CAG OF INDIA ASSUMED CHAIRMANSHIP OF ASOSAI FOR 2024-2027
NEW CHAIRMANSHIP TO FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN AUDITS AND AUDIT OF LOCAL BODIES
The following is the opening remarks of Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Shri Girish Chandra Murmu at the press conference here today.
“The 16th Assembly of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) was inaugurated by the Honourable President of India on September 24, 2024. Founded in 1979 with 11 members in New Delhi, ASOSAI has grown to 48 Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs), an important regional group under the umbrella of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). Returning to its place of origin, this prestigious assembly brings together approximately 200 delegates from 42 countries, including heads of 22 Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs). The assembly is a significant milestone in regional cooperation in public auditing, with the focus on enhancing transparency, accountability, and good governance.
The assembly was preceded by a series of working-level meetings. These included the 5th ASOSAI Grant Committee meeting, discussions on strategic plans, and capacity development activities. Significant discussions occurred around the mid-term review of ASOSAI’s Strategic Plan (2022-2027) and the proposal to create three new working groups namely, Working Group on State Owned Enterprise (SAI Malaysia), Working Group on IT Audit and Data Analytics (SAI India), Working Group on Regional and Municipal Audit (SAI Russia). Meetings of the ASOSAI Capacity Development Committee and Task Force of the ASOSAI Regulation also took place.
The 60th ASOSAI Governing Board Meeting on September 23 was another important event. The meeting approved various strategic and financial reports, including the mid-term report on ASOSAI’s Strategic Plan 2022-2027, report on the results of the Bangkok Declaration 2021 and introduced new collaborations, research projects, and regulatory reforms. Key decisions included the approval of ASOSAI’s financial statements and the adoption of plans to enhance collaboration among member SAIs through capacity-building and the development of IT audit frameworks.
A bilateral dialogue between SAI India and SAI Malaysia on public sector auditing and between SAI India and IDI on cooperation in the field of SDGs and emerging technologies also took place.
It is with great pleasure I announce that SAI India has assumed the chairmanship of ASOSAI for the 2024-2027 term. We will make earnest and dedicated efforts to continue the excellent work of its predecessors towards shaping the ASOSAI into a professional regional organization and looks forward to working with each member to address the challenges faced by public sector auditors today.
A key feature of this year’s assembly is a symposium scheduled for September 25, focusing on “Digital Public Infrastructure and Gender Divide—Issues of Inclusion and Accessibility.” The symposium will explore the role of public auditors in addressing disparities in digital access and promoting inclusivity.
The 16th ASOSAI Assembly symbolizes a renewed commitment to cooperation and capacity-building among SAIs across Asia. It marks a turning point, with the assembly expected to conclude with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration, which will lay the roadmap for future collaborations and innovations in public audit practices. The leadership of India, as it assumes the chairmanship, promises to focus on technology-driven audits, and the audit of local bodies.
The ongoing events signal a progressive step towards improved governance frameworks in Asia, with special attention on the digital divide and ensuring that public investments in technology serve the needs of all citizens inclusively.
BSC/SS/TT/26-24