Sharjah Award For Public Finance Strengthens Arab Financial Partnerships And Sustainable Development In Tunisia

The Sharjah Award for Public Finance (SAPF) recently hosted an introductory seminar and training workshops. The event, supported by Sihem Boughdiri Nemsia, Tunisia's Minister of Finance, was organised in collaboration with the Arab Administrative Development Organisation (ARADO). Key attendees included Dr. Nasser Al Hatlan Al Qahtani from ARADO, Waleed Al Sayegh from Sharjah Finance Department (SFD), Sheikh Rashid bin Saqr Al Qasimi of SFD, Dr. Azzam Hussein Armili from ARADO, and Hassan Basha, among other experts in public finance.

Zouheir Attallah, Head of Tunisia's Ministry of Finance, opened the seminar with a speech highlighting Tunisia's role in hosting the event and its contribution to the award's first cycle. He stressed that such awards are vital for motivating financial professionals to enhance performance and innovate solutions to financial challenges. Attallah encouraged active participation to achieve excellence in public finance and expressed gratitude to SAPF and ARADO for their efforts.

Dr. Nasser Al Qahtani of ARADO underscored the organisation's role in tackling issues like digital transformation and sustainable development. He praised Tunisia’s Ministry of Finance for hosting the event and highlighted the importance of awards in recognising excellence and fostering innovation in financial practices. He thanked His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi for his support and emphasised teamwork between ARADO and SAPF to promote financial transparency across Arab countries.

Sheikh Rashid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi noted that the seminar underscores the need for stronger Arab cooperation in financial management. He stated that SAPF is committed to innovation and transparency as drivers for sustainable growth, promoting new financial practices across Arab nations. Al Qasimi also mentioned that Tunisia’s selection as host reflects its leadership in enhancing Arab financial cooperation.

The seminar included a presentation by Dr. Azzam Al-Rmaili from ARADO, detailing the objectives, criteria, and categories of SAPF. Participants learned about nomination conditions and could ask questions about the application process. The event also featured specialised training workshops led by top experts like Noura Dqi and Zahra Ben Brahim, focusing on public accounting standards' role in enhancing transparency amid Tunisia's financial reforms.

On the second day, Badri Dgbi presented on Tunisian public accounting standards followed by a session from Amna Mabrouk on implementing state accounting standards for public sector actors. Jihan Souih and Rehab Aloui provided practical insights into adopting these standards within various sectors.

Expanding Award Categories

The latest edition of SAPF has broadened its scope to include 22 categories—11 institutional and 11 individual—demonstrating its commitment to promoting excellence in the Arab world's financial sector. This expansion aims to recognise achievements across diverse areas within public finance.

Participants appreciated the seminar topics and discussions, noting their importance in advancing regional financial systems. These events contribute significantly to improving efficiency and innovation in public financial management.

With inputs from WAM