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Hundreds of major foreign firms in many industry sectors invest in Australia. The Australian Federal Government, and each of the State Governments, vigorously encourages investment by offering incentives to multi-national companies to set up regional headquarters for financial and other services, and manufacturing operations. At first aimed at attracting information technology companies, the campaign has widened in scope to include manufacturing and provision of financial and administrative services for the Asia-Pacific region. Australia procides safe, stable business environment, skilled workforce and lower facility, site and operating costs in comparison to other regional centers, such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei.
Australia maintains a thorough system of laws and regulations designed to counter corruption. In addition, the government procurement system generally is transparent and well regulated, thereby minimizing opportunities for corrupt dealings. Accordingly, corruption has not been a factor cited by U.S. businesses as a disincentive to investing in Australia, or to exporting goods and services here. Non-governmental organizations interested in monitoring the global development or anti-corruption measures, including Transparency International, operate freely in Australia. Legislation to give effect to the anti-bribery convention stemming from the OECD 1996 Ministerial Commitment to Criminalize Transnational Bribery was passed in 1999. At the federal level, enforcement of anti-corruption laws and regulations is the responsibility of the Attorney General's Department.