Center for International Private Enterprise

06/11/2026

Institutional resilience is tested most in crisis—and built long before it.

CIPE’s We-Champs program built the capacity of chambers and associations across Europe, Central Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. In Ukraine, the program’s “Women in Business” platform strengthened governance systems and expanded services while operating in a conflict-affected environment, reporting membership growth of more than 180 members within one year alongside institutional reforms.

CIPE knows that job creation and economic resilience to stability outcomes, including reducing drivers of violent extremism and irregular migration—directly intersect with broader U.S. economic and security interests.

06/09/2026

What does it take to turn economic risk into resilience?

Across emerging markets, CIPE's partners are testing practical solutions to strengthen transparency, reduce corruption risks, and create safer, more trusted investment environments.

On June 24, CIPE and local partners from around the world will bring together lessons from Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Colombia, Peru, and Mongolia for discussions grounded in what policies are actually working.

We’ll explore:
→ How countries are countering Corrosive Capital
→ Which reforms and institutions are delivering the best results
→ Where private-sector leadership is driving meaningful change

This is more than a policy discussion, but rather a practical, peer-driven exchange on tangible solutions. CIPE will also launch a new insights article capturing country-level lessons and actionable recommendations based on over a year of work around the globe.

As geoeconomic pressures grow, resilient and transparent markets matter more than ever. They strengthen investment environments, support economic security, and reinforce trusted partnerships.

Join the conversation on June 24.

📍 Washington, DC (National Press Club)
📅 June 24 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Join us:

The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) cordially invites you to a panel discussion on practical strategies to strengthening economic security and national resilience in Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Colombia, Peru, and Mongolia. The conversation will explore how these countries are respo...

06/02/2026

You can finance a deal—but you can’t force it to succeed.

Around the world, investment is moving toward a deal-based model. But too often, deals stall because the fundamentals aren’t there.

CIPE Executive Director Andrew Wilson makes the case: what unlocks growth isn’t just capital—it’s advocacy for better rules, stronger institutions, and fair competition.

From business coalitions to policy reform, private-sector voices are essential to building investment climates that last.

That’s where the next era of foreign assistance will be won.
👉 Read the full blog: bit.ly/4uK8UDS

05/28/2026

Geopolitics is reshaping the global economy—and supply chains are now strategic assets, not just efficiency systems.

Our new report examines how Australia, Finland, and South Korea are building trusted supply chains in response—and what that means for the United States and its partners.

Key insight: strategy is strong, but ex*****on is uneven. Implementation is held back by limited visibility beyond Tier-1 suppliers, rising compliance costs (especially for SMEs), and regulatory misalignment.

Strengthening economic security depends not just on alignment with allies, but on making trusted supply chains work in practice—through better coordination, clearer rules, and shared incentives across governments and firms.

📄 Read the report: bit.ly/3REgIZc

The global economy is undergoing a structural transformation in which geopolitical considerations increasingly shape trade, investment, and technology flows. The era in which economic interdependence was assumed to generate political stability has given way to a more contested environment, character...

05/26/2026

De-risking from China is a policy priority—but supply chains don’t shift overnight.

Businesses still rely on China’s scale and efficiency, making it difficult to align geopolitical goals with operational realities. That gap is driving a renewed focus on economic resilience—not just as policy, but as a core business strategy.

Across the Indo-Pacific, partners like Taiwan and Japan are leaning into solutions: more diversified supply chains, stronger public-private coordination, and a shift from crisis response to long-term risk management.

Against this backdrop, CIPE convened a Taiwan–Japan roundtable on economic resilience, bringing together leaders from government, the private sector, and civil society. The takeaway was clear: resilience is no longer a secondary concern—it is central to national security, business continuity, and long-term competitiveness.

For the U.S., deepening coordination with Taiwan and Japan to build trusted, complementary supply chains—especially in semiconductors, advanced technologies, and cybersecurity—is critical to strengthening economic security and reducing strategic risk.

For companies, this is about more than geopolitics. It’s about continuity, competitiveness, and stability in an increasingly uncertain environment. Read about the event: bit.ly/4a905Ly

What’s the biggest challenge your organization faces in diversifying supply chains?

美國在台協會 AIT

05/21/2026

Opaque Chinese state-backed financing can deliver headline infrastructure—while quietly importing secrecy, fiscal risk, and accountability gaps.

A new analysis tells a tale of two flagship railways: the Kenya Standard Gauge Railway and the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway. Despite similar scale and financing structures, the projects have produced very different governance dynamics. In Kenya, active media and litigation exposed risks and accountability gaps. In Ethiopia, more constrained civic space limited scrutiny—allowing similar issues to persist with fewer immediate consequences.

The takeaway: Opaque financing, non-competitive procurement, and weak oversight can amplify fiscal risks and erode democratic institutions—even when projects deliver critical infrastructure.

This research underscores a clear role for the U.S. and its partners—to strengthen transparency standards, support oversight institutions, and promote competitive, market-based infrastructure investment that reinforces both economic resilience and democratic governance.
Download the report: ➡️ bit.ly/4nV2KOZ

This paper examines two flagship BRI rail projects—the Kenya Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway (AADR)—to assess how differences in transparency, civic oversight, and media environments shape both economic outcomes and political legitimacy. Despite similar scale,...

05/19/2026

Economic resilience is the first line of defense against those seeking to undermine democratic sovereignty.

Last week, CIPE and the Center for the Study of Democracy convened public- and private-sector leaders in Chișinău for intensive training on safeguarding ’s economy against illicit financial flows and corrosive capital.

As regional threats evolve, participants took a deep dive into: 🔹 Countering Trade-Based Money Laundering: Identifying tactics used to circumvent sanctions. 🔹 Strategic Investment Screening: Exposing opaque ownership structures designed to bypass oversight. 🔹 Empowering Local Oversight: Strengthening the role of business associations and think tanks in building democratic resilience.

Through this work, CIPE continues to support the economic governance and regional stability that underpins long-term prosperity. Read more about the event: bit.ly/43hM3n4

05/14/2026

Critical minerals like lithium and cobalt are foundational to U.S. national security, yet adversaries currently control up to 90% of global refining capacity. Through opaque financing and "debt-trap" diplomacy, they are distorting markets and crowding out high-quality,
democratic investment.

Diversifying these supply chains is a strategic imperative to protect U.S. defense, healthcare, and tech industries from geopolitical coercion.

At CIPE, we are fighting back. Since 2024, we’ve worked across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to build resilient, market-driven ecosystems that safeguard these minerals from authoritarian capture.

📈 Download our new flyer to see how we’re advancing transparency and competitive markets in the critical minerals sector: bit.ly/48S5xlz

Critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, tungsten, and rare earth elements are foundational to U.S. national and economic security. These minerals power vital industries including healthcare and electronics, while underpinning advanced defense systems and next-generation technologies. As global de...

05/12/2026

Stronger chambers. Stronger markets. Global impact.

We are proud to share that on April 27, CIPE was recognized by the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce & Sectoral Associations for our role in advancing private sector development.

Empowering business communities is the key to unlocking global value chains. When we help local chambers modernize their governance and advocacy, the results are clear: 🔹 Increased Competitiveness: Local firms move from the margins to the mainstream. 🔹 Strategic Investment: Transparent markets attract high-quality capital. 🔹 U.S. Trade Alignment: A dynamic Ethiopian market creates stable, reliable partners for American investment.

By fostering private-sector integrity today, we ensure that global growth is transparent and built on democratic values.


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05/07/2026

We’re live from the Special Competitive Studies Project - SCSP AI+Expo! CIPE joins the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) at the Expo today to discuss democratic tech and the global AI competition.

The global race for AI is about more than just advanced models—it is a competition over the values baked into the technology that will define the next century. We are here to ensure AI reinforces democratic freedoms rather than becoming a turnkey tool for authoritarianism.

CIPE's featured panel: "AI & Economic Security: Advancing Democratic Innovation from Dirt to AGI"

We are moving beyond the surface of AI to examine the full "stack" of economic security:
🔹 Supply Chain & Infrastructure: Securing the critical foundations of AI.
🔹 Leveling the Playing Field: Countering market distortions from heavily subsidized, authoritarian-backed firms.
🔹 Democratic Alternatives: Identifying credible, value-driven choices in strategic trade-offs.
🔹 Scaling Responsible Innovation: Protecting economic opportunity and democratic resilience.

Economic security is a global democratic imperative. We must ensure the AI playing field remains transparent, competitive, and built for purpose.