State Owned Enterprises are gaining importance again. Thrust given to massive privatization of SOEs as part of Structural Adjustment Programmes since 1990s had not ushered the targeted development. But now we see efforts worldwide, to evolve ownership policies and structuring of monitoring and performance management frameworks for SOEs. All these years, the State of Kerala, in South India, stood firm, focussing on Governance and Management reforms in the SOE domain. The outcome is phenomenal turnaround and energising of SOEs in Kerala.

In the institutional front, SOE Governmental interfaces and SOE Policy Implementation units attached to line Ministries are getting strengthened globally. In India, Kerala pioneered State level Public Enterprises Reforms with the establishment of the Public Sector Restructuring and Internal Audit Board (RIAB) in 1993. The Government of India established the Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises (BRPSE) in 2004, in place of the Department of Disinvestment. The broad based forms of ownership entities such as, SASAC of China, TEMASEK of Singapore and KHAZANAH of Malaysia are getting replicated.

This Conference on ‘Resurgence of State Owned Enterprises’ captures international trends in policies on SOEs, results of implementation and initiatives by various Countries for strengthening SOEs. It is also intended to develop a Platform for Cross Learning among Governments.