The 16th ASOSAI Assembly officially opens

The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of Indian President Droupadi Murmu, along with senior Indian officials and over 200 international delegates representing 44 member Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs), international organizations, and observers.

In her opening speech, President Droupadi Murmu affirmed that public auditing has now expanded beyond traditional financial auditing to assess the effectiveness of public welfare programs and projects, ensuring services are accessible to all citizens in the ever-evolving digital age. As the world becomes increasingly technology-dependent, SAIs need to keep pace with technological advancements to effectively perform their oversight functions.

Acknowledging ASOSAI's contributions over the years, the Indian President expressed confidence that ASOSAI would continue to play a vital role in strengthening and developing the capacity of its member SAIs, thereby contributing to the development course of the respective countries and the development progress of the region.

Highlighting the crucial role of India SAI in ensuring transparency and accountability in the national finance, Indian President expressed her belief that, as ASOSAI Chair for the 2024-2027 term, the Indian SAI would work with other member SAIs to elevate ASOSAI to a new level.

In his welcome address, Indian Comptroller and Auditor General Girish Chandra Murmu, noted that ASOSAI is one of the seven regional working groups of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), established in 1979 in New Delhi, India. He underliined, "It is a proud moment for India to welcome ASOSAI, with 48 members, back to its birthplace."

Emphasizing the important role of SAIs in oversight, safeguarding integrity, and ensuring accountability, the Indian Comptroller and Auditor General stated that SAIs are facing increasing risks in the digital age and the pressure to lead in knowledge-sharing, especially in applying best practices in auditing. Thus, focusing on implementing International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAIs) and leveraging technology to optimize auditing efficiency is helping SAIs not only tackle current challenges but also address future uncertainties.

As ASOSAI Chair for the 2021-2024 term, General Chanathap Indamra, President of the State Audit Commission, SAT, thanked the host country, India, for its warm and friendly reception of participating SAIs and remarked, “This is a valuable opportunity for member SAIs to reunite after the COVID-19 pandemic, to continue strengthening, sharing knowledge, and building capacity for member SAIs.”

Providing updates on the implementation of the Bangkok Declaration, the 2021-2024 ASOSAI Chair stated that SAT promoted the Declaration through four online workshops aimed at sharing knowledge and experience on topics such as: enhancing public governance in the new normal era, maintaining financial discipline, promoting engagement, connecting anti-corruption networks, and supporting e-government systems; improving sustainable development outcomes by enhancing environmental audits and adhering to sustainable development goals; using advanced technology in public sector auditing to support the digital revolution; and dealing with disasters and pandemics, etc.

“The progress of the Bangkok Declaration shows that ASOSAI member countries have recognized and understood the environments impacting public sector auditing, and are ready to respond to future changes and uncertainties,” asserted General Chanathap Indamra.

The ASOSAI Chair also expressed appreciation for the cooperation of member SAIs in advancing the Bangkok Declaration, emphasizing that such commitment and support are crucial in building ASOSAI into a strong and sustainable organization for the future.

Immediately following the opening ceremony, the 16th ASOSAI Assembly held its first plenary session, where discussions and approvals took place on important ASOSAI matters, including the ASOSAI Strategic Plan, the implementation of the Bangkok Declaration, and reports from ASOSAI working groups on environmental auditing, sustainable development goals, and crisis management auditing.

The first plenary session also featured the handover ceremony for the ASOSAI Chairmanship for the 2024-2027 term, from SAT to Indian Comptroller and Auditor General.