On September 21, 2023 in Busan, Korea, the delegation from the State Audit Office of Viet Nam (SAV), led by Deputy State Auditor General Nguyen Tuan Anh, attended the 59th Governing Board meeting of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI).
The scene of the 59th Governing Board meeting of ASOSAI
Accompanying Deputy Auditor General were leaders from the Department of International Cooperation, Specialized Audit Department No. IV and Regional State Audit Office No. VII,…
The meeting was graced by the presence of eighteen SAI leader level delegations, encompassing twelve members of the ASOSAI Governing Board. These included SAI Thailand (ASOSAI Chairman for the 2021–2024 tenure), SAI China (ASSOSAI Secretary General), SAI Japan (ASOSAI Chairman of the Capacity Development Committee), SAI India (Chief Editor of ASOSAI Journal), SAI Saudi Arabia, SAI Korea, SAI Malaysia, SAI Russia, SAI Pakistan, SAI Philippines, SAI Turkey, and SAI Viet Nam.
Furthermore, the meeting welcomed two members of the Audit Committee of ASOSAI - SAI Azerbaijan, SAI Kazakhstan along with three observers including SAI Kuwait (Chair of the ASOSAI Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals), SAI Indonesia (Leader of the 13th ASOSAI Research Project; Secretariat of the ASEAN Supreme Audit Institutions – ASEANSAI) and INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI). Representatives from INTOSAI Journal leaders also participated and made reports on the activity.
ASOSAI is one of seven regional organizations under the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). Since its foundation in 1979 with 11 original members, ASOSAI has grown to 46 SAIs from Asian UN member nations with varying sizes, organizations and names, yet all share a mutual goal of advancing and enhancing public sector auditing activities.
The 59th Governing Board meeting of ASOSAI was co-chaired by SAI Thailand - serving as ASOSAI Chairman and SAI China - serving as ASOSAI Secretary General. The Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea served as the gracious host. The State Audit Office of Viet Nam participated in the meeting as a member of ASOSAI Governing Board for the 2021-2024 tenure.
The 59th Meeting encompasses key activities including sideline meetings of the Committees and Working Groups of ASOSAI, the formal session of the 59th ASOSAI Governing Board meeting, and cultural programs, welcoming party hosted by the Chairman, Secretary General of ASOSAI and the host SAI.
In his opening speech, General Chanathap Indamra, President of SAI Thailand, expressed his gratitude to the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea (BAI) for hosting the meeting. He emphasized that the meeting would serve as a shared platform for members of the Governing Board to agree upon the most important issues of ASOSAI community.
Mr. Jaehae Choe, Chair of BAI, the host SAI of the meeting, echoed the sentiments of the President of SAI Thailand and highlighted that this marked the first face-to-face meeting since the conclusion of the public health emergency caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic's impact of isolation and disconnection have served as a paradoxical reminder on the significance of communication and relationship strengthening.
Consequently, this gathering served as a valuable opportunity to not only reestablish warm relationships and promote cooperation among participating member SAI nations but also to resume conversations and discussions regarding the activities, plans and the development strategy of ASOSAI.
SAI Korea also highlighted its commitment to fulfilling the organization's mission being "a forward-thinking SAI from the perspective of the people yet still remains loyal to the basics" in order to understand the requirements of the era and fulfill the expectations and confidence of the people. During the phase of realizing this mission, SAI Korea expressed its eagerness to collaborate with other member SAIs that share similar interests and direction.
Apart from enabling member SAIs of the Governing Board to decide on significant issues and the agenda for ASOSAI, this meeting also provided an opportunity to facilitate SAI Korea particularly and other member SAIs generally in exchanging ideas, seeking new cooperation possibilities, and elevating ASOSAI to a new level.
The Governing Board meeting proceeded smoothly, on schedule with all of its predetermined objectives successfully accomplished. Within the framework of the meeting, member SAIs reached consensus on 28 agendas of the meeting.
During the course of the meeting, Deputy Auditor General Nguyen Tuan Anh conducted comprehensive analyses and provided insightful comments and cast a vote to approve the agendas. A total of 19 items were approved on the first day of the meeting. In particular, this included the minutes of the 59th Governing Board meeting; the reports of the ASOSAI’s Chairman and Secretary General on their activities; the reports of Committees on their activities from the last meeting; the reports on Bangkok Declaration's implementation in 2021, ASOSAI's financial report of 2022 and the estimated budget for the years 2024–2026, the report on ASOSAI's cooperation with other regional organizations under INTOSAI, the report on ASOSAI Journal, the progress report on the preparation for the 16th ASOSAI Assembly in India in 2024, and the report on the 13th ASOSAI Research Project's findings on the subject of "Remote Audit for SAIs: Future and Challenges".
Progress reports, outcomes, products and future plans of the working groups were also presented to member SAIs, including reports on ASOSAI working group on environmental audits, ASOSAI working group on sustainable development goals (SDG); ASOSAI working group on crisis management audits; the viability of forming ASOSAI Working Group of State-Owned Enterprise (SOEs) and ASOSAI working group on data analysis; Task Force for research on ASOSAI Regulations; INTOSAI Governing Board’s activities; ASEANSAI Executive Committee’s activities; INTOSAI Working Group on Impact of Science and Technology on Auditing.
SAV’s delegation attending the 59th Governing Board meeting of ASOSAI
On the second day of the 59th meeting, which took place on Monday, September 22 – all of the remaining agenda items were unanimously approved. These included the reports from INTOSAI Committees (Professional Standards; Knowledge Sharing; Policy, Finance and Administration) and from INTOSAI Working Groups (working groups on Public Debt; Information Technology Audit; SDGs and Key Sustainable Development Indicators, Public Procurement Audit, and Big Data).
In particular, the Governing Board made a decision to extend the term of the ASOSAI General Secretary for the 2024–2027 tenure. Additionally, SAI Indonesia was elected as the host SAI for the 26th INTOSAI Congress in 2028 and SAI Saudi Arabia was chosen as the host SAI for the 17th ASOSAI Assembly in 2027.
SAV’s delegation previously conducted an official formal bilateral meeting with SAI Korea and side meetings with 14 out of the 15 member SAIs participating in the Governing Board meeting, successfully fulfilled the plan to promote its candidacy for members of the ASOSAI Audit Committee for the 2024-2027 tenure, in line with the candidacy project issued by SAV’s Auditor General in Decision No. 66/QD-KTNN dated February 10, 2023. Notably, all member SAIs unanimously endorsed SAV’s candidacy for members of the ASOSAI Audit Committee and made a request that SAV deliver a promotion letter as soon as possible to facilitate formal responses./.