State-owned enterprises (SOEs) are still significant players in critical economic sectors such as infrastructure, finance, natural resources, and manufacturing. They are under increasing pressure to improve their performance. These pressures come from various sources, including the need to enhance their competitiveness and that of the economy as a whole, especially where SOEs are major players; to provide essential infrastructure, financial, and other services to businesses and consumers more efficiently and cost effectively; to access alternative sources of finance through the capital markets while reducing their fiscal burden and fiscal risk; and to enhance the transparency and accountability of the use of scarce public funds. Improved performance of financial SOEs is also essential for broader financial sector development and for ensuring the soundness and stability of the financial system. A long history of SOE reform shows that the key to better SOE performance is improved governance.

The aim of the Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises: A Toolkit is to harness reform experiences and the growing body of knowledge to help policy makers and practitioners improve the corporate governance of SOEs. The toolkit provides an overall framework and practical solutions for improving SOE governance for the benefit of all stakeholders: governments, managers, employees, consumers, and citizens. It focuses on commercial enterprises in which the government has significant control through full, majority, or significant minority ownership. It includes SOEs in a range of sectors manufacturing and services, utilities, banks and other financial institutions, and natural resources. The toolkit does not cover noncommercial SOEs fulfilling special public policy purposes (whether or not in a corporate form), although the frameworks and tools may still be relevant for such entities.

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