(sav.gov.vn) – On 13 November, the 8th Assembly of the ASEAN Supreme Audit Institutions (ASEANSAI) was officially convened in Singapore under the chairmanship of the Singaporean Supreme Audit Institution (SAI Singapore).
The event brought together leaders and representatives of the 10 member Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of ASEANSAI, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.
The Assembly was honoured by the presence of Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, cum Deputy Minister for Finance and Deputy Minister for National Development of Singapore, who attended and delivered the opening remarks.
The delegation of the State Audit of Viet Nam (SAV), led by Deputy Auditor General Doan Anh Tho, attended the Assembly. The delegation also included leaders from the Department of International Cooperation and representatives of several SAV subsidiary units.
In his opening speech, Mr Alexander B. Juliano, Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Audit of the Philippines and representative of the ASEANSAI Chair for the 2023–2025 term, emphasised the importance of cooperation among SAIs in the region in promoting accountability, transparency and good governance. He stressed that "ASEANSAI continues to serve as an effective platform for connectivity, contributing to improved audit quality, strengthened integrity in public financial management and enhanced public trust in state institutions".
According to Mr Alexander B. Juliano, in the context of rising public expectations, ASEANSAI members remain committed to working closely with governments and development partners to foster innovation, share knowledge and promote sustainable development. He called on ASEANSAI members to further strengthen cooperation, enhance innovation and deepen transparency in order to move towards a model of exemplary, trustworthy and accountable public governance in the region.
During the Assembly, a number of important documents and matters were discussed and approved, including: the ASEANSAI Annual Report 2025; the ASEANSAI Strategic Plan for the 2026–2029 period; the 5th revised ASEANSAI Rules of Procedure; competency frameworks and documents developed by the ASEANSAI Training Committee; the work plans of ASEANSAI Committees for 2026–2027; the ASEANSAI operational budget for 2026–2027; and the report on coordination meetings with development partners.
In particular, the Assembly conducted the procedures for appointing the new Chair and Vice Chair of ASEANSAI and handing over the Chairmanship. Accordingly, SAI Singapore was elected as Chair, and SAI Thailand as Vice Chair of ASEANSAI for the 2026–2027 term. In addition, the Assembly appointed and approved SAI Myanmar as the ASEANSAI Auditor for the financial statements for the years 2024 and 2025.
At the Assembly, SAV continued to affirm its active and responsible role in regional cooperation activities, particularly in its capacity as Chair of the ASEANSAI Strategic Planning Committee.
In this role, SAV presented three key papers, namely: the ASEANSAI Strategic Plan for the 2026–2029 period; the ASEANSAI Annual Report 2025 of the Committees and the Secretariat; and the Work Plan of the Strategic Planning Committee for 2026–2027. These contributions played an important role in operationalising the strategic directions for ASEANSAI’s development in the new term.
Addressing the Assembly, Deputy Auditor General of Viet Nam Doan Anh Tho stated that after nearly 15 years of effective cooperation and sustainable development, ASEANSAI has firmly established itself as a trusted, dynamic and cohesive forum for its member SAIs. Through continuous efforts to enhance capacity, promote knowledge-sharing and contribute to public governance, ASEANSAI has created lasting value and laid a solid foundation for future strategic phases.
In the context of rapid global and regional changes, including technological advances, the emergence of new audit areas and growing demands for international cooperation, the ASEANSAI Strategic Plan for 2026–2029 was designed to help member SAIs adapt flexibly, innovate and achieve sustainable development. “This Strategic Plan reflects the shared commitment of all ASEANSAI members to jointly overcome challenges, seize opportunities and strengthen collective capacity in a comprehensive manner,” the Deputy Auditor General emphasised.
Held in a solemn and highly effective atmosphere, the 8th ASEANSAI Assembly concluded successfully, leaving a strong impression of unity, deepened cooperation and firm commitment towards the sustainable development of public auditing in the region. The event served not only as a strategic dialogue forum among SAIs, but also as a vivid demonstration of joint efforts to enhance capacity, promote transparency in public finance and build effective governance for the long-term development of the ASEAN Community.
On the sidelines of the Assembly, the SAV delegation held bilateral meetings with SAI Singapore and SAI Sweden. During these meetings, the parties expressed their desire to support one another in both bilateral and multilateral forums, while sharing professional knowledge, practical experience, and modern auditing practices and methodologies. These engagements represent an important step towards strengthening public audit capacity, enhancing transparency and efficiency in public financial management, and reinforcing the role of supreme audit institutions in promoting effective and sustainable national governance.