From August 27th - 31st, 2023, the 10th Tripartite Meeting of the Heads of three Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of Cambodia - Laos - Viet Nam was hosted by the State Audit Office of Viet Nam (SAV) in Da Nang city. The topic of the Meeting is "Follow-up on Audit Recommendations" and a symposium on “Auditing in the new normal” will also be held on the sideline of the Meeting. In the series of the event's activities, a technical meeting was held on the afternoon of August 28th.
Ovrerview of the meeting
The National Audit Authority of Cambodia (NAA) sent representatives to attend the meeting, including Mr. Chea Sophat - Director of the International Relations Department; Ms. Kong Leakhena - Director of Audit Department I; Ms. Chhoeuy Davy - Director of the National Audit Institute and Mr. Heng Karo - Deputy Director of Audit Department I.
Representing the State Audit Organization of Lao PDR (SAO) were Mr. Vannasao Soumpholphakdy - Director General of the Enterprises Auditing Department; Mr. Touy Phetsanouban - Deputy Director General of the State Agencies Auditing Department; Mr. No Phetpanya - Deputy Director General of Audit Quality Assurance Department; Ms. Vanida Soutthanilaxay - Deputy Director General of Administration Department; Ms. Vilayvanh Keokeanchanh - Deputy Director General of International Cooperation Department (ICD); Ms. Phetsamone Soukaserm - Deputy Director General of the Banking Auditing Department along with other delegates.
The State Audit Office of Viet Nam (SAV) was represented by Mr. Nguyen Ba Dzung - Director General of the ICD; Mr. Vu Ngoc Tuan - Director General of General Affairs Department; Mr. Phan Truong Giang - Deputy Chief Auditor of Specialized Audit Department No. VII; Ms. Lang Trinh Mai Huong - Deputy Director General of the ICD.
The objective of the technical meeting is to discuss and agree on the issues to be submitted to the Auditors-General of Cambodia - Laos - Viet Nam at their high-level Meeting dated August 29th.
Delivering his remarks at the opening of the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Ba Dzung suggested that each SAI present its own operational situation from the 9th Tripartite Meeting in 2021 up to the present.
Mr. Nguyen Ba Dzung – Director General of the ICD of SAV delivering the opening remarks at the meeting
In its presentation, the representative of SAI Cambodia highlighted that the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has caused the serious public health crisis and disruption to the socio-economic development of every nation around the world and Cambodia is no exception. Overcoming challenges faced, SAI Cambodia has obtained numerous professional achievements.
The delegation of SAI Cambodia attending the meeting
It is worth mentioning that SAI Cambodia has continued to audit the Bill on state budget final accounts for the fiscal year 2022; prepared and published the annual Audit Reports of 2020 and 2021 on public financial management; carried out performance and financial audits at ministries and national agencies; organized online meetings and training courses; approved the Strategic Development Plan for the period 2022-2026.
Whereas, SAI Laos noticed that in order for audits to be of higher quality, SAO promoted the improvement of management and administration; explored potentials to further develop actual audit profession; actively exchanged information with and learned experiences from the counterpart SAIs in all working aspects. SAO is determined to effectively perform the identified key roles and tasks, thereby contributing to state management, economic management; promoting domestic and foreign investment, and encouraging socio-economic development in a strong and stable manner.
The delegation of SAI Laos attending the meeting
The representative of SAI Viet Nam said that since the 9th Meeting, SAV has overcome numerous difficulties and challenges to continuously innovate its operation in a professional way, improving the quality of every part of its operation by drastically and synchronously deploying multiple solutions from planning and conducting field visits to following up the implementation of audit conclusions and recommendations.
Thereby, SAV has achieved a wealth of remarkable results, making important contribution to the enforcement of disciplines in public finance and assets, effectively using national resources, practicing thrift and fighting waste and negativity.
Moreover, at the technical meeting, the parties discussed cooperation policies from now on and proposed several topics for the 11th Tripartite Meeting to be held in Cambodia in 2025, and made an assessment of the state budget revenue audit situation of each SAI from 2021 up to now.
Concluding the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Ba Dzung emphasized that in the constantly changing world with scientific and technological advances and innovations, the cooperation among the three SAIs needs to be further strengthened in practical, diverse and proactive ways to respond to potential difficulties and challenges and increase the application of technology information to jointly achieve sustainable development goals.
Representatives of SAIs of Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam taking a group photo
To promote effective cooperation and further cement the relationship of three SAIs, it is necessary to continue promoting bilateral cooperation between SAIs and supporting each other in regional and international cooperation forums; maintaining regular exchanges of high-level visits and experts; periodically developing cooperative plans among the three SAIs, …
Along with sending officials to attend forums, seminars, discussions, and training courses to exchange and learn new knowledge and skills, the SAIs cojointly seek new forms of cooperation such as carrying out joint audits or sending auditors of one SAI to participate in another SAI’s audits,...
Notably, at the technical meeting, the SAIs reached an agreement on the topics of symposium and 11th tripartite meeting which will be held in 2025 in Cambodia and also of the training course for the three SAIs in 2024 which will be chaired by SAI Cambodia. The contents of concensus in the technical meeting shall be reported to the Auditors-General at the high-lelel tripartite meeting./.