Survivors of detention centres should not be subjected to being policed by their abusers in an educational institution such as Melbourne University," Baig told Guardian Australia.
"As ex-detainees, we would like to see educational institutions and public service organisations not to be complicit with any security company such as Wilson Security and Serco, who abuses people in torture camps both offshore and onshore."
The letter noted comments by Maskell in the wake of the Christchurch terror attack, on supporting the values of "respect, diversity and inclusion".
"A crucial part of embodying the aforementioned values is being able to embed these within the university's organisational structure and contracting choices," the letter said.
"Applying these values involves reconsidering the university's choice to remain complicit in the refugee industrial complex."
About Edvise Hub
Edvise Hub is a dynamic consultancy company for Overseas Education and Visa Services.
Government looks at tougher English standards for overseas students
Sydney University's St Paul's College launches international hunt for new head
To ban or not to ban: Victoria's mobile phone move divides experts


text:
ATTORNEY JOHN C. BATEMAN
0.1 Attorney John C. Bateman
1 Areas of Practice
3 DUI-Specific Training
4 Admissions
JD, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
BA, History, Davidson College, Davidson, NC
DUI-Specific Training
NHTSA DUI Detection and Field Sobriety Testing, May 2013 Curriculum
NHTSA Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement, May 2013 Curriculum
NHTSA DUI Detection and Field Sobriety Testing Instructor's Course, May 2013 Curriculum
South Carolina BAR
North Carolina BAR
John C. Bateman is dedicated to defending clients accused of DUI. He is a founding member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association and has been featured on WYFF4 and Fox Carolina.
John has been nominated and accepted to the Board of Directors for the DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA), which is the preeminent association for DUI defense lawyers in the country. It is composed of the very top-tier lawyers from the United States, as well Canada. John is a founding member of this organization
John C. Bateman is a former Army JAG prosecutor, with experience prosecuting criminal conduct at court-martials at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. John was also sworn in as a Special Assistant United States Attorney and was tasked with trying civilian traffic offenses including DUI, DUS, and speeding tickets in federal district court.
John also served with the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne), a subordinate unit of the United States Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Upon ending his active duty military career, he relocated to Greenville, South Carolina.
Since opening his own practice, John has aggressively fought to bring cutting edge DUI defense techniques to his clients. The National Highways Safety Administration publishes the curriculum for DUI enforcement training, and John Bateman was certified as an instructor on the latest May 2013 NHTSA DUI enforcement curriculum before it was fully implemented by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. So what does this mean? It means that, in many circumstances, John has had more training on DUI enforcement than the arresting officer on a case, and he can bring that experience to his client's defense.
John had the pleasure of instructing with nationally acclaimed DUI expert, Tony Palacios, in Atlanta, Georgia, where they taught the NHTSA DUI Detection Curriculum. This instruction is the only curriculum utilized nationwide by law enforcement for DUI detection. As NHTSA-certified instructors, John and Scotty have taught in numerous cities across the country.
John attended the DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA) national conference held in Denver, Colorado. This seminar brought the top attorneys in the United States and Canada for several days of intensive training in trial preparation and execution, as well as instruction in DUI evidence collection and implementation.
In his free time, John enjoys board games, grilling out, and camping on the weekends with his wife, Eva, and their two children, Jack and Clark.
Notable Training & Experience Expand
Joint Special Operations Legal Advisor's Course, Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Walton Beach, FL
Criminal Law Advocacy Course, The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, Charlottesville, VA
Phoenix Group Advanced Negotiations and Mediation Course, Fayetteville, NC
Prosecutor's Boot Camp, National Advocacy Center, Columbia, SC
Temple University Law School Semester in Tokyo
Davidson College Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship Cadet
Eagle Scout
Charities Expand
Meyers Center

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


What home remodeling financing info are you looking for?
There are a few decisions to make before moving forward with your home remodeling project. Naturally, one of the decisions involves choosing how you're going to finance it. Of course, it would be ideal if you have enough disposable cash-on-hand, and be able to pay with these funds. But, this isn't a realistic choice for many homeowners.
Therefore, it becomes necessary to look at the various financing options you have available to you - and choose the one that suits your particular situation.
According to financial experts, the following are the top options for home remodel financing, kitchen remodel financing, bathroom remodel financing, etc.
The refinancing of your mortgage is an ideal option for those who haven't refinanced in a while. If you've got significant equity built up in your home, you may choose to look at a cash out mortgage refinance. With a cash-out refinance loan, you refinance your existing mortgage loan for a larger amount than your current outstanding balance. You get the difference between the new and old loans, and you can use this amount to pay for your home remodeling project.
Adding the expenses on top before refinancing makes it easier to manage. The interest rate will sit somewhere around 3.1-3.5%. It's essential to recognize that the refinancing of your mortgage also entails understanding the term being offered.
It doesn't make sense to refinance if the part of your home being remodeled won't last longer than the term of the refi loan.
Otherwise, you may find yourself having to continue paying off the previous project when you need to have repair work (or new replacement work) done! This is the last position one wants to be in as a property owner because it can become a costly proposition.
Click here to easily find the home remodeling, home improvement, and mortgage refinancing pros in YOUR area.
A home equity loan is a standard option for those who may be considering a home renovation loan, and it's one most property owners think about when deciding how to pay for the project.
The premise is to use your home equity as leverage to get the loan approved. For example, you will put the house as collateral and the lender will offer its rate based on this premise. For those who want a fixed rate, this is the way to go.
However, it is important to note your house is being used as collateral, so you have to be certain payments can be made. If not, you will likely lose your property.
Will your remodeling project be a smaller project? If so, you can go with this financing option and get the funds as soon as you want. Although credit cards are readily available, they can hit you hard on the interest front. Credit cards come with a high-interest rate, and that should certainly be factored in to your decision.
If the remodeling job is a small one, you might consider choosing to move forward and pay with one or more of your credit cards.
If your project is going to be a mid-size to bigger remodeling endeavor, consider looking at the other financing options mentioned in this article. Making one or more sizable payments with your credit card is rarely a good idea.
If your home remodeling project is priced at less than $25,000, an FHA loan may be the way to go.
You are going to get a competitive rate because this loan is backed by the US government. Therefore, the lender isn't taking a massive risk on it as they will be paid back one way or another. The FHA loan is an ideal place to look because you're going to find a fair deal.
These loans can even be approved for those who don't have viable equity in the home. Note that an FHA loan will be approved for a set term that can go up to 20 years.
A Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) is reliant on your credit report, your current standing with other loans, and obviously, the amount of equity you have in your home.
If your mortgage isn't in good shape, it is best to avoid this option because the interest rate will be insufficient. If your mortgage is in good shape, this is an exciting option and may be the way to go. Banks are often willing to give reasonable interest rates on such loans, as long as your mortgage is in good standing.
Note that you may end up putting up your property as collateral when getting a line of credit loan.
It's best to stay safe and know you will be able to make the payments.
The final option is a construction loan, but it comes with a set of restrictions. These restrictions are built into the contract to ensure funds are used as listed. For example, if you're approved for the construction loan, it will be released in phases.
As you complete a phase of the remodeling process, the money will be released - and this can become frustrating.
For those who have a more extensive remodeling project and need funds immediately, this is an option to keep up your sleeve.
So, these are the financing options for property owners to take a look at. Home remodeling projects aren't easy, and everyone would love to have enough cash on hand. But, that can be difficult to realize. For those who need a viable lending option as soon as possible, these are the six financing strategies that finance experts recommend people to look at.
Each financing option has its pros and cons - meaning you have to take the time to sift through them & assess them - one by one.
I recommend that you list your needs and start thinking about what each financing option brings to the table for your specific situation. This will help ensure you make the right choice. Before jumping into financing options for a home remodeling project, it's best to familiarize yourself with realistic home remodeling costs for your area.


Did you know you can ride up front with the driver on the Disneyland Monorail? All you have to do is ask the driver nicely. If you're successful, you'll be treated to panaromic views of the Disneyland® Resort. The front of the monorail holds a maximum of four people, so you may need to wait for the next monorail if another group is already waiting.
Want to man the wheel of the Mark Twain? Ask a cast member working the dock nicely, and he or she may just put you in touch with the captain who will grant you honorary captain access to the wheelhouse. You'll get to steer the ship and ring the bell. A nice bonus: you get to sign a guestbook and receive an honorary captain's certificate.
When you disembark from you Jungle Cruise boat, ask a cast member if they have any maps available. They may make you 'work' for it, in the form of telling a joke, but you'll be rewarded with a nice free souvenir.
A lot of people think this one is an urban legend, but it's true—there are about 200 feral cats that live on Disneyland Resort grounds. While they're most active at night, it's not unusual for eagle-eyed observers to spy a feline slinking around during the day. I've had the most success finding them over in the Critter Country area, near the Rivers of America.
Ask the conductor nicely, and he or she may let you take a 'tender ride.' You and one guest will get to ride on a small seat directly behind the conductor. Warning: this can be a difficult one to get. You can only do tender rides from the Main Street, U.S.A. train station, and only if that train is not scheduled to take on water at the New Orleans Street train station. They also won't do tender rides if it's too hot, as it can get extremely warm in the tender seats.
This is perhaps the biggest 'get' on this list. Many Disneyland® Park buffs still haven't scored this elusive freebie: ride the historic Lilly Belle Presidential Train Car, which is only out on certain days—when it's not too hot, not too rainy, and not too cold. The stars have to align exactly right. Visit the Main Street, U.S.A. train station first thing in the morning and ask if it's running that day. If so, you may be rewarded with a coveted ticket which will tell you what time to return for your ride. There are rumors that the Lilly Belle may be put into retirement for good very soon, so give it a go while you still can!
Perhaps the best known of all the 'Disneyland Resort freebies,' looking for hidden Mickeys can take over an entire vacation if you let it. Hidden Mickeys are loosely defined as anything that looks like a profile of Mickey's head—a large circle topped by two smaller circles representing his ears. These hidden Mickeys have been hidden all over the Disneyland Resort. There are a myriad of websites, apps, and books devoted to finding hidden Mickeys.
When designing Disneyland Park, Walt Disney had an apartment built for himself above the firehouse on Main Street, U.S.A. He spent many a night there dreaming up many of the things we know and love today. While the apartment isn't open to the public, there's always a lamp shining in its window to symbolize Walt's presence always being in Disneyland Park. It's become our family's tradition to stop and say 'goodbye' to Walt at the end of every trip.
Lots of people still miss the Country Bear Jamboree, which went away to make room for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh many years ago. But did you know if you look REALLY carefully, you can still find an homage to the Country Bears? While riding Winnie the Pooh, keep an eye out behind you right before the ride ends, and you might just see Max, Buff, and Melvin.
This one is the best, seriously. It's probably my personal favorite unadvertised thing at Disneyland Resort. Every afternoon next to Refreshment Corner at the end of Main Street, U.S.A., the Mad Hatter and Alice suddenly appear and start an impromptu game of musical chairs with the kids. They do an exceptional job of making it fun and entertaining, even when a kid gets eliminated. It's a real testament to their skills that out of the half a dozen times that I've seen this, I've never seen a single child in tears after they're eliminated. It's not in any entertainment guide anywhere, so how do you know when to show up? In the morning, stop by Refreshment Corner and ask the piano player entertaining guests outside. He plays piano during musical chairs, so he'll know what time it will take place that day.


text:
Q: FileUpload ASP.NET control not working under Windows 7 I have a User Control that contains a System.Web.UI.WebControls.FileUpload control as well as a button to 'Submit'.
When the button is clicked code similar to the following is executed:
If FileUploadControl.HasFile Then
   'Save the file and do some other stuff
End If

This code works just fine with Windows XP.  However, if I run it from a Windows 7 64-bit machine using IE8 32-bit the HasFile property always returns false and nothing is saved?!
Any suggestions/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

A: I've had such problems with FileUpload control as well (not specifically with Windows 7). Try checking !string.IsNullOrEmpty(fileUploadControl.FileName) instead. I don't know if it will help in your particular case, but I it worked for me.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: WP Permalinks: display just one kind of wp category in the posts url I am using 2 different categories in my site /blog/ and /news/. I want to display the /news/ category in my posts but I don't want to display the /blog/ category in the URL of the blog posts.
I already have a lot of posts and different templates for each category so I would like to avoid to create pages to do this. The idea is the following:
/news/ category --> index.php/news/post-name/

/blog/ category --> index.php/post-name/

Is this possible?

A: Two things need to be done. First, make your posts URL is different using the post_link filter.
function _20170117_post_link( $url, $post, $leavename ) {
    if( in_category( 'news', $post) ) {

        $url = get_site_url() . '/news/' . $post->post_name ;
    }
    return $url;
}
add_filter( 'post_link', '_20170117_post_link', 10, 3 );

Second, make the rewrite rule for this:
function _20170117_rewrite() {
  add_rewrite_rule('^news/(.?.+?)(?:/([0-9]+))?/?$', 'index.php?pagename=$matches[1]
&page=$matches[2]', 'top');
  add_rewrite_rule('^news/([^/]+)(?:/([0-9]+))?/?$', 'index.php?name=$matches[1]
&page=$matches[2]', 'top');
  flush_rewrite_rules();
}
add_action('init', '_20170117_rewrite');

Note that flush_rewrite_rules(); you don't need to execute every time. Just once. Or you may goto options-permalink.php and click Save.
I tested with the following settings:
settings


text:
Fabius Valens est un militaire et un homme politique romain. Il est connu pour avoir participé aux luttes de pouvoir pendant l'année des quatre empereurs en 69 entre Galba, Vitellius et Othon.

Biographie
Valens est né à Anagnia dans le Latium, d'une famille équestre. Tacite le décrit comme de mœurs libres et d'esprit non dénué d'agrement, s'étant exhibé comme mime au théâtre lors de fêtes Juvénales.

Il est le premier commandant de légion qui se rallie à Galba, entraînant les autres légions.

En tant que légat de la Legio I Germanica, légion stationnée dans le district militaire de Germanie inférieure, il exécute l'ordre de Galba en 68 : la mise à mort de Fonteius Capito qui aurait fomenté des troubles en Germanie inférieure ou qui n'aurait pas suivi les intentions belliqueuses de Valens et de Cornelius Aquinus.
Il est avec Alienus Cæcina, légat en Gaule. Son ambition et sa témérité sont démesurées. Il en veut personnellement à Galba car il a étouffé le complot de Capito.

Le 2 janvier 69, il entre à Cologne où il salue, avec la cavalerie légionnaire, Vitellius empereur (il ne le sera effectivement qu'après la défaite d'Othon à la bataille de Bedriac en avril 69 à laquelle Valens prendra part aux côtés de Alienus Cæcina). Le futur empereur Vitellius, déjà acclamé par les armées du Rhin charge les deux légats de traverser la Gaule et de fondre sur Rome pour renverser Galba (ils trouveront en fait Othon sur le passage qui aura été fait empereur entre-temps). Valens est à la tête de l'élite de la Germanie inférieure avec l'aigle de la cinquième légion augmenté de cohortes auxiliaires et des ailes (corps de cavalerie auxiliaire recruté par des engagements volontaires, citoyens romains ou provinciaux), soit environ . Sa mission lui fait traverser le territoire des Éduens où il cherche  Il stationnera ensuite à Lugdunum où il dissuade ses troupes de piller la cité voisine de Vienne pour venger les habitants de Lugdunum après que la cité rivale eut levé une armée pendant la révolte de Vindex contre Néron, toutefois Tacite ajoute

Valens et Cæcina franchissent les Alpes ensemble.
Ils participent enfin à la bataille de Bedriac en avril 69 où Othon se donne la mort après la victoire de Vitellius qui se fait reconnaître empereur romain.

Lorsque les légions d'Orient et du Danube proclament empereur Vespasien, Valens reste fidèle à Vitellius, mais hésite et perd du temps et ne peut rejoindre les troupes de Cæcina. Après la défaite des troupes de Cécina à Crémone, Valens tente de gagner la Gaule où il espère rallier de nouvelles troupes. Embarqué dans le golfe de Pise, il est poussé par les vents au port d'Hercule Monecus, où il apprend que les partisans de Vespasien ont pris de contrôle de la région de Fréjus. Rembarquant avec une petite escorte, il échoue vers Marseille sur les îles d'Hyères, où il est fait prisonnier, capture qui provoque un ralliement général à Vespasien. Valens finit sa vie captif et exécuté à Urbino, on exhibe sa tête aux dernières unités de Vitellius comme preuve de sa défaite

Notes et références

Général de l'Empire romain du Ier siècle
Décès en 69
Condamné à mort exécuté par décapitation
Naissance à Anagni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Author, Illustrator
Eleanor Estes (May 9, 1906–July 15, 1988) was an American children's author. Her book Ginger Pye won the Newbery Medal. Three of her books were Newbery Honor Winners, and one was awarded the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. Estes' books were based on her life in small town Connecticut in the early 1900s.
The Alley (1964)
Connie and her friend Billy investigate a mystery in their neighborhood.
Illustrator(s): Edward Ardizzone
Best in Children's Books Volume 19 (1959)
An assortment of stories, poems and articles, some of which have new illustrations.
Author(s): Margery Williams Bianco
Charles E. Carryl
Helen Dean Fish
Frances Clarke Sayers
Illustrator(s): Paul Galdone
Grace Paull
Best in Children's Books Volume 19A (1967)
An assortment of stories, poems and articles, some of which have new illustrations. In this later edition, Flipper to the Rescue substitutes for Rip Van Winkle.
An anthology of stories, poems and articles, some of which have new illustrations.
Author(s): James Baldwin
Margery Clark
Joseph Jacobs
Illustrator(s): Don Freeman
Maud Petersham
Miska Petersham
Edward Shenton
Children Everywhere (1958)
A collection of stories and poems about children around the world for older readers.
Sterling North
Illustrator(s): Maurice Sendak
Hilda van Stockum
The Children's Hour Volume 10 (1953)
An anthology of stories about school and sports.
Author(s): Ralph Henry Barbour
Elizabeth Janet Gray
William Heyliger
Stephen W. Meader
John R. Tunis
Illustrator(s): Hardie Gramatky
The Children's Hour Volume 6 (1953)
An anthology of contemporary mid-twentieth century stories.
Elizabeth Enright
Mabel L. Robinson
Phil Stong
Illustrator(s): Flavia Gág
Armstrong Sperry
Collier's Junior Classics Volume 5 (1962)
Eighteen stories set in America.
Author(s): Elizabeth Coatsworth
Keith Robertson
Sydney Taylor
Illustrator(s): Elizabeth Enright
Ginger Pye (1951)
When their new puppy, Ginger, disappears the Pye's suspect the man in the yellow hat may be the thief.
Illustrator(s): Eleanor Estes
The Hundred Dresses (1944)
Wanda wears the same dress to school, but she has a hundred dresses at home in her closet.
The Middle Moffat (1942)
Jane is the mysterious middle Moffat whose adventures we follow in this second book about the Moffat family.
Miranda the Great (1967)
When the barbarians invade Rome, Miranda leads the kittens to safety in the coliseum.
The Moffats (1941)
Pinky Pye (1958)
When the Pye family sets out for a summer of bird watching the little expect to end up with two new members.
Rufus M. (1943)
In this volume of the history of the Moffat family, Rufus, the youngest sets out to make the family fortune.
Small but Wiry (1963)
A selection from The Middle Moffat.
The Sun and The Wind and Mr. Todd (1943)
Mr. Todd, scion of a long line of weathermen, solves the problem of how to be always correct about the weather, with a little help from the Wind and the Sun.
The Tunnel of Hugsy Goode (1972)
When Nicholas and Timothy break into the tunnel under the Alley, the adventure has just begun.
The Witch Family (1960)
Amy and Clarissa banish the wicked Old Witch to the Glass Hill, but she is not done with them yet. Fortunately Malachi the magic bumble bee is on their side.


As you create pins for your site, think about how you can diversify your pins. Find out which ones drive the most traffic. If you can adapt your pins, try out the longer, skinnier type. …... How to Create a Control Panel Shortcut in Windows 10 Information In Windows 10, there are a few different ways to find and change your settings: Settings app, Control Panel , app settings , and search .
8/04/2018 · Another way to create a PIN that is also easy to remember is to translate a word into numbers (like on a telephone keypad). Ex: Wiki would be 9454. ATM keypads often have letters printed alongside the numbers.... 2/03/2018 · Hey everyone! In this video, I wanted to show you how to create a LinkedIn sponsored InMail ad. LinkedIn is another great platform you can use to promote your products online.
For more information, visit www.ohiocctap.info, email us at supportOH@controltec.com or call us at 1-833-866-1708. 07/18OH KinderConnect – How to Create an IVR PIN for a Caretaker/Sponsor... Find out how to create the perfect bagel bar with Einstein Bros. Bagels for your next party. Entertain your guests with a variety of choices and bagels. Entertain your guests with a variety of choices and bagels.
Interested in making money online? Here are 11 creative ideas to make money from the sponsored content you create and keep a brand coming back for more!


Every superhero has a story—something that forever changes their path in life, and we're no different. On our shelves are the stories of people from all walks of life that have achieved impossible challenges.
We're celebrating those stories with our reading program. Take a look at all the great things we've got planned for this summer!
Stop by the library today for the silliest animal show around! Coyote Chris will be here to present "Be a Hero…READ"!
There are so many different types of animals! This program will introduce and explore the topic of animal classifications. Participants will meet and learn about a member of each of the following animal types: bird, reptile, amphibian, mammal, invertebrate, and maybe even a fish!
Join us at the library for a show that features a hilarious blend of ventriloquist characters, a wild variety of comedy juggling, and a splash of magic and balloons. Watch as audience members are turned into ventriloquist puppets.
You will be amazed at the science experiments you witness! Perhaps you will even have the opportunity to participate in a few!
Come dressed as your favorite comic book characters, and we'll equip you with balloon ray-guns. You might even get a chance to meet your favorite character!


text:
HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2017 Investment Climate Statements...Mali
2017 Investment Climate Statements: Mali
12. OPIC and Other Investment Insurance Programs
Despite some political progress and promising economic opportunities for U.S. firms, Mali faces significant obstacles including electricity access, infrastructure, and corruption, as well as drug trafficking and smuggling challenges, primarily in the northern conflict-affected portion of the country. Instability in the northern regions has permitted terrorist groups to conduct attacks against Westerners and Malian government forces. This instability is progressively extending to Mali's center where terrorist groups are taking advantage of the minimal presence of Malian authorities and security forces. Frequent deadly clashes between livestock farmers and crop farmers are exacerbating the situation. Both Malian and foreign businesses face corruption in procurement, importation and export of products, tax payment, administrative processing, and land management.
After a tumultuous period in 2012 with slowing economic growth and heightened insecurity, Mali's economy is currently on the upswing with over 5 percent growth each year since 2014. The government developed a new regulatory framework for public private partnerships and hopes to welcome investors in the infrastructure, telecommunication, service, mining, and agricultural sectors. As a nation with development challenges, Mali continues to depend upon multilateral financial institutions including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank, and bilateral donors for funding various development projects, mainly in health, infrastructure, education, and agricultural sectors. Local banks have a conservative lending strategy, but are beginning to increase their lending portfolios. At the same time, the investment climate is benefiting from the financial and economic reform processes that accompany this institutional lending.
Thanks in part to the strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Mali, the Malian private sector considers U.S. products to be high quality reliable goods and openly searches for new business partnerships with U.S. firms. Mali's strong economy (projected to grow at 5.3 percent in 2017) and eagerness to attract foreign investment have made Mali a rewarding investment destination for U.S. companies.
Measure Year Index/Rank Website Address
TI Corruption Perceptions Index 2016 116 of 175 http://www.transparency.org/
research/cpi/overview
World Bank's Doing Business Report "Ease of Doing Business" 2016 141 of 190 http://www.doingbusiness.org/en/rankings
Global Innovation Index 2016 112 of 128 https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/
analysis-indicator
U.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, stock positions) 2015 USD 1 http://www.bea.gov/
international/factsheet/
World Bank GNI per capita 2015 USD 760 http://data.worldbank.org/
indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD
Policies Toward Foreign Direct Investment
Mali generally encourages foreign investment. Foreign and domestic investments receive equal treatment. The structural adjustment facility agreements signed between the IMF/World Bank and Mali since 1992 support foreign investment. The government's national strategy to fight poverty as presented to the IMF, World Bank, and other donors emphasizes the role of the private sector in developing the economy. Mali is a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), which aim to reduce trade barriers, harmonize monetary policy, and create a common market.
The Malian government has instituted policies promoting direct investment and export-oriented businesses. Foreign investors go through the same screening process as domestic investors. Criteria for granting authorization under the 2012 investment code include the size of the proposed capital investment, the use of locally produced raw materials, and the level of job creation. Mali maintains a one-stop shop for prospective investors, the Agence pour la Promotion de l'Investissement (Agency for the Promotion of Investment). A new law on public-private partnerships approved by the National Assembly is supposed to reinforce the framework to attract foreign and domestic investment in a multitude of sectors. Mali's ranking slightly increased in the World Bank's 2016 Doing Business Report to 141 of 190 economies (up from 143 of 189 economies in the previous ranking).
Mali created a Presidential Investment Council in 2011 with World Bank support. The council, chaired by the President of Mali, is comprised of foreign and national businesspeople and is aimed at improving the business climate in Mali and identifying best prospects for investment. Since the 2012 – 2013 political crises, the council has been effectively defunct. In 2011, the government also created the Agence pour la Promotion des Exportations du Mali (APEX-Mali) to promote and encourage export-oriented activities. APEX-Mali is fully functional. The Government of Mali has also revitalized an AGOA committee to encourage exports to the United States. The AGOA committee elaborated the National AGOA Strategy in order to reinforce the capacity of Malian exporters regarding the opportunities provided by AGOA.
Additional information can be found in the 2016 Doing Business Report on Mali: http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/mali
Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment
Foreign and domestic private entities have the right to establish and own business enterprises with no restriction to forms of remunerative activities. There are some specific limits on ownership in the mining and media sector. For example, foreign investors in the mining sector can own up to 90 percent of a mining company. Foreign investors in the media companies must have a 50 percent or lower ownership stakes. The West African Economic and Monetary Union requires Malian and foreign companies to report if they will hold foreign currency reserves in their Malian business accounts and receive approval from the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank for West African States (BCEAO).
U.S. investors face the same challenges as other foreign investors including reports of unfairly applied tax collection laws, difficulties clearing goods through customs, as well as requests for bribes. Corruption in the judiciary is pervasive and foreign companies often find themselves at a disadvantage vis-à-vis Malian investors in enforcing contracts and competing for public procurement tenders.
Other Investment Policy Reviews
In the past three years, no other investment policy reviews have been conducted.
The Agency for Investment Promotion (API) is Mali's one-stop shop to make businesses easier and to promote foreign and local investments. Serving both Malian and foreign enterprises of all sizes, API has become a strong source of support for U.S. investors.
API's website provides copious information ranging from business registration, tax payment, access to social security, trade regulations, land ownership procedures, visa and residence permit regulations, and information on tax exemptions, special economic zones (free zone), recruitment of personnel, and connecting to water and electricity utilities.
Foreign companies, regardless of size, wishing to register in Mali can receive tax and customs benefits depending on the size of investment. Small and medium sized enterprises, for which the size definition varies across ministries, are also eligible for fiscal advantages. The GOM is in the process of harmonizing its registration advantages.
The Agency for Investment Promotion's website is: http://www.apimali.gov.ml/
Additional information on Mali's online business registration processes is available at https://ger.co/
Mali is a member of UNCTAD's international network of transparent investment procedures [http://mali.eregulations.org/ ]. Foreign and national investors can find detailed information on administrative procedures applicable to investment and income generating operations including the number of steps, the type of companies to be created, required documents and conditions, costs, processing time, legal references, payment of taxes, access to lands and properties, getting a visa or a residence permit, subscribing to insurance, social protection, borrowing from microfinance institutions, and intellectual property-related issues.
Outward Investment
The GOM has no policy to promote outgoing investment. A few Malian companies invest in neighboring countries and in France.
During the past six years, Mali has signed investment protection agreements with South Africa, Algeria, Senegal, and Libya. Mali has signed 18 Bilateral Investment Treaties. However, only 8 have been ratified by Mali's National Assembly and are in force: Algeria, Canada, China, Egypt, Germany, Morocco, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Mali does not have a bilateral taxation treaty with the United States.
Additional information can be found at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development's website: http://investmentpolicyhub.unctad.org/
There are no trade agreements between Mali and the United States; however, Mali is eligible for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), signed into law on May 18, 2000 as Title 1 of The Trade and Development Act of 2000, offers tangible incentives for African countries to continue their efforts to open their economies and build free markets. Mali began AGOA eligibility on October 2, 2000. However, after the March 2012 coup d'état, the annual review panel suspended Mali's AGOA eligibility, effective January 1, 2013. Following the inauguration of the democratically elected government, President Obama reestablished Mali's AGOA eligibility on January 1, 2014. However, Malian exporters, unable to adhere to technical requirements and sanitary and phytosanitary measures related to trade, take poor advantage of AGOA despite the creation of an AGOA committee and the elaboration of a national AGOA strategy.
Transparency of the Regulatory System
As reflected in agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, the Government of Mali has adopted a generally transparent regulatory policy and laws to foster competition. The commerce, labor, and competition laws are designed to meet the requirements of fair competition, to ease bureaucratic procedures, and to facilitate the hiring and firing of employees. In practice, however, the regulatory system is not transparent and international firms have had trouble enforcing regulatory requirements to the detriment of their business prospects. The investment code simplifies the application process to establish a business, and favors investments that promote handicrafts, exports, and labor-intensive businesses. There is, however, no public comment period or opportunity for citizens or businesses to comment upon proposed laws. The World Bank's 2016 Doing Business Report notes that it takes an average of five procedures and 8.5 days to establish a business in Mali. The GOM publishes the incorporation notices of new companies on the official website of the one-stop-shop, the Agency for the Promotion of Investments. The Mining Code encourages investments in small and medium mining enterprises, awards two-year exploration permits free of charge, and does not require a commitment from the exploring firm to lease the area explored thereafter. Mali is a member of Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) and implements the Accounting System of West African States (SYSCOA), which harmonizes business practices among several African countries consistent with international norms. There are no informal regulatory processes managed by nongovernmental organization or associations.
The Regulatory Authority for Public Transactions (Autorité de Regulation des Marchés Publics et des Delegations des Services Publics (ARMDS)) ensures transparency in public procurement projects and can hear complaints from businesses on public procurement related issues. It makes its decisions available on its website as well as the key laws relating to public procurement.
International Regulatory Considerations
The investment code allows a foreign company that has a signed agreement with the government to refer to international arbitration any case that the local courts are unable to resolve.
Mali is a member of the African Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law (OHADA) and has ratified the 1993 treaty creating the Joint Arbitration Court. OHADA has a provision allowing litigation between foreign companies and domestic companies or with the government to be tried in an appellate court outside of Mali. Mali has been a member of the World Bank Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) since 1990.
Mali has been a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 1995. Mali has not notified the WTO of any measures concerning investments related to trade in goods that are inconsistent with the requirements of Trade Related Investment Measures (TRIMs)
Legal System and Judicial Independence
Mali's legal system is based on civil law. Mali uses its Investment Code, Commerce Code, Labor Code, and the Code on Competition and Price to govern disputes. Mali is a member of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA, Organisation pour l'Harmonisation en Afrique du Droit des Affaires) whose member countries use a standardized accounting system and business law. Ownership of property is defined by the use, the profitability, and the ability of the owner to sell or donate the property. Disputes occasionally arise between the government or state-owned enterprises and foreign companies. Some cases involve wrongdoing on the part of companies and/or corrupt government officials.
Although Mali's judicial system is theoretically independent, it has been subject to political influences. Numerous business complaints are awaiting an outcome in the courts. Judges and prosecutors' careers depend on the Ministry of Justice, and hence their independence is compromised. The judicial system is infested by corruption leading to flawed decisions. The dispute resolution process can take multiple years.
In November 1991, an independent commercial court was established with the encouragement of the U.S. government to expedite the handling of business litigation. Commercial courts, located in Bamako, Kayes, and Mopti, can hear intellectual property rights cases. In areas where there is no commercial court, the Local Courts of First Instance have the jurisdiction to hear business disputes. Since its inception, the commercial court has handled cases involving foreign companies. The court is staffed by magistrates and is assisted by elected Malian Chamber of Commerce and Industry representatives. Teams composed of one magistrate and two Chamber of Commerce and Industry representatives conduct hearings. The magistrate's role is to ensure that the court renders decisions in accordance with applicable commercial laws, including internationally recognized bankruptcy laws, and that court decisions are enforced under Malian law.
The Local Courts of First Instance have the jurisdiction to hear business disputes. The Courts of First Instance decisions are appealable in the Court of Appeal and/or in the Supreme Court.
Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment
The investment code gives the same incentives to both domestic and foreign companies for licensing, procurement, tax, and customs duty deferrals, export and import policies, and export zone status if the firm exports at least 80 percent of production. The government has reduced or eliminated many export taxes and import duties as part of ongoing economic reforms; however, export taxes remain for gold and cotton. Further information can be found in the 2000 Decree # 00-505 and in the Customs Code. The government applies price controls to petroleum products and cotton, and occasionally to other commodities, such as rice, on a case-by-case basis. During 2015, the Government of Mali decreased the price of petroleum in the Malian market per liter as a response to lower global prices. Incentives include exemptions from duties on imported equipment and machinery. Investors may also receive tax exemptions on the use of local raw materials. In addition, foreign companies can negotiate specific incentives on a case-by-case basis.
In most cases, foreign investors can own 100 percent of any business they create, except in the mining and media sectors. They can also purchase shares in parastatal companies the state has privatized or in other local companies. Foreign companies may also start joint-venture operations with Malian enterprises. The repatriation of capital and profit is guaranteed.
Despite having a generally favorable investment regime on paper, foreign investors face a myriad of challenges in practice. The most important of these include low access to financing, high level of corruption, poor infrastructure (including inconsistent electricity), a non-transparent judicial system, and the lack of an educated workforce.
The following websites provide additional more information relating to investments in Mali:
Agency for Investment Promotion: http://mali.eregulations.org/
Organization of Malian Entrepreneurs: http://www.cnpmali.org/index.php/lois-et-reglements/codes
Chamber of Agriculture: http://www.apcam.org/cam/
Chamber of Commerce: http://www.cci.ml
Chamber of Mines: http://www.chambredesminesdumali.org/
Ministry of Economy and Finances: http://www.finances.gouv.ml
Ministry of Mines: http://www.mines.gouv.ml
Public Procurement Regulation Authority: http://www.armds.gouv.ml
Competition and Anti-Trust Laws
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is in charge of reviewing free competition in the Malian market place. Order 2007, Decree 2008, and the WAEMU 2002 rules on anti-competition are the primary judicial documents that govern competition. The Tribunal of Commerce and the Regulatory Authority for Public Transactions (Autorité de Regulation des Marchés Publics et des Delegations des Services Publics (ARMDS)) are the primary judicial bodies that oversee competition-related concerns.
Expropriation and Compensation
Expropriation of private property other than land for public purposes is rare. The Malian government has not unfairly targeted U.S. firms for expropriation. By Malian law, the expropriation process should be public and transparent and follow the principles of international law. Compensation based on market value is awarded by court decision.
The government may exercise eminent domain in various situations including: undertaking large-scale public projects, in cases of bankrupt companies that have had a government guarantee for their financing, and when a company has not complied with the requirements of an investment agreement with the government. In 2000 and 2012, the government expropriated land near the Bamako city airport for air safety reasons. Notifications of the expropriation were sent via direct mail and published in public and private media, and prior owners were compensated according to Malian law. In 2010 and 2011, the government expropriated private land on the outskirts of Bamako for the construction of low and medium income housing. The prior owners have initiated a legal case against the government, arguing that housing projects should not be considered large-scale public works projects. The government settled the case by compensating previous owners. In cases of illegal expropriations, Malian law affords claimants due process in principle. However, given the vast corruption in the land administration sector, fair court cases are rare.
ICSID Convention and New York Convention
Mali is a member state to the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID Convention). Mali also signed and ratified the Convention of the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitrage Awards (1958 New York Convention).
Investors frequently highlight that bureaucratic burdens, bribery, and rent undermine their efforts to implement concrete projects. Since 2008, the Tax Office and a mining company transferred several cases relating to six fiscal years (2008-2013) to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The ICSID ruled in the mining company's favor. However, the GOM then started investigating other years and reassessing the company's tax bill for those years, whether as retaliation or as part of a government-wide tightening of tax collection it is unclear. In October 2016, the situation worsened when the GOM closed the mining company's office in Bamako as a result of the company protesting the new tax bills. Under pressure by the Tax Office, the mining company finally agreed to pay a part of the assessments claimed by the Tax Office in order to reopen its office, but continues to contest the legality of the decision and still might transfer the case to the ICSID.
Investor-State Dispute Settlement
Mali is a member of the African Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law (OHADA) and has ratified the 1993 treaty creating the Joint Arbitration Court. OHADA has a provision allowing litigation between foreign companies and domestic companies or with the government to be tried in an appellate court outside of Mali. Mali has been a member of the World Bank Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) since 1990. It has concluded numerous bilateral investments treaties and investment protection guarantee agreements. The U.S. Government concluded an agreement with the GOM on Private Investments Guaranty in 1964.
Despite the official agreements, U.S. investors complained about unfair practices. In 2013, an American company that was contracted to complete the MCC-funded airport renovation filed a case against the Government of Mali at the Paris Arbitration Court regarding an alleged breach of contract. The case is pending.
After 5 months of negotiations regarding a contract of 30 MW electric generation project to be implemented by a U.S. company, the Malian state-owned utility company cancelled the project in January 2017 with neither any justification nor the authorization of the Malian Public Procurement Regulatory Office. While the details of this case appear suspicious, it is one of numerous unfair treatments U.S. companies have faced in Mali.
In 2015, a U.S. company's bid for an engineering oversight project regarding the renovation of the airport was unjustly disqualified. The Authority of Regulation of Public Procurements (ARMDS) also rejected the U.S. company complaint, stating the company did not wait a requisite 72 hours before contacting the authority. The company elevated the complaint to the Administrative Chamber of the Malian Supreme Court, where the case now rests indefinitely.
Another U.S. energy company has spent three years trying to negotiate a power purchasing agreement with the GOM regarding a 15 MW hydroelectric plant in Markala. When the government changed, the new Minister involved with the project requested a new impact study which was redundant, costly, and unnecessary. The GOM has since reissued the tender which the U.S. company had believed it had won and the U.S. company may give up the project. Stories of such delays are commonplace. Many companies have spent considerable time developing relationships with high level government officials, time that felt wasted once the government reshuffled itself, as it does frequently.
International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts
At the first instance, the companies are supposed to undertake amicable negotiations before engaging the Authority of Regulation of Public Procurements (ARMDS) or the courts. Failure to reach an out-of-court agreement will lead to the case being transferred to the court of first instance, the court of commerce, or international arbitration. The decisions of foreign courts are enforced as long as specified and recognized by Malian Laws. In 2016, the government of Mali paid $26 million to a foreign mining company pursuant to ICSID's decision. Court decisions are frequently based more on corruption and political interference rather than legal merit.
Bankruptcy Regulations
Mali's bankruptcy law is part of its Commerce Code, which does not criminalize bankruptcy. According to data collected by the World Bank's 2017 Doing Business Report, resolving insolvency takes 3.6 years on average and costs 18.0 percent of the debtor's estate. Generally, the company will be sold piecemeal. The average recovery rate is 24.8 cents on the dollar.
Investment Incentives
The investment, mining, commerce, and labor codes have the stated intention of encouraging investment and attracting foreign investors. Mali has privatized a number of state-owned enterprises, and foreign companies have responded successfully to calls for bids in several cases. The investment code offers incentives to companies that reinvest profits to expand existing businesses or diversify into another relevant sector. The code also encourages the use of locally sourced inputs, which can offer tax exemptions. Companies that use at least 60 percent locally produced raw materials in their products are eligible for certain tax exemptions. Companies that invest at least five percent of their turnover in supporting local research and development are eligible for a reduction of payroll taxes for Malian employees.
Most businesses are located in the capital city of Bamako, and the investment code encourages the establishment of new businesses in other areas. Incentives include income tax exemptions for five to eight year periods, reduced-energy prices, and the installation of water, electric power, and telecommunication lines in areas lacking public utilities.
The National Assembly approved a revised petroleum code in June 2004. The law allows an initial period of four years for prospecting, renewable for two successive periods of three years each. A 2008 amendment allows the government to expand the prospecting period for two additional years during the initial or successive phases. Prospecting and exploitation permits, as well as their renewal, are subject to the payment of fixed taxes ranging from one million to ten million FCFA ($1,650 to $16,500). In addition, while prospecting permit holders remain liable for the payment of taxes ranging from FCFA 500 – 2,500 ($0.85-5.00) per square kilometer and taxes of FCFA 1,000,000 ($1,650) per square kilometer during exploitation. Permit holders and the companies associated with those permit holders are subject to a 35 percent tax on net profits. In 2004, the GOM created a marketing office for petroleum exploration, l'Autorité pour la Promotion de la Recherche Pétrolière, or AUREP. This agency drafts, plans, and implements oil research programs, and collects data on oil reserves. Private sector petroleum investors should meet with AUREP when beginning work.
The government has identified priority sectors for furthering economic development. Special incentives are offered for investment in the following areas:
Fishing and fish processing
Livestock and forestry
Mining and metallurgical industries
Water and energy production industries
Tourism and hotel industries
Human and animal health promotion enterprises
Vocational and technical training enterprises
Cultural promotion enterprises
Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation
By law, there is no discrimination between foreign-owned firms and Malian entities with regard to investment opportunities. Companies (domestic or foreign) that export at least 80 percent of their production are entitled to tax-free status. As such, they benefit from duty free-status on all equipment and other inputs they need for their operations. To date, there are no dedicated free trade zones in Mali. The GOM encourages the cultural sector by reducing taxes on cultural goods imports. Imports of solar energy materials also benefit from special tax treatment. Short-term tax exemptions are provided by the GOM during periods of high prices of essential products. Customs agents to date have accepted letters from Ministers exempting favored parties from exemptions. The IMF is working with the GOM to stop this arbitrary exemption practice, including by explicitly making it illegal and instructing Customs to disregard any future letters.
Performance and Data Localization Requirements
There is no requirement that Malian nationals own shares in a foreign investment or that foreign equity be reduced over time. In the case of joint ventures with the government, the government share may not exceed 20 percent ownership. Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) regulations specify that a company with less than 35 percent government equity is legally considered a private company.
Property rights are protected by law in Mali. According to data collected by the World Bank's 2017 Doing Business Report, registering property in Mali requires 5 steps, takes 29 days, and costs 11.8 percent of the property value. Mali scored 8 against 8.4 for other Sub-Sahara African countries and 22.7 for OECD countries in the quality of land administration index, 0 being the worst score and 30 the best. The government established the Malian Center for the Promotion of Industrial Property and charged it with implementing the legal regime of property rights protection, including the WTO's agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
These structures notwithstanding, property rights are not always adequately protected in practice. For example, a U.S. manufacturer had been mired in a three-year long legal battle with a Chinese company that was accused of infringing on the U.S. companies' trademark rights. In spite of a favorable ruling by the Supreme Court, the case was remanded to a lower court in 2010, and the U.S. Company decided not to pursue the case further.
According to the National Land Agency (Direction Nationale des Domaines et du Cadastre – DNDC), there are three types of land property classifications in Mali. There is a land title (le titre foncier), which gives full property ownership to an individual. Secondly, there is a permit for occupation that one receives after paying a fee (permis d'occupation), but not full ownership. Lastly, there are farming rights given to rural agricultural communities. All non-registered lands belong to the State. Various government entities including prefets, mayors, governors, and the Land Ministry officials are able to allocate land ownership statuses.
The current lack of a nationwide land registry causes competing claims for land. As different government structures at the local, regional, and national level are involved in land administration, investors and communities often encounter multiple attributions of the same land. As a result, frequent conflicts occur because of opaque land registration. In June 2015, the Minister of Lands ordered the demolition of fifty houses built on lands belonging to a real estate company in the locality of Souleymanebougou. More recently, the government ordered the demolition of houses built in lands allocated by the state to the construction of housing projects.
There are two primary agencies involved with the protection of intellectual property rights: the Malian Office of the Rights of the Author (BUMDA) and the Malian Center for the Promotion of Intellectual Property (CEMAPI). The CEMAPI is the primary agency for industrial property rights violation claims, while the BUMDA covers artistic and cultural works. Mali is a member of the African Property Rights Organization (IAPO) and works with international agencies recognized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Patents, copyrights, and trademarks are covered.
In 2014, the GOM adopted a National Strategy for the Development of Intellectual Property Rights (SNDPI). According to the strategy, which is intended to encourage innovation and protect inventors, the Ministry of Industry will provide two years of funding for the initiative. However, it has yet to fund the action plan or implement it. Despite limited progress with a National Strategy, intellectual property rights have been weakened and are the object of fierce debate. In February 2015, The Supreme Court cancelled an Executive Order on Copyrights, which sought to update copyright laws to include modern technology. The National Council of Employers (Conseil National du Patronat) considered this Executive Order to be too broad in that it created royalties, which were interpreted by the business community to be taxes on cybercafés, phone companies, and internet downloading sites. The Council of Ministers adopted in March 2016 a new draft law related to intellectual property rights with the support of well-known artists. The new draft law on intellectual property rights is a result of a dialogue between the Government of Mali, the National Council of Employers, and artists associations. The law builds upon consensus of international norms including the Beijing Treaty of June 24, 2004 (rights on interpretations and executions of audiovisual works), the Marrakech Treaty of June 27, 2013 relating to the access to printed texts for visually impaired, and the fourth meeting of regional copyrights observatory of ECOWAS held in Banjul on May 2013. More broadly, the law determines the conditions of protecting and exploiting works of art, license-fee, sanctions, and remunerations. The National Assembly voted to approve a number of these international treaties related to intellectual property rights in 2016.
There are significant intellectual property rights violations in the artistic sector as well as in the pharmaceutical sector. According to the Malian National Pharmaceutical Association, nearly 50 percent of pharmaceuticals sold in Mali are counterfeit. Each week the BUMDA conducts search and seizures of markets for pirated artistic products. On average, the BUMDA inspectors seize three to four thousand CDs each week. Movies and books are also pirated. Children are often involved in selling counterfeit products such as clothes, CDs, and books. In the past counterfeit products were imported from places including from Guangzhou, China, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. However, BUMNDA has seen a shift in the type of counterfeit product to ones being produced in Mali and Nigeria.
Additional information on Intellectual Property in Mali including access to recent ordinances and laws is available at: http://www.wipo.int/directory/en/details.jsp?country_code=ML
For additional information about national laws and points of contact at local IP offices, please see WIPO's country profiles at: http://www.wipo.int/directory/en/ .
Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment
The West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) statutes and the BCEAO (the West African Central Bank) determine the banking system and monetary policy in Mali. BCEAO headquarters are located in Dakar, Senegal. Commercial banks enjoy considerable liquidity. The majority of banks' loanable funds, however, do not come from deposits, but rather from other liabilities, such as lines of credit from the BCEAO and North African and European banks. In spite of having sufficient loanable funds, commercial banks in Mali tend to have highly conservative lending practices. Bank loans generally support short-term activities, such as letters of credit to support export-import activities and short-term lines of credit and bridge loans for established businesses. Smalland medium sized businesses have difficulty obtaining access to credit.
In order to strengthen the banking sector, WAEMU raised the minimum stockholders equity capital required of banks and financial institutions to FCFA 10 billion ($16.5 million) and FCFA 3 billion ($5 million) by a date still to be determined by the regional WAEMU Council of Ministers. The first step of this measure consisted of increasing the minimum stockholders equity capital requirement to FCFA 5 billion ($8.2 million) for banks and FCFA 1 billion ($2.5 million) for financial institutions by the end of 2010. WAEMU has made it a requirement for any new banks and financial institutions in the region to abide by the increased minimum stockholders equity requirement. This measure has had mixed results in Mali. Of the 96 banks surveyed by the Banking Commission of the WAEMU, 82 met the new measures (85 percent). In Mali, however, eight out of fourteen banks met the criterion (57 percent).
Portfolio investment is not a current practice, although the legal and accounting systems are transparent enough and are similar to the French system. In 1994, the government instituted a system of treasury bonds available for purchase by individuals or companies. The payment of dividends or the repurchase of the bonds might be done through a compensation procedure offsetting corporate income taxes or other sums due to the government.
The WAEMU stock exchange program based in Abidjan has a branch in each WAEMU country, including Mali. One Malian company is quoted in the stock exchange. The planned privatization programs of the electric company EDM, the telecommunications entity, cotton ginning company CMDT, and the Bamako-Senou Airport offer prospects for some companies to be listed on the WAEMU stock exchange.
The Government of Mali first participated in the Sovereign Credit Rating Program in 2002, sponsored by the U.S. government. As part of this program, Fitch Ratings won a competitive contract to conduct the ratings. The U.S. Treasury Department provided technical assistance to the Malian Ministry of Economy and Finance with the support of the U.S. Department of State. Fitch completed its evaluation in 2004 and awarded a B- to Mali. Parallel to this effort, Standard and Poor's awarded Mali a BBB- rating in 2005 through a UNDP-funded program. Standard and Poor's has not rated Mali since 2005. In December 2009, Fitch Ratings affirmed Mali's long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at B- with Stable Outlooks, Country Ceiling at BBB-, and short-term foreign currency IDR at B. After completion of the State Department-sponsored rating program, Fitch announced in December 2009 it would no longer provide rating or analytical coverage of Mali, and all ratings have been withdrawn. As of 2017, there has been no new rating for Mali.
Mali's IDR of B- reflects the country's high level of poverty, vulnerability to external shocks and slow economic growth. Mali consistently runs a current account deficit, due to its high dependence on energy imports and low export base. Fitch does not expect any improvement in Mali's creditworthiness in the medium to long term. However, the country's external situation is not a constraint, as Mali is part of the West African Economic and Monetary Union: the FCFA is pegged to the Euro and the French Treasury guarantees its convertibility.
Money and Banking System
Since the devaluation of the FCFA in 1994, eight new banks have opened in Mali: Ecobank (1998), BICI-M (1998), BMS (2002), BSIC (2003), Banque Atlantique (2005), Banque pour le Commerce et l'Industrie (2007), Orabank of Cote d'Ivoire (2013), and Coris Bank International (December 2013). During the past three years with available data, the return on equity for the banking sector was 13 percent in 2013, 12 percent in 2014, and 15 percent in 2015. The total assets of the 14 banks and the three financial institutions in Mali were FCFA 3, 840 billion ($6.3 billion) as of December 2015.
In order to improve the business environment and soundness of the financial system, the Central Bank of West African Countries decided to adopt a Uniform Law on Credit Reference Bureau. The GOM decided to align its legislation on the regional requirement by authorizing the Credit Reference Bureau, whose activities include collecting and processing information from financial institutions, public sources, water and electricity companies, etc. to create the credit record of citizens. The collected information is supposed to be treated and commercialized by these companies upon the agreement of clients. The system is also supposed to increase the solvency of borrowers and to improve access to credit.
The microfinance sector has grown rapidly. From 2000 to 2013, the number of new branches operated by microfinance institutions has increased from 342 to 700 and the number of beneficiaries from 253,705 to over 1 million. The stock of deposits of microfinance institutions grew from FCFA 14 billion ($23 million) to FCFA 53 billion ($87 million), and the stock of credit grew from FCFA 16 billion ($26 million) to FCFA 60 billion (nearly $100 million) over the 2000 to 2013 period. Despite this growth, microfinance institutions suffer from poor governance and management of resources, and have not put in place all government regulations or regional best practices to ensure sufficient financial controls and transparency.
Foreign Exchange and Remittances
The Malian investment code allows the foreign transfer and conversion of funds associated with investments, including profits. As a West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) member, Mali uses the Franc of the Financial Community of Africa (FCFA) as its currency. Linked to the Euro, the FCFA is fully convertible at a rate of Euro 1 = FCFA 655.957 as of April 2017. No parallel conversion market exists as the FCFA is a fully convertible currency supported by the French treasury, which ensures a fixed rate of exchange. The FCFA has not been devalued since January 1994.
The CFA franc zone consists of 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, each affiliated with one of two monetary unions. Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte D'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo comprise the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon comprise the Central African Economic and Monetary Union, or CAEMC.
As of March 2017, the U.S. dollar exchange rate was 607 FCFA for one U.S. dollar. Local currency exchanges are available at Malian banks.
There are no limits on the inflow or outflow of funds for repatriation of profits, debt service, capital, or capital gains. In the FCFA zone, there is no limit on the export of capital provided that an exporter has adequate documentation to support a transaction and the exporter meets the domiciliation requirement. Most commercial banks have direct investments in western capital markets.
To physically carry foreign currency into the WAEMU zone, non-WAEMU residents need to declare currency valued in excess of 1 million FCFA ($1650). For export, non-WAEMU residents must declare values upwards of 500,000 FCFA ($825) in foreign reserves.
Article 12 of the Malian Investment Code of 2012 states that foreign investors are authorized to transfer abroad, without any authorization, all payments relating to business operations in Mali (this includes net profits, interest, dividends, income, allowances, savings of expatriated salaried employees). The capital and financial transactions (such as buying and selling stocks, assets, and compensation from expropriation) are free to transfer abroad but are subject to declaration requirements to the Ministry of Finance. These transfers must be done through authorized intermediaries such as banks or financial institutions).
Remittance Policies
Mali is a member of the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), a Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-style regional body. Mali's most recent mutual evaluation can be found at: http://www.giaba.org/reports/mutual-evaluation/Mali.html
Although Mali's Anti-Money Laundering Law designates a number of reporting entities, very few comply with their legal obligations. While businesses are technically required to report cash transactions over approximately $10,000, most do not. Despite the operation of a number of al-Qaida-linked terrorist and armed groups in northern Mali, the country's Financial Intelligence Unit, the National Information Processing Unit (CENTIF) receives relatively few suspicious transaction reports (STRs) concerning possible cases of terrorist financing. With the exception of casinos, designated non-financial businesses and professions are not subject to customer due diligence requirements. The U.S. Department of State's Financial Action Task Force (FATF) considers Mali as a "monitored" country. Additional information is available at http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2015/vol2/index.htm
Mali does not have a sovereign wealth fund.
Private and public enterprises compete under the same terms and conditions. No preferential treatment is given to State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), although they can be at a competitive disadvantage due to the limited flexibility they have in their management decision-making process. Malian law guarantees equal treatment for financing, land access, tax burden, tax rebate, and access to raw materials for private firms and SOEs.
Mali is in the process of privatizing its SOEs, but a number of SOEs still exist. There are five major state-owned or partially state-owned enterprises: the electricity utility – Energie du Mali (EDM); the telecommunications entity – SOTELMA; a cotton ginning company – CMDT; a cigarette company – SONATAM; and the Bamako-Senou Airport.
The government is active in the agricultural sector: the Niger River Authority (Office du Niger) controls much of the irrigated rice fields and vegetable production in the Niger River inland delta, although more private operators were granted plots of land to develop. Under a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funded irrigation project, Mali granted titles to small private farmers, including women. An adjacent tranche developed with MCC was to have been open to large-scale private investment through a public tender process. However, all MCC projects were suspended as a result of the coup d'état of March 2012 and discontinued when the projects reached the end of their implementation deadline. The national cotton production company, CMDT, which is yet to be privatized, provides financing for fertilizers and inputs to cotton farmers, sets cotton prices, purchases cotton from producers, and exports cotton fiber via ports in neighboring countries.
The government is still active in the banking sector. The state owns shares in six of the 14 banks in Mali – BDM (28.6 percent share), BIM (10.5 percent share), BNDA (36.5 percent share), BMS (74.6 percent share), BHM (98 percent share), and BCS (3.3 percent share). While the government no longer has a majority stake in the Malian Development Bank (BDM), it has significant influence over its operations, including the privilege to appoint the head of the Board of Directors.
In addition, the electricity and water company, EDM, remains majority-owned by the government following a failed privatization attempt. Senior government officials from different ministries make up the board of SOEs. Major procurement decisions or equity raising decisions are referred to the Council of Ministers. Government powers remain in the hands of ministries or government agencies reporting to the ministries. No SOE has delegated powers from the government.
SOEs are required by law to publish an annual report. They hold a mandatory annual Board of Directors meeting to discuss the financial statements prepared by a certified accountant and certified by an outside auditor in accordance with domestic standards (which are comparable to international financial reporting standards). Mali's independent auditor general conducts an annual review of public spending, which may result in the prosecution of specific cases of corruption.
Mali is not party to the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Privatization Program
The government's privatization program for state enterprises provides investment opportunities through a process of open international bidding. The government publishes announcements for bids in the government-owned daily newspaper L'Essor. The process is non-discriminatory: however, there have been many allegations of corruption. In the past several years, the government has privatized parastatal enterprises including the International Bank of Mali (BIM), the telecommunications company, Societé des Telecommunications du Mali (SOTELMA), and Huilerie Cotonnière du Mali (HUICOMA). The Malian government continues to hold shares in the company for cotton production (CMDT) and many other banks. The national electricity company (EDM) is partially owned by the state. However, private investors have recently sought to reduce their ownership share, while the government has considered options to privatize the energy distribution portion of the company.
There is no general awareness or defined standard of responsible business conduct in Mali among producers or consumers. Despite the creation of the Malian Agency for Normalization and the Quality Promotion (AMANORM) and the National Agency for the Sanitary Security of Foods (ANSSA), Mali continues to produce, import, and export dangerous products and products of poor quality. Violations of hygiene and quality standards are widespread in the food-processing industry and there is no general awareness about the dangers of unsafe and toxic chemical products in food production. Labor rights are not generally observed given the large unregulated informal sector. Even the formal sector often hires workers informally which reduces employee fees such as social security, retirements, and other related benefits.
The GOM has various laws which are intended to protect against child and forced labor and business practices which can harm the environment and local communities. Despite these laws, there are frequent cases of child labor and forced labor in the mining, agricultural, services, and industrial sectors. The mining code requires owners of mining and exploitation permits to present local development plans to mitigate the health, security, hygiene, environment, and cultural heritage impacts of their mining activities. Conflicts between local artisanal mining communities and foreign mining companies over land ownership rights are frequent. Local communities have also voiced concern with the significant environmental impacts of mine closures because of the lack of government-enforced measures to restore and rehabilitate the environment. Foreign mining and oil exploration companies sometimes provide schools and health clinics to communities in proximity of their activities as a form of corporate social responsibility. These activities are not done in accordance with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, but are rather the result of individual negotiations between the company and the leaders of neighboring communities.
Mali is an active member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) since 2007 and since 2011 has been declared as a "compliant country". The latest EITI's report is available at https://eiti.org/mali#overview
Corruption is the one of the greatest obstacles for foreign investment and economic development in Mali. While corruption is a crime punishable under the penal code, bribery is frequently reported in many large contracts and investment projects. Government officials often solicit bribes in order to complete otherwise routine procedures. The GOM passed laws against the illegal accumulation of wealth in 2013 and 2015. The law, however, does not force members of parliament or the executive to declare their assets. The government has pledged to update the law. In 2016, Transparency International (TI) global corruption ranking for Mali decreased to 116 of 176 from 95 of 168 countries surveyed in 2015. Mali's perceived public corruption score, as evaluated by Malian citizens is 32 out of 100 with zero being the worst possible score.
Corruption is most pervasive in government procurement and dispute settlement. The government has addressed this by requiring procurement contracts to be inspected by the Directorate General for Public Procurement, which determines whether the procedure meets fairness, price competitiveness, and quality standards. However, there is significant political interference in procurement. Mali's international donor community has been working with the government to reduce corruption, but progress has been slow.
As evidenced in the above narratives, investors have found the judicial sector to be neither independent nor transparent. Questionable judgments in commercial cases have occasionally been successfully overturned at the Supreme Court's Court of Appeal. However, there is a general perception among the populace that while prosecution of minor economic crimes is routine, official corruption, particularly at the higher levels, goes largely unpunished.
The President created the Office of the Auditor General (Bureau du Verificatuer General –BVG) in 2004 as an independent agency tasked to audit public spending. Since its inception, the BVG has uncovered several large cases of corruption. However, almost none have resulted in prosecutions. In 2011, inspectors from the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria uncovered cases of embezzlement of public and donor funds by officials at the Ministry of Health. The Malian judiciary prosecuted several high-ranking Ministry of Health officials including the Minister of Health who subsequently resigned. However, the trial resulted in an acquittal of the Minister and all 18 co-defendants, due to a lack of evidence.
In the BVG's 2013 annual report, the Auditor General announced that 17 government entities embezzled $100 million of public funds. The BVG is not able to conduct a whole of government audit each year. The BVG's most recent report of 2014 (released in May 2015) showed that 16 government's agencies embezzled $124 million of public fund. Mali's annual budget is usually around $3 billion. The Cell to Support Financial Control of the Administration (Cellule d'Appui aux Structures de Contrôle de l'Administration) declared that 209 reports of corruption were sent to the Ministry of Justice for review and prosecution; however, no cases have been brought to court and successfully prosecuted.
In 2014, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expressed concerns over extra budgetary spending, inadequate transparency, and corruption, which led the IMF to temporarily suspend financial support to Mali in June, with certain donors including the World Bank and the European Union following suit. To address IMF and donor community concerns, the Government of Mali audited the purchase of a controversial presidential plane and over $200 million in bloated defense contracts and has agreed to hold senior government leaders responsible for any acts of corruption. The IMF's September 2014 follow up review concluded that the Government of Mali had made preliminary efforts to address extra-budgetary expenditures, and as a result, the IMF voted in December 2014 to reestablish financing to Mali. During a January 2015 cabinet reshuffle, the implicated Minister of Economy and Finance and Minister of Investments were replaced, but were shifted into other high-level positions, including in the office of the presidency. Concrete actions remain to be seen on promises to hold government officials accountable for financial mismanagement. The clean bill of health from the IMF has led donors including the World Bank and European Union to resume budgetary support.
The scandals related to embezzlement of public funds continued in 2015 as the distribution of poor quality fertilizers to farmers showed yet again the extent of corruption in Mali and the lack of will to fight the problem. Moreover, customs agents were shown to be complicit in schemes to fraudulently import gas and petroleum products. Both foreign and domestic companies complain about tax collection as they face harassment by officials seeking bribes. In 2016, the Minister of Finance refused to reimburse a sizeable debt arguing that the lenders failed to provide supporting documents. Many observers contend collusion among government officials and businessmen artificially inflates Mali's internal debt.
Growing pressure from international donors for more transparency in public resource management led to changing the appointment process of the Directors of Finance and Equipment. As result, in March 2017, the Minister of Finance dismissed fifteen Directors of Finance and Equipment. Eighteen others were moved to other ministries. The GOM decided to create a new office to fight illicit enrichment of public servants. The new office has the authority to receive declarations of assets from public servants, to undertake investigation against government officials suspected of corruption, and to refer for prosecution if sufficient evidence is gathered against the defendant. While the government takes baby steps to fight corruption, the business environment continues to suffer from widespread corruption which couples with the deteriorated security situation to constitute the most important barriers to the promotion of investment in Mali.
UN Anticorruption Convention, OECD Convention on Combatting Bribery
Mali has signed and ratified the UN Anticorruption Treaty. It went into force in April 2008. Mali is not a party to the OECD Convention on Combatting Bribery.
The Government agencies that deal with corruption are:
The Economic and Financial Unit of Bamako (Pole Economique et Financier de Bamako). The prosecutor of the Pole Economique is Mamadou Bandiougou Diawara, (+223) 20 29 71 34
The Auditor General (Bureau du Verificateur General). The chief auditor is Amadou O. Touré, (+223) 20 29 70 25
The Accounts Chamber of the Supreme Court (Section des Comptes de la Cour Supreme) The chief prosecutor is Kloussama Goita, (223) 20 22 15 02
The Comptroller of Public Services (Controleur General des Services Publics,) the Comptroller is Mme Konaté Salimata Diakité, (+223) 20 22 58 15
The 2012 -2016 Political and Security Crisis and Subsequent Negotiation Efforts:
Throughout two decades of multi-party democracy, Mali has consistently encouraged private enterprise and investment. However, a political crisis that unfolded throughout 2012 pushed the country into unprecedented turmoil, deterioration of the economic situation, and uncertainty in the investment climate. The U.S. Embassy in Bamako continues to update Travel Warnings for U.S. citizens traveling to Mali.
More information on travel warnings can be found at: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/mali-travel-warning.html
Northern Mali has long suffered from periodic episodes of violence related to inter-tribal politics, smuggling and other criminal activities, and friction between local tribes and the central government. A new wave of violence began in the first days of 2012, when several armed extremist and separatist armed groups took advantage of the influx of arms and mercenaries returning from Libya to launch a series of attacks on military installations in the North. By April 2012, they had pushed the Malian armed forces out of the three northern regions of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal, and part of Mopti, effectively denying the government control of half of the national territory. Political tensions related to the military reversals in the north led to a coup d'état, and the overthrow of Mali's democratically-elected government on March 21, 2012.
Mali began the long road toward resolution of its political crisis in April 2012, when the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mediated a transfer of power to an interim government, which was charged with organizing elections within a year's time.
The Malian government approved a "Roadmap for Political Transition," after an extensive process of broad-based consultations. The two mandates spelled out in the Roadmap were, a) the organization of presidential and legislative elections during 2013, and b) the recapture of northern occupied territories and engagement in a negotiation process with armed groups not associated with AQIM.
French and African forces intervened in Mali in response to a new extremist offensive that threatened southern Mali. Within a few weeks, the intervention forces had retaken the major northern cities, substantially reversing the 2012 extremist takeover of the north. In June 2013, coalition forces in Mali were reorganized under the auspices of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
With the supervision of the international community, Mali democratically elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August 2013 followed by legislative elections in December 2013. Municipal elections held in 2016 completed the electoral process. Originally scheduled for 2014, these local elections were postponed four times before being held in most of Mali in November 2016. Following renewed fighting in May 2014, a roadmap for peace negotiations was signed in July 2014 to pave the way for negotiations between the armed groups and the Malian government. The Government and pro-government militias signed a peace accord on May 15, 2015 with the Coordination of Northern Armed groups following suit on June 20, 2015. Since then, few of the accord's tenets have been implemented, leaving the north in an unstable status quo. Violence from terrorist attacks an interethnic violence has also crept into central Mali since 2015.
While the Malian government, backed by MINUSMA and French forces, has taken steps to reassert control over most of the major cities, much of the north remain unstable. The terrorist group Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), long entrenched in northeastern Mali remains dangerous. AQIM has demonstrated a pattern of kidnapping hostages for ransom and launching operations against neighboring Algeria, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Niger. AQIM and its local affiliates have been involved in various recent terrorist attacks in Mali, including at a restaurant in Bamako in March 2015, at a hotel frequented by foreigners in Sevaré in August 2015 and against the Radisson Hotel Blue of Bamako in November 2015, which lead to 21 deaths. Multiple terrorist groups active in Mali consolidated under a single banner in March 2017.
Labor is widely available, though skilled labor is in short supply. Reliable unemployment data is difficult to obtain. While a 2015 GOM survey found an unemployment rate of 9.6 percent, the actual figure is likely over 30 percent. The rate is generally higher for youth between the ages of 15-24, coming in at 22.5 percent according to government's 2015 survey. Workers have the right to unionize. Relations between labor and management are often contentious and strikes are common. Although a warning notice for strikes is not required in the private sector, unions generally use mediation procedures before resorting to a strike. The government has ratified all the International Labor Organization fundamental conventions protecting the rights of workers.
Since June 2014, the GOM has faced several strikes from different unions, including the national union of workers (UNTM), the union of university and basic education professors, the union of workers from the tax office, the union of workers of the national radio and television company, the confederation of unions (CSTM), the union of judges, and the union of health workers. The private sector also partakes in strikes as shown by a 2015 banking and financial sector strike. While the employers and workers often find an agreement, the movements of strikes often freeze economic activities when involving key sectors like financial system or transportation.
The Labor Code adopted in 1992 (and amended in December 2011) streamlined hiring and firing procedures. Conflicts often arise when employers terminate contracts and fire employees. Large Malian and international employers have had difficulty enforcing their rights in court, given that powerful and independent labor unions play an important role in supporting their members and in other national affairs. Compensation plan negotiations and firing procedures are time-consuming and closely scrutinized by the Ministry of Labor and the judiciary.
Although not a requirement, it is advisable to have regular contacts with labor inspectors, especially when concluding new hiring contracts or considering terminations or reductions in force.
Child labor and trafficking in persons continues to be a serious problem in Mali. The International Labor Organization (ILO) cites that over 46 percent of children in Mali engage in child labor, including the worst forms of child labor such as child soldiering and hazardous activities in the agriculture and gold mining sectors. Cotton, artisanal gold, and rice are included on the U.S. government's List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. Additionally, rice is included on the U.S. government's Executive Order 13126 List of Goods Produced by Forced and Indentured Child Labor. The government has action plans for monitoring child labor and unsafe working conditions, however, the inspection entities are underfunded and unable to regularly conduct inspections or provide support for victims of violations. The GOM submitted a draft law to the National Assembly to align Malian law of the minimum age of employment with the ILO standard. This will increase the age of employment from 14 up to 15.
Since 1997, Mali has been eligible for U.S. ExIm Bank programs for short and medium term insurance and guarantees for the private sector, and long term insurance or guarantees for the government in target sectors. Mali is also eligible for certain Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) programs. Mali has been a member of the World Bank's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) since 1990. OPIC provided guarantee to the project of American International School in 2009 and in 2011. OPIC is also negotiating a solar energy project to be implemented by a consortium of a US and Malian Companies. The project is awaiting the GOM's approbation.
Host Country Statistical Source USG or International Statistical Source USG or International Source of Data:
BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, Other
Economic Data Year Amount Year Amount
Foreign Direct Investment Host Country Statistical Source USG or International Statistical Source USG or International Source of Data:
U.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, stock positions) N/A N/A 2015 $1 BEA data available at http://bea.gov/international/direct_investment_
multinational_companies_comprehensive_data.htm
Host country's FDI in the United States ($M USD, stock positions) N/A N/A 2015 $-2 BEA data available at http://bea.gov/international/direct_investment_
Total inbound stock of FDI as percent host GDP N/A N/A 2015 $0 percent N/A
Direct Investment from/in Counterpart Economy Data
From Top Five Sources/To Top Five Destinations (US Dollars, Millions)
Inward Direct Investment Outward Direct Investment
Total Inward 3,052 100% Total Outward 31 100%
United Kingdom 1,380 45.2% Burkina Faso 11 35.5%
Barbados 454 14.9% Cote d'Ivoire 7 22.5%
Australia 390 12.8% Guinea Bissau 6 19.3%
Canada 144 4.7% Senegal 5 16%
Libya 113 3.7% France 2 6.5%
"0" reflects amounts rounded to +/- USD 500,000.
Table 4: Sources of Portfolio Investment
Rebecca A. Taylor
Economic and Commercial Officer
U.S. Embassy Bamako
ACI 2000, Rue 243, Porte 297
Bamako, Mali
BamakoEcon@state.gov
Bureau of African Affairs Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Mali
Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas, The Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Chad Chile China Colombia Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Costa Rica Cote d'Ivoire Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Fiji Finland France and Monaco Gabon Gambia, The Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Korea, Republic of Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyz Republic Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovak Republic Slovenia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland and Liechtenstein Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam West Bank and Gaza Zambia Zimbabwe