Saudi Arabia Showcases Anti-Corruption Measures At UN Panel In Vienna

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia took part in the Intergovernmental Panel on Combating Corruption at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna, Austria. The delegation was led by Mazen bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous, Chairman of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha). Al-Kahmous expressed gratitude to the event organisers and highlighted Saudi Arabia's ongoing anti-corruption efforts.

Al-Kahmous emphasised that these efforts are driven by the leadership of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH Crown Prince. He noted that these initiatives align with Vision 2030, which includes measures to curb illegal practices in government procurement. One significant initiative is the "Etimad Platform," a unified electronic portal aimed at enhancing transparency in government procurement.

The platform aims to improve public spending efficiency and reduce corruption in public tenders. Al-Kahmous also mentioned successful collaboration between Nazaha and the Ministry of Finance. This partnership has developed indicators within the platform to identify and mitigate corruption risks, particularly in preventing collusion and fraud among companies bidding for government contracts.

On an international level, Al-Kahmous highlighted Saudi Arabia's support for a partnership between Nazaha and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). This collaboration launched the "Global Initiative on the Measurement of Corruption." The initiative, based on the Vienna Principles for Measuring Corruption, aims to evaluate global anti-corruption efforts with a focus on promoting integrity in government procurement.

During his address, Al-Kahmous expressed hope for continued collaboration to build a future characterised by integrity and social justice. On the sidelines of the meeting, he met with Professor Slagjana Taseva, dean of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA). They discussed progress on the Global Initiative and explored future development efforts in partnership with UNDP.

Al-Kahmous concluded his speech by expressing optimism about future collaborations. He stated that these partnerships are essential for building a future marked by integrity and social justice. The meeting underscored Saudi Arabia's commitment to combating corruption both domestically and internationally.

With inputs from SPA