(sav.gov.vn) – A delegation from the State Audit Office of Viet Nam (SAV), led by Deputy Auditor General Ha Thi My Dzung, attended the Opening Ceremony of the 25th Congress of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INCOSAI 25), held on 29 October in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
Members of the SAV delegation attending INCOSAI 25 included: Mr. Nguyen Luong Thuyet, Director General of the Department of Audit Policy and Quality Control; Mr. Ngo Minh Kiem, Chief Auditor of the Regional Audit Office No. I; Mr. Duong Quang Chinh, Chief Auditor of the Regional Audit Office No. II; Ms. Lang Trinh Mai Huong, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, among others.
The Congress was officially opened by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, under the patronage of the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The Congress took place at a time when the world is facing increasingly complex financial and economic crises. In this context, strengthening the role of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in promoting financial stability, addressing crises, and enhancing transparency in the management of public resources is of particular importance.
INCOSAI serves as the highest decision-making forum of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), playing a central role in shaping the future of global standards on accountability and transparency.
At the Opening Session, Dr Margit Adele Kraker, President of the Austrian Court of Audit and Secretary General of INTOSAI, and Mr Vital do Rego Filho, President of the Federal Court of Accounts of Brazil and INTOSAI Chair for the 2023–2025 term, delivered keynote statements emphasising that: “Throughout this term, we have devoted ourselves to inspiring and driving meaningful transformation. Today, INTOSAI is a more dynamic, more cohesive organisation, better prepared to face future challenges.”
A key highlight of the Congress was the official assumption by SAI Egypt of the INTOSAI Chairmanship for the 2025–2028 term. Mr Mohamed El-Faisal Youssef, President of the Accountability State Authority of Egypt (ASA), formally received the position from Mr Vital do Rego, outgoing INTOSAI Chair and President of the Federal Court of Accounts of Brazil (TCU).
In his remarks following the handover ceremony, Mr Mohamed El-Faisal Youssef reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to INTOSAI’s core values of independence, integrity and objectivity. He also highlighted Egypt’s continued contributions to strengthening public auditing, financial governance and sustainable development worldwide.
He stated: “We are facing a critical moment in the evolution of public auditing, shaped by rapid technological advances and increasingly complex global challenges. As audit institutions move from ex post assessments towards forward-looking approaches, they play a crucial role in identifying and preventing problems. This positions SAIs as essential partners in public decision-making and as key drivers of institutional reform.”
Immediately after the Opening Session, INCOSAI 25 held its First Plenary Session, which adopted the Rules of Procedure and the Congress Programme, and elected the Vice-Chair of the Congress.
The First Plenary Session also approved a series of activity reports, including: the Report of the INTOSAI Chair (Egypt); the Report of the Supervisory Committee on Emerging Issues (Brazil); the Report of the INTOSAI Secretary General (Austria); the Report of the Chair of the Policy, Finance and Administration Committee (PFAC) (Saudi Arabia); the Report of the Chair of the INTOSAI–Donor Cooperation; reports from the Regional Organisations (AFROSAI, ARABOSAI, ASOSAI, CAROSAI, EUROSAI, OLACEFS, PASAI); reports of the Chairs responsible for the Strategic Goals (1, 2 and 3); and the Report of the INTOSAI External Auditor.
On 30 October, the SAV delegation continued to participate in two thematic discussion sessions, focusing on the Congress’s main themes:
(1) “The Role of SAIs in Auditing Central Banks and Government Activities during Financial and Economic Crises”, chaired by the SAI of Egypt; and (2) “the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Auditing”chaired by the SAI of the United States. These sessions featured nine in-depth presentations delivered by experts from various SAIs, including those of Norway, the United Kingdom, India, Kenya and the United States for Theme 1; and the SAIs of the United States, Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as independent experts, for Theme 2.
On 31 October, the Second Plenary Session of the Congress adopted the Sharm El-Sheikh Declaration and presented several prestigious INTOSAI awards, including: the INTOSAI Future Award, recognising forward-looking achievements and innovative approaches within the SAI community; the Elmer B. Staats Award, honouring outstanding articles published in the INTOSAI Journal; the Kimi Makwetu Award, recognising an SAI or an INTOSAI body that has demonstrated excellence in building professional, organisational and resource capacities to enhance institutional effectiveness; and the Young SAI Leaders Award, aimed at promoting and recognising young leaders within SAIs whose initiatives drive change, efficiency, innovation, organisational culture and community values. These awards contribute to enhancing prestige and encouraging the sharing of knowledge and experience among SAIs for the continuous development of the global audit community.
The Second Plenary Session also adopted the report of the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI), presented by the SAI of Norway; the report of the Editor-in-Chief of the INTOSAI Journal, presented by the SAI of the United States; and conducted the election of members of the INTOSAI Governing Board and the INTOSAI External Auditor for the new term.
Earlier, on 28 October, the SAV delegation paid a courtesy visit to and held a working meeting with the Embassy of Viet Nam in Cairo.
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INCOSAI is the most important event of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions. Nearly 190 SAIs and international organisations participate, including more than 140 SAIs led by Auditors General or Deputy Auditors General. The Congress provides a platform to discuss key issues facing the public auditing community, propose potential solutions, adopt strategic decisions for the organisation, and promote cooperation and experience-sharing among peer SAIs within the INTOSAI framework.
Held triennially and hosted by the Chair of the SAI of the host country, the first INCOSAI marked the establishment of INTOSAI and took place in Havana (Cuba) in 1953. The most recent Congress prior to INCOSAI 25 was held in Brazil in 2022.
INCOSAI 25 attracted nearly 800 delegates from 190 member SAIs, as well as representatives from international organisations such as the United Nations, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the INTOSAI Development Initiative and other international and professional bodies. |