Governance at core of national integrity: State Audit

SALALAH: The State Financial and Administrative Audit Authority hosted a symposium on the theme “Governance and its Role in Protecting Public Funds and Promoting Transparency” at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah, Dhofar Governorate, on August 31, 2025. The event formed part of the Authority’s ongoing efforts to instil governance values, strengthen integrity and safeguard public funds.
The symposium was held under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Marwan bin Turki al Said, Governor of Dhofar, in the presence of Shaikh Ghosn bin Hilal al Alawi, Chairman of the Authority, along with a number of senior government officials.
In his address, Shaikh Ghosn bin Hilal al Alawi commended the role of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and the Omani government in embedding the principles of rule of law and institutional governance; and in promoting transparency as a cornerstone of public fund protection — considered a collective national responsibility. He noted that this commitment is evident in the restructuring of the state administrative apparatus and the issuance of legislations responsive to present and future needs, which have firmly established the principles of governance.
He further highlighted that Oman Vision 2040 accords special attention to governance, with the “Governance and Institutional Performance” pillar at its core. This pillar is linked to national priorities across all sectors, including the “Governance of the State’s Administrative Bodies, Resources and Projects” and “Legislative, Judicial and Oversight System”.
Shaikh Ghosn stressed that governance is a vital pillar for protecting public funds and enhancing transparency, as it organises relationships among stakeholders and ensures the effective use of national resources. He affirmed that all parties share in this responsibility by working to uphold integrity, justice and transparency in support of Oman’s long-term aspirations.
He also underlined that the Authority attaches great importance to governance, with the symposium serving as a platform for exchanging expertise, exploring best practices and developing practical recommendations to support institutional and financial reform. This includes advancing the National Integrity Promotion Plan 2022–2030, which aims to build a comprehensive legislative framework, improve institutional performance, encourage a transparent private sector, strengthen community participation and foster local and international partnerships.
The Authority also took part in the National Symposium organised by the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces, titled “Governance and its Role in Improving Performance, Enhancing Transparency and Improving Administrative and Financial Oversight”. That forum produced key recommendations, such as issuing guiding regulations and laws to support Oman Vision 2040 goals in the fields of integrity and oversight; and strengthening internal audit units across state institutions to enable them to operate more efficiently and independently.