Supreme audit agencies cooperate in preventing, combating corruption

National Assembly Deputy Chairman Nguyễn Đức Hải gives a speech at the conference. — Photo courtesy of the State Audit of Việt Nam

HÀ NỘI — Experts have discussed and proposed solutions to solve the challenges in preventing and combating corruption and money laundering.

The conference ‘The role of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in preventing corruption, enhancing transparency, public integrity and good governance’ was organised by the State Audit of Việt Nam (SAV).

Considered one of the important events celebrating the 30th anniversary of the SAV’s establishment and a forum where SAIs and international organisations could contribute to the discussion, the conference was held on Tuesday in Hà Nội.

In his welcome speech, National Assembly (NA) Deputy Chairman Nguyễn Đức Hải emphasised that after 30 years of growth and development, the SAV had demonstrated the importance of its role and position in the State’s political system.

It hads become an effective tool in the fight against corruption and waste.

At the same time, it had contributed to supreme audit agencies of different countries around the world and the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).

The SAV had matured significantly, clearly demonstrated the strategic vision in financial management, he said.

It promptly provided information and audit reports to the NA to serve its legislative and supreme supervision functions and decide on important issues of the country.

The SAV also made important contributions to the inspection and control of public assets and settlements for localities.

SAV’s Auditor General Ngô Văn Tuấn emphasised that, with globalisation and the 4.0 industrial revolution, international cooperation for peace and development in general and in anti-corruption in particular was a practical requirement.

He said that SAI’s traditional role was supposed to promote transparency and accountability in the public sector for good governance.

Therefore, many people believed that SAI’s role in preventing and combating corruption was first of all an indirect role, focusing on prevention and deterrence.

Stemming from the anti-corruption requirements of many countries, the need to protect public funds – the subject of SAIs’ audit, SAIs took a more proactive role in anti-corruption, including detecting and disclosing areas of corruption risk.

Improve efficiency

Speaking at the conference, Auditor General of the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) Tsakani Maluleke said that corruption was a persistent global scourge, affecting many different areas, including government, business and society.

Corruption eroded public trust in institutions and deepened socio-economic inequality, she said.

Tsakani Maluleke said that the AGSA played an important role in fighting corruption by promoting transparency, accountability and good governance.

By scrutinising Government spending and financial transactions, AGSA could detect and report corrupt practices such as embezzlement, fraud and misappropriation of public funds.

In addition, the AGSA, by working together with crime-fighting agencies and SAIs, could significantly enhance the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts.

“Cooperation between SAIs is very important to optimise resources and improve integrity. If we cooperate closely with each other, we will comply well with the laws in preventing and combating corruption,” she said.

During the conference, delegates discussed and clarified SAIs’ tasks in anti-corruption; SAIs’ position and coordination with other agencies in implementing anti-corruption tasks; necessary conditions, legal basis, human resources, means and techniques for SAIs to carry out their anti-corruption mission.

They also made clear SAI’s experience in detecting fraud and corruption, transferring information about corruption case files to competent authorities for investigation and handling. — VNS